Agitated behavior in the cognitively impaired elderly.

The study of agitation is of interest to caregivers because of potential nursing interventions that could be implemented to prevent or alleviate these behaviors. To ensure an effective plan of care for agitated patients, it is essential that the assessment be based on an objective measurement of the observed agitated behavior. Reliability and validity of the three instruments used to measure agitation were supported; however, none were considered an ideal tool for use with this population because frequently observed behaviors fell into the nonspecific "other" category. Agitated behaviors were highly variable among the subjects in this study; thus, no predictable pattern of occurrence could be established.