Review: Verbal Agitation in Dementia: the Role of Discomfort

Overview

Journal Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Neurology

Date 2010 Feb 10

PMID 20142626

Citations 3

Authors

Marianne Lemay

Philippe Landreville

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Verbal agitation (VA) is a disturbing and commonly observed behavioral symptom in people with dementia. Although several different variables contribute to VA, it seems that discomfort plays an important role. The overall objective of this article is to review the relationship between VA and discomfort among people with dementia. Specifically, this article discusses the place of discomfort within the conceptualizations of VA, empirical support for the association between discomfort and VA, and practical implications of this relationship in the assessment and treatment of VA. This article contributes to a better understanding of VA and provides recommendations for prevention and effective intervention.

Citing Articles

Physiological Profiling of Agitation in Dementia: Insights From Wearable Sensor Data.

Davidoff H, Van Kraaij A, Van den Bulcke L, Lutin E, Vandenbulcke M, Helleputte N Innov Aging. 2024; 8(7):igae057.

PMID: 38974775 PMC: 11227003. DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igae057.

Two-Hourly Repositioning for Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in the Elderly: Patient Safety or Elder Abuse?.

Sharp C, Schulz Moore J, McLaws M J Bioeth Inq. 2019; 16(1):17-34.

PMID: 30671872 PMC: 6474851. DOI: 10.1007/s11673-018-9892-3.

Frontal White Matter Hyperintensity Is Associated with Verbal Aggressiveness in Elderly Women with Alzheimer Disease and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Ogama N, Sakurai T, Saji N, Nakai T, Niida S, Toba K Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2018; 8(1):138-150.

PMID: 29805380 PMC: 5968270. DOI: 10.1159/000486826.

References

Draper B, Snowdon J, Meares S, Turner J, Gonski P, McMinn B . Case-controlled study of nursing home residents referred for treatment of vocally disruptive behavior. Int Psychogeriatr. 2000; 12(3):333-44. DOI: 10.1017/s1041610200006438. View

Stevenson K, Brown R, Dahl J, Ward S, Brown M . The Discomfort Behavior Scale: a measure of discomfort in the cognitively impaired based on the Minimum Data Set 2.0. Res Nurs Health. 2006; 29(6):576-87. DOI: 10.1002/nur.20168. View

Alexopoulos G, ABRAMS R, Young R, SHAMOIAN C . Use of the Cornell scale in nondemented patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1988; 36(3):230-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1988.tb01806.x. View

Cohen-Mansfield J, Werner P, Marx M . An observational study of agitation in agitated nursing home residents. Int Psychogeriatr. 1989; 1(2):153-65. DOI: 10.1017/s1041610289000165. View

Huang H, Shyu Y, Chen M, Chen S, Lin L . A pilot study on a home-based caregiver training program for improving caregiver self-efficacy and decreasing the behavioral problems of elders with dementia in Taiwan. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003; 18(4):337-45. DOI: 10.1002/gps.835. View

Hall G, Buckwalter K . Progressively lowered stress threshold: a conceptual model for care of adults with Alzheimer's disease. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 1987; 1(6):399-406. View

Beck C, FRANK L, Chumbler N, OSullivan P, Vogelpohl T, Rasin J . Correlates of disruptive behavior in severely cognitively impaired nursing home residents. Gerontologist. 1998; 38(2):189-98. DOI: 10.1093/geront/38.2.189. View

McCurry S, Gibbons L, Logsdon R, Vitiello M, Teri L . Nighttime insomnia treatment and education for Alzheimer's disease: a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005; 53(5):793-802. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53252.x. View

Logsdon R, McCurry S, Teri L . Evidence-based psychological treatments for disruptive behaviors in individuals with dementia. Psychol Aging. 2007; 22(1):28-36. DOI: 10.1037/0882-7974.22.1.28. View

10.

Hurley A, Volicer B, Hanrahan P, Houde S, Volicer L . Assessment of discomfort in advanced Alzheimer patients. Res Nurs Health. 1992; 15(5):369-77. DOI: 10.1002/nur.4770150506. View

11.

Cohen-Mansfield J . Nonpharmacologic interventions for inappropriate behaviors in dementia: a review, summary, and critique. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001; 9(4):361-81. View

12.

Mantyselka P, Hartikainen S, Louhivuori-Laako K, Sulkava R . Effects of dementia on perceived daily pain in home-dwelling elderly people: a population-based study. Age Ageing. 2004; 33(5):496-9. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afh165. View

13.

Bliwise D, Carroll J, Lee K, Nekich J, Dement W . Sleep and "sundowning" in nursing home patients with dementia. Psychiatry Res. 1993; 48(3):277-92. DOI: 10.1016/0165-1781(93)90078-u. View

14.

Teri L, Gallagher-Thompson D . Cognitive-behavioral interventions for treatment of depression in Alzheimer's patients. Gerontologist. 1991; 31(3):413-6. DOI: 10.1093/geront/31.3.413. View

15.

Snowden M, Sato K, Roy-Byrne P . Assessment and treatment of nursing home residents with depression or behavioral symptoms associated with dementia: a review of the literature. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003; 51(9):1305-17. DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51417.x. View

16.

Kovach C, Noonan P, Schlidt A, Wells T . A model of consequences of need-driven, dementia-compromised behavior. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2005; 37(2):134-40. DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2005.00025_1.x. View

17.

Burgio L, Scilley K, Hardin J, Janosky J, Bonino P, Slater S . Studying disruptive vocalization and contextual factors in the nursing home using computer-assisted real-time observation. J Gerontol. 1994; 49(5):P230-9. DOI: 10.1093/geronj/49.5.p230. View

18.

Geda Y, Rummans T . Pain: cause of agitation in elderly individuals with dementia. Am J Psychiatry. 1999; 156(10):1662-3. DOI: 10.1176/ajp.156.10.1662-a. View

19.

Ray W, Taylor J, Lichtenstein M, Meador K . The Nursing Home Behavior Problem Scale. J Gerontol. 1992; 47(1):M9-16. DOI: 10.1093/geronj/47.1.m9. View

20.

Ancoli-Israel S, Klauber M, Jones D, Kripke D, Martin J, Mason W . Variations in circadian rhythms of activity, sleep, and light exposure related to dementia in nursing-home patients. Sleep. 1997; 20(1):18-23. View