Problematic Behavior and the Alzheimer Patient: Retrospection as a Method of Understanding and Counseling

Abstract

Interviews with members of families of 9 Alzheime's diseasevictims revealed, not as expected by the families, continuity of behavior patterns from before until after onset of dementia. Frequency and intensity of some past behaviors apparently increased while their expression became inappropriate. An understanding of the relationship between behavior before the onset of disease and afterwards is helpful in counseling patients' families.