overt aggression scale (OAS)

Documents aggressive behaviors based on observable criteria, recorded by hospital staff or other observers. The OAS divides aggressive behaviors into 4 categories: 1) verbal aggression 2) physical aggression against objects 3) physical aggression against self 4) physical aggression against others Within each of the above categories, descriptive statements define 4 levels of severity. The OAS records therapeutic interventions used in response to each aggressive episode. Advantages: 1) high inter-rater reliability 2) useful for assessing aggression in chronically hospitalized patients, including a) individual patterns of aggression b) week to week fluctuations c) response to interventions

References

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, Osterweil et al eds, McGraw Hill, New York, 2000, pg 116