Assessment of psychoemotional and behavioral status in patients with dementia.
Depression and behavioral symptoms occur in many older adults with dementia and result in serious consequences, including nursing home admissions, decreased functional ability, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Assessment of depression in this population is challenging and is facilitated by using interviewer-rated instruments as an adjunct to clinical judgment. Clinicians should select a perspective that enables them to view behavioral symptoms associated with dementia in a therapeutic manner. Care for depression and behavioral symptoms should be individualized to match presenting symptoms. Issues related to psychoemotional and behavioral assessment are: (1) implementation of effective psychogeriatric models of care and (2) incorporating evidenced-based knowledge into practice settings.
School of Nursing, Radford University, P.O. Box 6964, 501 Stockton Street, Radford, VA 24142, USA. lonega@radford.edu
Lisa L
LL
Onega
D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001066:Appetite; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology