ggressive behavior in the elderly to specific forms of psychiatric illness. In non-psychiatric patients, aggression among the elderly is much less frequent. The authors further note that each type of psychiatric illness can, at least to some extent, be associated with different types and forms of aggression. These differences can be summarized as follows:
1. Aggression in Dementia - In these cases, aggression cannot be explained by the patient. It occurs impulsively and commonly when the older person is being attended to such as if he or she is being given a sponge bath in a nursing home. However, the person whose aggression results from dementia can be easily distracted from the target of the aggression and so the behavior may be easily stopped. Commonly, the elderly person whose aggression arises from Dementia will not even remember being aggressive or why.
2. Aggression in Delirium - Aggressive behavior on the part of the elderly person with delirium is often in response to certain delusions or hallucinations. Hassett and Hall (2003) report that in aggression in cases of older people with delirium tends to be random and unpredictable. There are commonly fluctuating aggressive episodes.
3. Aggression in Depression - Many older people suffer from depression (Leo, Sherry, DiMartino & Karusa, 2002). According to Hassett and Hall (2003), aggression triggered by depression often occurs when pati
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