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Case-Controlled Study of Nursing Home Residents Referred for Treatment of Vocally Disruptive Behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2005

Brian Draper
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
John Snowdon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Susanne Meares
Affiliation:
Department of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
Jane Turner
Affiliation:
Department of Aged Care & Rehabilitation, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, Australia
Peter Gonski
Affiliation:
School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Bryan McMinn
Affiliation:
Hunter Mental Health Service, James Fletcher Hospital, Newcastle, Australia
Helen McIntosh
Affiliation:
Department of Aged Care Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia.
Linda Latham
Affiliation:
Department of Aged Care & Rehabilitation, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, Australia
Deborah Draper
Affiliation:
School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
Georgina Luscombe
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with vocally disruptive behavior (VDB) in nursing home patients referred to aged care services for treatment, using a case-control methodology. Characteristics of the VDB, reasons for referral, perceived causal factors, and psychotropic use were noted. Twenty-five subjects and controls were examined with the Screaming Behavior Mapping Instrument, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale, and measures of cognition, functional capacity, social activities, and emotional reactions of nursing staff. VDB was associated with other disturbed behaviors, depression, anxiety, severe dementia, functional impairment, communication difficulties, use of psychotropic medication, social isolation, and emotional distress in the nursing staff. Reasons for referral may relate more to the stress experienced by nursing home staff in managing VDB than to specific attributes of the VDB itself.

Type
Articles
Copyright
© 2000 International Psychogeriatric Association

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