International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Oct 2011
ReviewPain treatment of agitation in patients with dementia: a systematic review.
Advancing age is associated with high prevalence of both dementia and pain. Dementia is frequently accompanied by distressing behavioral and psychological symptoms, including agitation and aggression, particularly in nursing home patients. The etiology of agitation is multifactorial. It has been suggested that un-diagnosed and untreated pain may contribute to agitation in people with dementia. If this is correct, individual pain treatment could be of benefit in ameliorating agitation and other behavioral changes in people with dementia. ⋯ There is a profound dearth of rigorous studies of the effect of pain treatment in patients with dementia and agitation. The available studies do not support the hypothesis that pain management reduces agitation in nursing-home patients with dementia. Randomized, controlled parallel-group studies are needed.