Post-traumatic stress disorder and prediction of aggression in persons with dementia

Abstract

Objective: This prospective cohort study evaluated the potential of increased aggression in patients with dementia who had a preexisting diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with those without a diagnosis of PTSD.

Methods: Patients more than 60 years of age with newly diagnosed dementia between 2001 and 2004 were identified from the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Houston, TX. Among these patients, we identified patients with a preexisting diagnosis of PTSD. The proportions of patients who became aggressive within 2 years of enrollment were compared in patients with and without PTSD. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare differences in the number of PTSD patients with and without aggression.

Results: A total of 215 patients were identified with newly diagnosed dementia. Ten were found to have a diagnosis of PTSD, and 205 did not. Eighty-four (41%) of the 205 were found to be aggressive. Among the 10 patients with a diagnosis of PTSD, 4 (40%) were aggressive.

Conclusion: There was no evidence to support an increased risk of aggression in patients with a coexisting diagnosis of dementia and PTSD.