Violence and dementia

Abstract Violence is an intense action or force intended to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy with the potential for causing death and disability. Most people with dementia undergo unpredictability behavioral changes during the course of the disease that might produce violent behavior. Indeed, dementing illnesses can cause dysfunction of the neural structures involved in inhibitory control, moral judgments, interpersonal conduct, and comprehension of social norms that may precipitate antisocial and violent behavior. The exact prevalence of violence in dementia is unknown. It often complicates nursing care, and any activity that involves the invasion of personal space increases the risk for assault. Episodes of violence have been associated with positive psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. We illustrate some sort of violent conducts in different types of dementia and describe nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic management of the problem.