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Vocally disruptive behavior in the elderly: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2008

Armin von Gunten ,
Abdel-Messieh Alnawaqil ,
Christoph Abderhalden ,
Ian Needham  and
Brigitte Schupbach
Armin von Gunten*
Affiliation:
Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé (SUPAA), Prilly, Switzerland Research Group of the Swiss Society for Old Age Psychiatry
Abdel-Messieh Alnawaqil
Affiliation:
Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé (SUPAA), Prilly, Switzerland
Christoph Abderhalden
Affiliation:
Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste, Bern, Switzerland Research Group of the Swiss Society for Old Age Psychiatry
Ian Needham
Affiliation:
Ian Needham, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, St. Gallen, Switzerland Research Group of the Swiss Society for Old Age Psychiatry
Brigitte Schupbach
Affiliation:
Brigitte Schüpbach, Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie, Bern, Switzerland Research Group of the Swiss Society for Old Age Psychiatry
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Armin von Gunten, Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé (SUPAA), Département de Psychiatrie – CHUV, Rte du Mont, 1008 Prilly VD, Switzerland. Phone: +41 21 643 62 67; Fax: +41 21 643 62 38. Email: armin.von-gunten@chuv.ch.
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Abstract

Background: Vocally disruptive behavior (VDB) in the elderly is a common condition, especially in people with dementia, but difficult to treat. It may occur in as many as 40% of nursing home residents. This study is a review of the existing literature on this condition.

Method: The literature review was conducted using PubMed (particularly Medline and the Cochrane database) and reference lists from relevant publications in English, French, and German.

Results: Most studies are small and no conclusive prevalence data are available. Many biological and psychosocial treatments have been advocated, but most studies are little more than anecdotal case reports. It is evident that VDB can have deleterious consequences on others and the patients themselves, although no studies specifically examine the range or the pervasiveness of VDB. Etiopathogenic research on VDB is still in its infancy.

Conclusions: Most aspects surrounding VDB are insufficiently understood. The heterogeneity and multiple contributive factors regarding VDB suggest quite convincingly that a panoply of different interventions tailored to the individual's needs will be required to overcome VDB and the suffering related to it.

Keywords

behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementiaagitationelderlydementiatreatment
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 653 - 672
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2008

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