Firearms Among Cognitively Impaired Persons: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Jason K. Hsieh, Jalayne J. Arias, Nehaw Sarmey, Jonathan A. Rose, Babak Tousi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

Letters15 September 2015Firearms Among Cognitively Impaired Persons: A Cross-sectional StudyJason K. Hsieh, BS, Jalayne J. Arias, JD, MA, Nehaw Sarmey, BS, Jonathan A. Rose, MS, and Babak Tousi, MDJason K. Hsieh, BSFrom Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Center for Ethics, Humanities, and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio., Jalayne J. Arias, JD, MAFrom Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Center for Ethics, Humanities, and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio., Nehaw Sarmey, BSFrom Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Center for Ethics, Humanities, and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio., Jonathan A. Rose, MSFrom Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Center for Ethics, Humanities, and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio., and Babak Tousi, MDFrom Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Center for Ethics, Humanities, and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L15-5138 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Firearms in the homes of persons with dementia may pose a risk for serious harm to themselves or others. Prior research suggests that patients with dementia and their caregivers infrequently remove firearms from the home (1). How often firearms remain in the homes of these patients—and whether they have additional symptoms that may increase their risk for harm—is not well-known.Objective: To determine the frequency of firearms present in the homes of patients evaluated for dementia and the frequency of delusions, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior among this population.Methods and Findings: In this institutional review board–approved retrospective study, we ...References1. Spangenberg KB, Wagner MT, Hendrix S, Bachman DL. Firearm presence in households of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1999;47:1183-6. [PMID: 10522950] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Ferris SH, Hofeldt GT, Carbone G, Masciandaro P, Troetel WM, Imbimbo BP. Suicide in two patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 1999;13:88-90. [PMID: 10372951] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Lecso PA. Murder-suicide in Alzheimer's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1989;37:167-8. [PMID: 2642936] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP. Silencing the science on gun research. JAMA. 2013;309:549-50. [PMID: 23262635] doi:10.1001/jama.2012.208207 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Weinberger SE, Hoyt DB, Lawrence HC, Levin S, Henley DE, Alden ER, et al. Firearm-related injury and death in the United States: a call to action from 8 health professional organizations and the American Bar Association. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:513-6. [PMID: 25706470] doi:10.7326/M15-0337 LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Jason K. Hsieh, BS; Jalayne J. Arias, JD, MA; Nehaw Sarmey, BS; Jonathan A. Rose, MS; Babak Tousi, MDAffiliations: From Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Center for Ethics, Humanities, and Spiritual Care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; and Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L15-0299. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe impact of gun violence restraining order laws in the U.S. and firearm suicide among older adults: a longitudinal state-level analysis, 2012–2016Dementia and Firearms: an Exploratory Survey of Caregiver NeedsThe Health Care Professional's Pledge: Protecting Our Patients From Firearm InjuryChristine Laine, MD, MPH and Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhDArmed and Aging: Dementia and Firearms Do Not Mix !Yes, You Can: Physicians, Patients, and FirearmsGaren J. Wintemute, MD, MPH, Marian E. Betz, MD, MPH, and Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH 15 September 2015Volume 163, Issue 6Page: 485-487KeywordsCaregiversDementiaDisclosureFirearm injuriesHallucinationsPatientsQuestionnairesRetrospective studiesRisk managementSuicide ePublished: 15 September 2015 Issue Published: 15 September 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...