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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Diagnostic disclosure in dementia
— an opportunity for intervention? | | Author(s) | H J Husband |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol l5, no 6, June 2000 |
| Pages | pp 544-547 |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Attitude ; Case studies. |
| Annotation | A study of 23 (14 women, 9 men) consecutive referrals for neuropsychological assessment had the objective of finding out what worried them in relation to their diagnosis of dementia, and how they changed their behaviour in relation to these worries. Their ability to engage in talking about dementia was assessed by asking three standardised questions concerning: worries about reasons for having problems with your memory; thoughts about what might be the cause of your memory problems; and thoughts that the possibility of memory problems meaning the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Two measures of cognitive function, the MMSE and MEAMS (Middlesex Examination of Mental State) were given to all. Those who could engage were asked two open-ended questions in relation to what they worried about, and how learning they had dementia had affected them. The commonest worries related to fears of: others finding out; social embarrassment; long term dependency needs; and not being listened to. Commonest effects were social withdrawal and hypervigilance for evidence of cognitive failure. People with dementia who know their diagnosis have worries which affect their behaviour in a way likely to result in low self-esteem, self-stigmatisation and impaired quality of life. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-000919004 A |
| Classmark | EA: LK7: DP: 69P |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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