# MANAGEMENT OF SCREAMING IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON · 1992 · $116,195

## Abstract

Vocally disruptive behaviors, which include screaming, shouting, and other
disturbing loud noises, are common in nursing homes.  The necessity for
managing these behaviors is widely recognized, and represents one of the
major challenges in long-term care.

The proposed study builds on the findings of our previous studies on the
understanding of behavioral problems in the nursing home.  These studies
showed that screaming is associated with cognitive impairment, depressed
affect, and with pain.  Additionally, in an in-depth study of highly
agitated nursing home residents, we found that verbally agitated behaviors,
such as screaming, were manifested less frequently when the residents were
exposed to music or to television, and when they were not alone.

The aim of the proposed study is to assess the effectiveness of several
interventions for the management of vocally disruptive behaviors. The
interventions are:  1) a thorough medical examination aimed at finding and
treating any underlying physiological reason for pain; 2) the use of music;
3) the presentation of a videotape of the resident's relatives, and 4)
direct social interaction.

The effect of these management techniques to control disruptive verbal
behaviors will be assessed in 56 nursing home residents.  In the first
phase of the study all participants will be exposed to the medical
intervention.  In the second phase, a pretest-posttest cross-over design
will be used. All participants will be exposed to all the management
interventions, as well as to a "no-intervention" condition.  The specific
interventions will last 2 weeks, and will be followed by a week "wash-out"
period.  The frequency and duration of vocally disruptive behaviors will be
assessed using audiotapes, systematic time-sampling observations, and
nurses' assessments.

This study is expected to provide data that will help mitigate the
suffering of nursing home residents manifesting verbally disruptive
behaviors, improve their quality of life, and decrease the burden for
caregivers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122566
- **Project number:** 5R01AG010642-02
- **Recipient organization:** HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RY46DLNQAN83
- **Principal Investigator:** Jiska Cohen-Mansfield
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $116,195
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-09-30 → 1994-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122566

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122566, MANAGEMENT OF SCREAMING IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS (5R01AG010642-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122566. Licensed CC0.

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