What are the challenges faced by psychiatrists in the management of Alzheimer's disease?
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.
Mintzer
Jacobo E
JE
Medical University of Sourth Carolina, 5900 Core Road, Charleston, SC 29406, USA. mintzerj@musc.edu
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors