Steps To Managing Difficult Behavior In People With Dementia

摘要

Both rising life-expectancy and dementia prevalence increasethe likelihood of agitation and the accompanying behavioraland psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Unfortunately,such behaviors result in an everyday struggle for manyvictims and their caregivers. Agitation has been defined as anyverbal, vocal, or motor activity which is not judged by an outsideobserver to result directly from the needs or confusion ofthe agitated individual.1 In other words, the cause of the behavioris not readily apparent.Many clinicians manage problem behaviors by trial anderror. But a systematic approach with consistent behavior documentationand sequence to a series of approaches can help establishwhich factors contribute to the agitation, and how thebehaviors respond to each intervention. In general, we recommenda consistent approach to assessment, followed by nonpharmacologicand pharmacologic interventions, and a monitoringstrategy.