Aggressive behaviour among patients referred to a psychogeriatric service

The characteristics of a series of patients referred to a psychogeriatric service over a one-year period were examined. Patients exhibiting aggressive behaviour as a feature of the presentation were compared to those without. Aggressive patients were less likely to be living in their own homes, less likely to receive services, more likely to be referred from social services institutions, and be on multiple psychotropic drugs, particularly neuroleptics. The implication of this for adequate provision of psychiatric and social service is discussed. Only a small number of patients exhibited aggressive behaviour as a feature of their presentation.