Management of Behavioral Problems In Dementia

摘要

Behavioral problems are common in dementia: up to 80% to 90% of patients develop at least one distressing symptom during the course of their illness. 1 A common descriptor to describe many of these symptoms is " agitation" ( inap- propriate verbal, vocal, or motor activ- ity that is not judged by an outside ob- server to result directly from the needs or confusion of the individual). 2 Cohen- Mansfield has described four types of agitated behavior 1) verbally non-ag- gressive, e.g., complaining, negativism, repetitive sentences or questions, con- stant unwarranted requests for help; 2) verbally aggressive, e.g., screaming, ver- bal sexual advances or remarks, making strange noises, cursing; 3) physically non-aggressive, e.g., performing repeti- tious mannerisms, inappropriate dress- ing and disrobing, eating inappropriate substances, handling things inappropri- ately, trying to get to a different place, pacing, aimless wandering, moving fur- niture and things around, intentional falling, general restlessness, hoarding things, hiding things; and 4) physically aggressive, e.g., sexual advances, hurt- ing self and others, throwing things, scratching, grabbing, pushing, kicking, biting hitting.