Pain treatment of agitation in patients with dementia: a systematic review

@article{Huseb2011PainTO,
  title={Pain treatment of agitation in patients with dementia: a systematic review},
  author={Bettina Sandgathe Huseb{\o} and Clive G Ballard and Dag Aarsland},
  journal={International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry},
  year={2011},
  volume={26}
}
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… 
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Highly Influential Citations
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Background Citations
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96 Citations

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Treating pain in patients with dementia and the possible concomitant relief of symptoms of agitation.
TLDR
Agitation is a frequent symptom of dementia and may be associated with untreated pain as agitation and aggression symptoms decrease when pain is effectively addressed.
Pain Assessment and Treatment Challenges in Patients with Dementia
TLDR
The best available evidence regarding the frequency of pain and pain diagnosis in patients with dementia is summarized and most pain treatment recommendations are not based on the highest level of evidence.
Pain and agitation in dementia: a review of the literature
TLDR
A review looks at detecting and treating pain, and why pain may not be identified or is assessed incorrectly in patients with late-stage dementia.
Effect of therapeutic touch on agitated behavior in elderly patients with dementia: A review
Managing Pain to Prevent Aggression in People With Dementia
Aggression is a common form of behavioral disturbance in dementia. Strategies to prevent and treat aggressive behavior are underdeveloped. However, recent work points to several modifiable risk…
Pain Assessment and Treatment Challenges in Patients
TLDR
The best available evidence regarding the frequency of pain and pain diagnosis in patients with dementia is summarized and most pain treatment recommendations are not based on the highest level of evidence.
Effective Pain Management in Patients with Dementia: Benefits Beyond Pain?
TLDR
To ensure a better differential assessment of pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and consequently more accurate treatment for patients with dementia, studies with adequate statistical power and high-quality study designs, including randomized controlled trials, are needed.
Pain in patients with dementia: A review of pain assessment and treatment challenges
TLDR
The best available evidence regarding the frequency of pain and pain diagnosis in patients with dementia based on pain assessment and treatment recommendations for these individuals is summarized.
Pain management in patients with dementia
TLDR
To address the current inadequate management of pain in dementia, a comprehensive approach is needed, which would include an accurate, validated assessment tool that is sensitive to different types of pain and therapeutic effects, supported by better training and support for care staff across all settings.
CH 2 Pain management in patients ’ with dementia : a review
TLDR
To address the current inadequate management of pain in dementia, a comprehensive approach is needed, which would include an accurate, validated assessment tool that is sensitive to different types of pain and therapeutic effects, supported by better training and support for care staff across the world.
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