Violence against elderly persons is an intricate social, legal and ethic issue. Alzheimer's patients are the most vulnerable individuals to mistreatment and neglect. The aggressor can be even the main helper of the patient. We noticed a wide underestimation of this phenomenon, which remains taboo subject in our society.

– The aim of our study is to identify predictive factors of mistreatment of Alzheimer's patients through a prospective and descriptive study, within patients following in the department of neurology in Razi's hospital.

– we evaluate cognitive function (MMSE) and the importance of behavioural disorders.

– we explored helper's socio-demographic characteristics and the quality of aid relationship.

– anger and hostility within relationship were estimated through family attitude scale.

Our sample accounts 60 informal caregivers predominately female (91.7%) with an average age of 49.67 years, mostly are married (71.66%) and jobless (38.88%):

– in 78.3% of cases, caregivers spent about 12 to 24 hours per day with Alzheimer's patient.

– the average score of FAS was about 52.4% with an important emotional charge (score >60).

– twenty-five caregivers wished the death of the patient and 42 others admitted being sarcastic with him.

– We noticed a correlation between mistreatment and both cognitive function and behavioural disorders.

Our results support the fact that mistreatment of people with dementia is closely related with the exhausting situation of the main caregiver.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.