[On the disclosure of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease].
In contrast to the legal or professional instructions, many French or European physicians remain reluctant for disclosing the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease to their patients. The reasons put forward for not telling the truth appear to be no more justified. The wish to protect the patient from negative reactions as well as the argument that the patient is not able to understand the significance of the diagnosis are not clinically grounded. Moreover, the situation is presently modified by new circumstances: the early diagnosis of the illness in most cases and the availability of active drugs and support measures. Therefore, it appears necessary to more deeply understand the difficulties met by the patient, the family but also by the physician in the process of disclosure of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. In this purpose, some practical suggestions are presented to facilitate the dynamic of the communication between physician, patient and family.
Selmès
Jacques
J
Fondation Alzheimer Espagne, Madrid. drjacquesselmes@yahoo.es
Derouesné
Christian
C
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D012944:Social Support; D014342:Truth Disclosure