Self-injurious behavior in elderly patients with dementia: four case reports.

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a polymorphous and poorly understood phenomenon, probably representing the final common pathway arising from a variety of etiologies. SIB is a clinical problem that affects elderly patients, but has received little attention. Although the specific prevalence rates of SIB in elderly patients with dementia is unknown, the lack of data is striking, considering the frequency with which geriatric psychiatrists may be consulted for these and related behavioral problems. The authors present four cases of elderly patients with SIB and dementia who responded favorably to psychopharmacologic treatment.