Some people with dementia overreact to a trivial setback or a minor criticism. This might involve them screaming, shouting, making unreasonable accusations, becoming very agitated or stubborn, or crying or laughing uncontrollably and inappropriately. This tendency to overreact is part of the illness and is called a catastrophic reaction.

Sometimes a catastrophic reaction is the first indication that makes relatives aware of the dementia. It may be a passing phase, disappearing as the condition progresses, or it may go on for some time. Some causes of catastrophic behaviour include:

• Stress caused by the excessive demands of a situation
• Frustration caused by misinterpreted messages
• Another underlying illness.

Ways to manage catastrophic reactions
This behaviour can appear very quickly and can make carers feel very frightened. However, trying to figure out what triggers catastrophic behaviour can sometimes help avoid it. Some carers find that keeping a diary can help to identify the circumstances under which such behaviour occurs. If this isn’t possible, you may find ways to deal with the behaviour quickly and effectively using some of the guidelines listed earlier.

Source: Dementia - changed behaviours - Better Health Channel