Applied behavior analysis for behavior problems in Alzheimer's disease

While psychoactive drugs are the usual treatment choice for problem behaviors in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), non-drug treatments are increasingly sought. This article describes applied behavior analysis, the predominant nondrug treatment approach for behavior problems in people with cognitive impairments associated with developmental disabilities. Applied behavior analysis identifies the causes of an individual's problem behavior through "functional assessment" and then employs treatment methods that address those causes. Functional assessment seeks information on environmental and internal factors influencing a problem behavior, emphasizing the function or purpose the problem behavior serves for the individual. Applied behavior analysis merits further investigation as a treatment approach to behavior problems in AD.