Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Challenging Behavior

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Geropsychology

  • 96 Accesses

Synonyms

Maladaptive behaviors; Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia; Problem behaviors

Definition

Challenging behaviors among individuals with dementia are defined as maladaptive behaviors that contribute to a diminished quality of life for an individual or constitute a danger to the individual, other residents, or caregivers. Challenging behaviors typically include verbally or physically aggressive behavior, agitation, sexually inappropriate behavior, or wandering. Interventions discussed in this entry include medications, behavioral interventions, systematic individualized interventions, cognitive/emotion-oriented interventions, sensory stimulation interventions, and psychosocial interventions. For each intervention, a brief description is provided and the effectiveness of the intervention discussed.

Introduction

In 2013 the number of individuals with dementia worldwide was estimated to be 44.4 million, and this number is expected to increase substantially over the next 15 years...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alzheimer’s Disease International. (2015). The global voice on dementia: Dementia statistics. Retrieved from http://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics 22 Feb 2015.

  • Bernabei, V., De Ronchi, D., La Ferla, T., Moretti, F., Tonelli, L., Ferrari, B., Forlani, M., & Atti, A. R. (2013). Animal-assisted interventions for elderly patients affected by dementia or psychiatric disorders: A review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47, 762–773.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, M. H., Lonergan, E., & Lee, H. (2009). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, J. C. C. & Lai, C. K. Y. (2009). Snoezelen for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, CD003152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Mansfield, J., Thein, K., Marx, M. S., Dakheel-Ali, M., & Freedman, L. (2012). Efficacy of nonpharmacologic interventions for agitation in advanced dementia: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 73, 1255–1261.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eggermont, L. H. P., & Scherder, E. J. A. (2006). Physical activity and behaviour in dementia: A review of the literature and implications for psychosocial intervention in primary care. Dementia, 5, 411–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, D., Thiessen, E. J., Blake, C. M., Forbes, S. C., & Forbes, S. (2013). Exercise programs for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD006489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, D., Blake, C. M., Thiessen, E. J., Peacock, S., & Hawranik, P. (2014). Light therapy for improving cognition, activities of daily living, sleep, challenging behavior, and psychiatric disturbances in dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD003946.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, N. V., Jørgensen T., & Ørtenblad, L. (2008). Massage and touch for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, CD004989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyn, P., Abreu, B. C., & Ottenbacher, K. J. (2004). The effects of exercise training on elderly persons with cognitive impairment and dementia: A meta-analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85, 1694–1704.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kales, H. C., Gitlin, L. N., & Lyketsos, C. G. (2014). Management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in clinical settings: Recommendations from a multidisciplinary expert panel. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 62, 762–769.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamioka, H., Okada, S., Tsutani, K., Park, H., Okuizumi, H., Handa, S., Oshio, T., Park, S. J., Kitayuguchi, J., Abe, T., Honda, T., & Mutoh, Y. (2014). Effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22, 371–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, G., Johnston, K., Katona, C., Paton, J., & Lyketsos, C. G. (2005). Systematic review of psychological approaches to the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 1996–2021.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, G., Kelly, L., Lewis-Holmes, E., Baio, G., Morris, S., Patel, N., Omar, R. Z., Katona, C., & Cooper, C. (2014). Non-pharmacological interventions for agitation in dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. British Journal of Psychiatry, 205, 436–442.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDermott, O., Crellin, N., Ridder, H. M., & Orrell, M. (2013). Music therapy in dementia: A narrative synthesis systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28, 781–794.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moniz-Cook, E., Swift, K., James, I., Malouf, R., DeVugt, M., & Verhey, F. (2012). Functional analysis-based interventions for challenging behavior in dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD006929.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyle, W., Murfield, J. E., O’Dwyer, S., & Van Wyk, S. (2012). The effect of massage on agitated behaviours in older people with dementia: A literature review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22, 601–610.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). (2007). Dementia: A NICE–SCIE Guideline on supporting people with dementia and their careers in health and social care. National Clinical Practice Guideline Number 42. The British Psychological Society and Gaskell

    Google Scholar 

  • Neal, M. & Barton Wright, P. (2005). Validation therapy for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, CD001394.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, M., Freeman, M., Christensen, V. Telerant, A., Addleman, A., & Kansagara, D. (2011). Non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral symptoms of dementia: A systematic review of the evidence. VA-ESP Project #05-225. Evidence-based Synthesis Program, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitz, D. P., Adunuri. N., Gill S. S., Herrmann, N., & Rochon, P. (2011). Antidepressants for agitation and psychosis in dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD008191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spira, A., & Edelstein, B. (2006). Behavioral interventions for agitation in older adults with dementia: An evaluative review. International Psychogeriatrics, 18(2), 195–225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vink, A. C., Bruinsma, M. S., & Scholten, R. J. P. M. (2011). Music therapy for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, CD003477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, B., Spector, A. E., Jones, C. A., Orrell, M., & Davies, S. P. (2009). Reminiscence therapy for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, CD001120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, B., Aguirre, E., Spector, A. E., & Orrell, M. (2012). Cognitive stimulation to improve cognitive functioning in people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD005562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zetteler, J. (2008). Effectiveness of simulated presence therapy for individuals with dementia: Asystematic review and meta-analysis. Aging & Mental Health, 12, 779–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, 6040, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6040, USA

    Casey Cavanagh & Barry Edelstein

Authors
  1. Casey Cavanagh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Barry Edelstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Casey Cavanagh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this entry

Cite this entry

Cavanagh, C., Edelstein, B. (2017). Challenging Behavior. In: Pachana, N.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-082-7_174

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation