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Pharmacologic treatment of agitation associated with dementia
Risse SC, Barnes R.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1986-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Pharmacotherapy of aggressive or agitated behaviors in the dementia patient has not been studied extensively, despite the prevalence of this problem. Neuroleptics have the most support for efficacy, with shorter acting benzodiazepines demonstrating benefit on occasion. However, studies done to date indicate that these drugs are effective only for a minority of patients and that side effects frequently make patients worse. Other medications, such as propranolol, carbamazepine, or lithium, may be helpful, but their efficacy in dementia patients has not been demonstrated in placebo-controlled studies. Until such studies are done, their use is most appropriate in special patient groups or in patients who have failed neuroleptic or benzodiazepine treatment. More studies are needed in elderly patients evaluating effectiveness of pharmacologic agents in specific types of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Most studies done to date have been of relatively short duration, usually two months or less. Because these medications often are given to dementia patients for prolonged periods, studies are needed to define the long-term clinical efficacy of these agents. In the clinical setting, these agents should be reduced periodically or discontinued to determine ongoing need. In addition, environmental, social, or behavioral methods of reducing agitated behaviors need to be explored as an adjunct to any medication trial.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Risse, S. C., & Barnes, R. (1986). Pharmacologic treatment of agitation associated with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04320.x
Vancouver
Risse SC, Barnes R. Pharmacologic treatment of agitation associated with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 1986. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04320.x. PMID: 2870097.
BibTeX
@article{risse1986-2870097,
author = {Risse, S. C. and Barnes, R.},
title = {{Pharmacologic treatment of agitation associated with dementia}},
journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society},
year = {1986},
doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04320.x},
pmid = {2870097},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04320.x}
}
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Key findings
- However, studies done to date indicate that these drugs are effective only for a minority of patients and that side effects frequently make patients worse.
- Other medications, such as propranolol, carbamazepine, or lithium, may be helpful, but their efficacy in dementia patients has not been demonstrated in placebo-controlled studies.
Why it matters
This review of pharmacologic treatment for agitation in dementia found that neuroleptics have the most support but are effective only for a minority of patients, and that side effects frequently make patients worse. It concerns managing agitation symptoms, not treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease itself.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: journal h-index 344 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1986 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 123 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.9 citations a year over 42 year(s) since 1986 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Robert Barnes: h-index 19 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 2870097) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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