The influence of environmental factors in incidents of disruptive behavior.

1. Disruptive behavior is an annoying and potentially dangerous problem in most nursing homes. Disruptive behaviors can be both physical and verbal. 2. Changes associated with termination of disruptive behaviors included the reduction of external environmental stimuli, reduction of perceived threats to the patient's personal freedom and fulfillment of basic physical needs, fulfillment of needs for interpersonal support, a simple request to the disruptive person that the behavior be discontinued, provision for increased freedom by releasing the person from a gerichair or wheelchair with rollbar, separation of residents involved in disputes, and resolution of disputes over belongings. 3. In order to initiate changes that will reduce the frequency of such behavior or mitigate its harmful effects, nurses must have a better understanding of how environmental factors influence the evolution of disruptive episodes and plan appropriate and specific nursing interventions.