Skip to content


The Threatening and Violent Dementia Patient


Whitney Carlson,, MD

Harborview Geriatric Psychiatry Services

University of Washington

University of Washington



Learning Objectives

By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:

  • Know the steps to evaluate patients with dementia who display threatening or violent behavior.
  • Know ways to keep patients and staff safe in the context of evaluating patients displaying threatening or violent behaviors.
  • Know how to implement best evidence-based practices in the management of violent and agitated patients with dementia.

[From the Spring 2021 Geriatric Healthcare Lecture Series (Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias)]