Rachelle S Doody

Publications (2)7.94 Total impact

• Article: Causes of aggressive behavior in patients with dementia.

  Mark E Kunik, A Lynn Snow, Jessica A Davila, Avila B Steele, Valli Balasubramanyam, Rachelle S Doody, Paul E Schulz, Jagadeesh S Kalavar, Robert O Morgan
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  ABSTRACT: To examine factors predicting development of aggression. Community-dwelling patients over 60 years of age in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center who had a documented ICD-9-CM code for dementia within 12 months of screening and no other dementia codes recorded for 2 preceding years but no aggressive behavior during the 12 months preceding study initiation were assessed every 4 months for 24 months for aggression, depression, pain, patient/caregiver relationship quality (mutuality), involvement in pleasant events, and caregiver burden. The study was conducted from September 5, 2003, to June 10, 2005. Of 215 patients, 89 (41%) developed aggression. In individual models, high baseline mutuality decreased risk of aggression; high burden and pain increased risk. Increases in depression and pain and declines in total mutuality also increased risk. In a full model and step-wise model, high levels of baseline caregiver burden, worst pain, and decline in mutuality over time increased risk of aggression. Many dementia patients become aggressive. Higher levels of worst pain, caregiver burden, and declining mutuality over time increase risk of aggression.
  The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 03/2010; 71(9):1145-52. · 5.80 Impact Factor
• Article: Factors affecting deficit awareness in persons with dementia.

  A Lynn Snow, David P Graham, Victor A Molinari, Claudia A Orengo, Rachelle S Doody, Margaret P Norris, Mark E Kunik
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  ABSTRACT: This study examined factors affecting deficit awareness (DA) and the effects of diagnostic status (dementia and depression), measurement method and DA dimension on these relationships. One hundred and twenty-one participants (66 persons with dementia and 55 persons without dementia, matched for depression diagnosis) were enrolled, each with a family informant. Participant DA (clinician and informant rated), cognitive impairment, physical illness, functional disability and caregiver burden were assessed. Factors affecting DA included presence of dementia, presence of depression, cognitive impairment, caregiver burden, and functional disability. The relationship between these factors and DA varied by DA dimension. DA measurement method was an important moderating variable; clinicians may be better at evaluating cognitive DA whereas informants may be better at evaluating functional and emotional/behavioral DA.
  Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 02/2005; 20(2-3):133-9. · 2.14 Impact Factor