Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T03:25:03.631Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What Are the Challenges Faced by Psychiatrists in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Jacobo E. Mintzer
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating condition affecting millions of elderly citizens. The quality of life for AD patients significantly deteriorates in the face of worsening cognitive deficits and disabling functional declines, both contributing to manifestations of difficult behaviors. Of the estimated 4 million individuals with AD, only 60% of probable AD cases are diagnosed, with little more than half of those receiving treatment. One of the possible reasons for this problem is the large role primary care physicians (PCPs) have in diagnosing and treating AD. The barriers that PCPs confront to adequately manage these patients will be discussed. Finally, the specific challenges that geriatric psychiatrists will face in addressing these issues in an environment where there is only a limited number of trained geriatric psychiatrists will be discussed, as well as the possible role that new technology could have in finding the solution to this difficult problem.

Type
Academic Supplement
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 9 , Issue S5: Assessing Current Practice in Alzheimer's Disease , July 2004 , pp. 13 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Barker, WW, Luis, CA, Kashuba, A, et al.Relative frequencies of Alzheimer disease, Lewy body, vascular and frontotemporal dementia, and hippocampal sclerosis in the Sate of Florida Brain Bank. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disard. 2002;16:203–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Small, GW, Rabins, PV, Barry, PP, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer disease and related disorders. Consensus statement of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer's Association, and the American Geriatrics Society. JAMA. 1997;278:1363–1371.Google Scholar
3.Mittelman, MS, Ferris, SH, Shulman, E, Steinberg, G, Levin, B. A family inter-vention to delay nursing home placement of patients with Alzheimer disease. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1996;276:1725–1731.Google Scholar
4.Barrett, JJ, Haley, WE, Harrell, LE, Powers, RE. Knowledge about Alzheimer disease among primary care physicians, psychologists, nurses, and social workers. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 1997;11:99–106.Google Scholar
5.Callahan, CM, Hendrie, HC, Tierney, WM. Documentation and evaluation of cognitive impairment in elderly primary care patients. Ann Intern Med. 1995;122:422–429.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Hebert, LE, Scherr, PA, Bienias, JL, Bennett, DA, DA, Evans. Alzheimer disease in the US population: prevalence estimates using the 2000 Census. Arch Neurol. 2003;60:1119–1122.Google Scholar
7.Doraiswamy, PM, Leon, J, Cummings, JL, Marin, D, Neumann, PJ. Prevalence and impact of medical comorbidity in Alzheimer's disease. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002;57:M173–M177.Google Scholar
8. Datamonitor. CNS Market Analysis 2002: Commercial Viability of Four Dynamic CNS Markets. April 4, 2003.Google Scholar
9.Wadley, VG, Haley, WE. Diagnostic attributions versus labeling: impact of Alzheimer's disease and major depression diagnoses on emotions, beliefs, and helping intentions of family members. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2001;56:244–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed