Agitated dementia: Drug vs nondrug treatment
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 1998 April;65(4):191-196, 198-199
April 1, 1998|Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
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ABSTRACT
When an elderly patient with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia exhibits agitated behavior, the caregiver often wants the physician to “do something”—ie, give a neuroleptic drug. Yet, an individualized, rational approach to identify and treat the cause of the agitation is more effective. We present an algorithm that emphasizes environmental and behavioral therapy.
