Centre for Policy on Ageing



The experience and expression of pain in Alzheimer patients
Author(s)	Mary Fisher-Morris, Angus Gellatly
Journal title	Age and Ageing, vol 26, no 6, November 1997
Pages	pp 497-500
Keywords	Dementia ; Pain ; Case studies ; Social surveys.
Annotation	The aim of this study was to establish whether there is a sub-group of patients suffering from senile dementia, Alzheimer-type (SDAT), who have ceased to undergo normal experience of pain. Two single case studies are presented, describing two patients diagnosed as having SDAT who had experienced various types of physical trauma, but did not show normal pain behaviour. A small scale national survey of abnormal pain behaviour in SDAT patients as reported by 54 carers is also presented. Results revealed 49 cases of SDAT patients who failed to exhibit normal experience of pain (including the 2 case studies). None of the cases appeared to have any particular problem of emotional expression or verbal communication, however, pain reactions to accidents, surgery procedures, infections and pre-existing conditions seemed to have been extinguished. Recognition of the existence of this sub-group has important legal and ethical implications for those treating or caring for such patients.
Accession Number	CPA-980122414 A
Classmark	EA: CT7: 69P: 3F
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.