Centre for Policy on Ageing



To tell or not to tell — comparison of older patients' reaction to their diagnosis of dementia and depression
Author(s)	Arun Jha, Naji Tabet, Martin Orrell
Journal title	International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 16, no 9, September 2001
Pages	pp 879-885
Keywords	Dementia ; Depression ; Attitude ; Diagnosis ; Comparison ; Dacorum ; Harlow.
Annotation	Subjects were 100 new patients aged 65+ with diagnosis of depression (47) or dementia (53) seen by the Old Age Psychiatry services of West Herts Community Health NHS Trust (Hemel Hempstead Sector), or Essex & Herts Community NHS Trust (Harlow Sector). No significant differences were found between patients with depression and dementia in their wish to know their diagnosis. Those with severe dementia, even if they felt upset, preferred to be told their diagnosis. Patients with vascular dementia tended to express a more favourable view. This study should resolve some of the controversies regarding disclosure of diagnosis of dementia: there is no general justification, despite previous reports of carers and practitioners that suggest otherwise. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-011017213 A
Classmark	EA: ENR: DP: LK7: 48: 8HTD: 8ESE
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.