Probable Reasons for Expressed Agitation in Persons with Dementia

Nursing home patients with dementia were videotaped in three previous studies. Sixty sequences of nine patients exhibiting agitated behaviors were examined to identify the most probable antecedents to agitation. Probable reasons were interpreted and applied to the Progressively Lowered Stress Thresh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical nursing research 1998-05, Vol.7 (2), p.189-206
Main Authors: Ragneskog, Hans, Gerdner, Linda A., Josefsson, Karin, Kihlgren, Mona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Agitation
Anxiety
Behavior
Conflict (Psychology)
Dementia
Dementia - complications
Female
Health Facility Environment
Humans
Internal-External Control
Male
Noise - adverse effects
Nurse-Patient Relations
Nursing
Nursing Homes
Nursing Methodology Research
Older people
Patient Participation
Patients
Personal Space
Psychomotor Agitation - etiology
Psychomotor Agitation - nursing
Psychomotor Agitation - psychology
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological - etiology
Stress, Psychological - nursing
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Videotape Recording
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Summary:Nursing home patients with dementia were videotaped in three previous studies. Sixty sequences of nine patients exhibiting agitated behaviors were examined to identify the most probable antecedents to agitation. Probable reasons were interpreted and applied to the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold model, which suggests that agitation is stress related. Analysis suggests that agitation often serves as form of communication. Two underlying reasons seem to be that the patient had loss of control over the situation and deficient autonomy. The most common causes for expressed agitation were interpreted as discomfort, a wish to be served immediately, conflict between patients or with nursing staff, reactions to environmental noises or sound, and invasion of personal space. It is recommended that nursing staff promote autonomy and independency for this group of patients whenever possible. By evaluating probable reasons for expressed agitation, the nursing staff can take steps to prevent or alleviate agitation.
ISSN:1054-7738
1552-3799
DOI:10.1177/105477389800700207