Treating the agitated Alzheimer patient.

Dementia is a syndrome that consists of cognitive, psychiatric, and behavioral changes. Studies report from 42% to 62% of nursing home residents and at least 50% of outpatients with dementia exhibit behavioral disturbances. Agitation is a frequent behavioral disturbance associated with dementia. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) regulations have made it imperative that physicians review and be familiar with alternative treatment options. We review and present strategies for the evaluation and treatment of agitation in demented patients.