Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2003 Jul-Aug;18(4):227-30.
doi: 10.1177/153331750301800408.

Restraint procedures and dementia sufferers with psychological trauma

Raymond B Flannery Jr  1
Affiliations
Review

Restraint procedures and dementia sufferers with psychological trauma

Raymond B Flannery Jr. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2003 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Restraint is an extreme response to an emergency situation in which there is imminent harm to self or others. Although some restrained patients become calm, others may become even more behaviorally disorganized. In some of these latter cases, the restrained patients may be victims of violence for whom the restraint procedure acts as a symbolic reminder of the past victimization. Elderly dementia sufferers may also be among these victims of violence. This paper provides a brief review of psychological trauma, research findings on psychological trauma in the elderly, and an approach to modifying restraint procedures that may be needed for dementia sufferers with a past history of victimization to minimize the disquiet associated with the needed restraint.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Medical Directors Council, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors: Reducing the use of seclusion and restraint: Findings, strategies, and recommendations. Emerg Psychiatry. 2000; 6: 7-13.
    1. Department of Mental Health: Clinical Guidelines: DMH Clients with a History of Trauma. Boston, MA: The Author, 1996.
    1. Baxter E, Hafner RJ, Holme G: Assaults by patients: The experience and attitudes of psychiatric hospital nurses. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1992: 26(4): 567-573. - PubMed
    1. van Achterberg ME, Rohrbaugh RM, Southwick SM: Emergence of PTSD in trauma survivors with dementia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001; 62(3): 206-207. - PubMed
    1. Guerrero J, Crocq MA: Sleep disorders in the elderly: Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. J Psychosom Res. 1994; 38 Suppl 1: 141-150. - PubMed

MeSH terms