Relationship between aggressive behaviors and depression among nursing home residents with dementia

Background Verbal and physical aggression are common behavior problems among nursing home residents with dementia. Depression among nursing home residents is also a common but underdiagnosed disorder. Method Data collected on 1101 residents with dementia, newly admitted to a sample of 59 nursing homes across Maryland, were analyzed to determine if there was a relationship between depression and physical and verbal aggression. Results Residents with dementia who manifested physical or verbal aggression had a higher prevalence of depression than those without such behaviors (p<0.05). Conclusions Our findings suggest that nursing home residents with aggressive behaviors should be screened for depression and treated. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.