Severe Family Violence and Alzheimer's Disease: Prevalence and Risk Factors

TLDR

The study aims to describe the prevalence of violence and its putative risk factors among 184 Alzheimer patients and their primary caregivers in the community. The authors assessed violence using the severe violence subscale of the Conflict Tactics Scale among patients and caregivers. Among the cohort, 15.8% of patients and 5.4% of caregivers reported violence in the past year, yielding an overall prevalence of 17.4%, with caregiver depression and living arrangement being the strongest associated factors.

Abstract

This study describes the prevalence of violence and the putative risk factors for violence in 184 Alzheimer patients and their primary caregivers living in the community. Analysis of the severe violence subscale of the Conflict Tactics Scale indicated that 15.8% of patients had been violent in the year since diagnosis. A total of 5.4% of caregivers reported being violent toward the patient. The overall prevalence of violence was 17.4%. The variables most associated with violence were caregiver depression and living arrangement.