A short-term inpatient program for agitated demented nursing home residents. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: This case series describes the various contributors of disruptive behavior in demented nursing home residents and outlines the necessary steps to identify and treat them. DESIGN: Evaluation of overall clinical improvement and agitation at discharge from the hospital and at follow-up. SETTING: Nursing home residents consecutively admitted to the geriatric psychiatry service of a psychiatric university hospital in the New York metropolitan area. PATIENTS: 15 elderly demented nursing home residents with agitation. MEASURES: Overall clinical improvement was assessed with the 'global assessment of functioning scale'. Agitation was evaluated with the 'brief agitation rating scale' and the 'nursing home scale for agitation'. Medication side-effects were measured with the 'Simpson-Angus scale' and the 'abnormal involuntary movement scale'. RESULTS: The patients showed significantly more overall clinical improvement at discharge compared with admission. Additionally, agitation scores were significantly lower at discharge and at follow-up compared with admission. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive medical and neurological assessment, an accurate identification of comorbid psychopathology, evaluation of drug toxicity, and a thorough history of psychotropic medication trials are essential steps for a successful treatment.

publication date

  • September 1, 2001

Research

keywords

  • Dementia
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Nursing Homes
  • Psychomotor Agitation

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0034810639

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/gps.437

PubMed ID

  • 11571766

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 16

issue

  • 9