Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Aggression in Persons with Dementia: A Review of the Literature (Report‪)‬

The Problem of Aggression Studies examining aggression in persons with dementia typically define aggression in terms of a variety of physical (e.g., hitting, pinching, biting) and/or verbal (e.g., cursing, threatening) behaviors. Estimates of the prevalence of aggression in cognitively impaired individuals vary widely from study to study, likely due to variations in definition of aggression and how aggression was measured. These estimates range from 13-86% (Deutsch, Bylsma, Rovner, Steelt, & Folstein, 1991; Hamel, et al, 1990; Lyketosos, et al., 2000; Pavesa, et al., 1992; Ryden, Bossenmaier, & McLachlan, 1991; Swearer, Drachman, O'Donnell, & Mitchell, 1988; Zimmerman, Watson & Treat, 1984). Aggressive behavior is also strongly correlated with greater dependence during self-care (Schreiner, 2001). These numbers suggest that aggression in persons with dementia is a significant problem and becomes more likely as the disease progresses.