Violence and psychogeriatric inpatients

Abstract

SUMMARYThe characteristics of all the patients admitted to an acute psychogeriatric admission ward over a 24-month period were examined. The patients who had been responsible for acts of violence on the ward were compared with those who had not. Violent patients were likely to be younger, not to be depressed, to have dementia, and to be discharged to a more dependent setting, particularly a long-stay psychogeriatric ward. The implication of this for adequate provision of psychiatric and social services is discussed. Levels of violence were low with only a small number of patients exhibiting violent behaviour.KEY wows-Aggression, violence, behaviour disturbance, dementia, depression, long-stay psychogeriatric ward.

Behavioural symptoms in the institutionalized elderly—relationship to dementia

“…Furthermore, of all the types of behaviour measured, aggressive behaviour showed the highest correlation with dementia. This agrees with results of Shah (1992), who found that the diagnosis of dementia was positively associated with violence in psychogeriatric patients. Furthermore, we found that poor ADL function and speech disturbance correlated with aggressive behaviour.…”

Behavioural symptoms in the institutionalized elderly—relationship to dementia

“…Furthermore, of all the types of behaviour measured, aggressive behaviour showed the highest correlation with dementia. This agrees with results of Shah (1992), who found that the diagnosis of dementia was positively associated with violence in psychogeriatric patients. Furthermore, we found that poor ADL function and speech disturbance correlated with aggressive behaviour.…”

Violence among psychogeriatric inpatients with dementia

“…The author has previously reported on violent behaviour among all diagnostic groups on a psychogeriatric ward over a 2-year period (Shah, 1992b). In that study, consistent with previous reports, violence was associated with dementia (Prinsley, 1973;Petri et al, 1982); thus, it was considered important to further investigate violence in the subsample of dementia patients, and the study period was extended by a further year in order to accumulate a sufficient number of dementia patients.…”

“…Thirdly, forms of behaviour disturbance other than violence may be more prevalent in the elderly (Shah, 1991). Fourthly, the ward milieu and treatment strategies may reduce violent behaviour (Shah, 1991). Finally, the levels of violence may be genuinely low.…”

“…Secondly, the nursing staff may not perceive the elderly as threatening, and under- report violent incidents (Shah, 1991). Thirdly, forms of behaviour disturbance other than violence may be more prevalent in the elderly (Shah, 1991). Fourthly, the ward milieu and treatment strategies may reduce violent behaviour (Shah, 1991).…”

Physical assaults by psychogeriatric patients: Patient characteristics and implications for placement

“…Elderly female patients have accounted for more assaults than elderly male patients (Hodgkinson et al, 1985), and elderly male patients more than elderly female patients (Kalunian et al, 1990). Patel and Hope (1992), Tardiff and Sweillam (1979) and Shah (1992) found no gender differences between elderly violent patients. For elderly patients suffering from dementia, Haller et al (1989) found that sex was not significant, but Burns et af.…”

Behavioural symptoms in the institutionalized elderly—relationship to dementia

“…Furthermore, of all the types of behaviour measured, aggressive behaviour showed the highest correlation with dementia. This agrees with results of Shah (1992), who found that the diagnosis of dementia was positively associated with violence in psychogeriatric patients. Furthermore, we found that poor ADL function and speech disturbance correlated with aggressive behaviour.…”

Violence among psychogeriatric inpatients with dementia

“…The author has previously reported on violent behaviour among all diagnostic groups on a psychogeriatric ward over a 2-year period (Shah, 1992b). In that study, consistent with previous reports, violence was associated with dementia (Prinsley, 1973;Petri et al, 1982); thus, it was considered important to further investigate violence in the subsample of dementia patients, and the study period was extended by a further year in order to accumulate a sufficient number of dementia patients.…”

“…Thirdly, forms of behaviour disturbance other than violence may be more prevalent in the elderly (Shah, 1991). Fourthly, the ward milieu and treatment strategies may reduce violent behaviour (Shah, 1991). Finally, the levels of violence may be genuinely low.…”

“…Secondly, the nursing staff may not perceive the elderly as threatening, and under- report violent incidents (Shah, 1991). Thirdly, forms of behaviour disturbance other than violence may be more prevalent in the elderly (Shah, 1991). Fourthly, the ward milieu and treatment strategies may reduce violent behaviour (Shah, 1991).…”

Physical assaults by psychogeriatric patients: Patient characteristics and implications for placement

“…Elderly female patients have accounted for more assaults than elderly male patients (Hodgkinson et al, 1985), and elderly male patients more than elderly female patients (Kalunian et al, 1990). Patel and Hope (1992), Tardiff and Sweillam (1979) and Shah (1992) found no gender differences between elderly violent patients. For elderly patients suffering from dementia, Haller et al (1989) found that sex was not significant, but Burns et af.…”

Behavioural symptoms in the institutionalized elderly—relationship to dementia

“…Furthermore, of all the types of behaviour measured, aggressive behaviour showed the highest correlation with dementia. This agrees with results of Shah (1992), who found that the diagnosis of dementia was positively associated with violence in psychogeriatric patients. Furthermore, we found that poor ADL function and speech disturbance correlated with aggressive behaviour.…”

Violence among psychogeriatric inpatients with dementia

“…The author has previously reported on violent behaviour among all diagnostic groups on a psychogeriatric ward over a 2-year period (Shah, 1992b). In that study, consistent with previous reports, violence was associated with dementia (Prinsley, 1973;Petri et al, 1982); thus, it was considered important to further investigate violence in the subsample of dementia patients, and the study period was extended by a further year in order to accumulate a sufficient number of dementia patients.…”

“…Thirdly, forms of behaviour disturbance other than violence may be more prevalent in the elderly (Shah, 1991). Fourthly, the ward milieu and treatment strategies may reduce violent behaviour (Shah, 1991). Finally, the levels of violence may be genuinely low.…”

“…Secondly, the nursing staff may not perceive the elderly as threatening, and under- report violent incidents (Shah, 1991). Thirdly, forms of behaviour disturbance other than violence may be more prevalent in the elderly (Shah, 1991). Fourthly, the ward milieu and treatment strategies may reduce violent behaviour (Shah, 1991).…”

Physical assaults by psychogeriatric patients: Patient characteristics and implications for placement

“…Elderly female patients have accounted for more assaults than elderly male patients (Hodgkinson et al, 1985), and elderly male patients more than elderly female patients (Kalunian et al, 1990). Patel and Hope (1992), Tardiff and Sweillam (1979) and Shah (1992) found no gender differences between elderly violent patients. For elderly patients suffering from dementia, Haller et al (1989) found that sex was not significant, but Burns et af.…”