Correlates of disruptive behavior in cognitively impaired elderly nursing home residents.

Disruptive behavior, resulting in negative consequences for both residents and caregivers, occurs in a large proportion of the nursing home population. This review of literature surveys studies that describe disruptive behavior and the correlates of this behavior in the cognitively impaired elderly. In the studies reviewed, the average prevalence of reported disruptive behavior among a total of 5,650 subjects was 42.8%. Correlates most frequently linked with disruptive behavior include cognitive status, functional ability, age, and premorbid personality. Suggestions for future research are discussed.