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Challenging Behaviours in Dementia: a Project at Hornsby/Ku‐Ring‐Gai Hospital

Abstract: This paper introduces a two year study at Hornsby/Ku‐Ring‐Gai Hospital which aims to shed more light on the nature of behaviour problems in dementia, and on methods of dealing with them. Rather than trialing a standard therapeutic technique across a range of behaviours, the project attempts to reflect what is often a complex clinical situation not amenable to standard answers. A series of interventions is being instituted in a controlled trial on the assumption that each case is idiosyncratic both in aetiology and other variables which affect treatment choice. Data are collected on quantitative and qualitative aspects of each case, including presumed causes of the behaviour. Outcome is assessed two and five months after the intervention using measures of patient behaviour, and of carer distress, coping and perception of the problem.