Theoretical perspective concerning effects of environment on SDAT patients as a function of cognitive and behavioral functioning

Abstract

The frequency of seven disruptive behaviors and the average intensity ratings of these behaviors were measuredfor 31 residents of Alzheimer group homes. A correlation design was used to investigate whether the behavior patterns of the subjects changed as a result of altering the residential environment through the introduction of Christmas holiday stimuli. A related goal was to assess whether such changes in behavior patterns were associated with the residents' levels of impairment. The study consisted of three, three-week phases. One group home served as the experimental condition in which Christmas stimuli were present for one week, while the comparison group consisted of two facilities which observed Christmas over a three-week period. Zero-order and partial correlations were computed comparing the three phases and controlled for the experimental condition. Results indicated that the introduction of holiday stimuli had a significant impact on the intensity of disruptive behaviors in both the experimental and comparison groups. This result was less consistent for the average frequency of the behaviors. When controlling for the influence of stage of Alzheimer's, a significant change in both the frequency and intensity of behaviors was obtained only when comparing phases one and two. Thus, regardless of stage, both the occurrence and the severity of behaviors were consistent before the introduction of the holiday stimuli. However, the means of the frequencies and average intensities of the behaviors reflected an increase in the disruptive behaviors upon introduction of the stimuli. In addition, higher stage levels were shown to be associated with greater increases in both the frequencies and intensities of the behaviors.