Mild cognitive impairment: coping with an uncertain label.
BACKGROUND
The recently introduced diagnostic label of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) identifies patients with a cognitive decline that is more pronounced than is usual for a person's age and educational level but does not notably interfere with activities of daily living (ADL). The natural course of the syndrome is uncertain although MCI sufferers have a higher risk of developing dementia.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate how patients fulfilling MCI criteria experience and cope with their cognitive decline with the secondary aim to derive key themes for a prospective MCI support-group programme.


METHODS
The grounded theory approach.


RESULTS
Analysis of guided interviews with eight MCI patients revealed four common themes. Changes related to cognitive abilities, mobility, affect, vitality and somatic complaints. Attributions were numerous and concerned aetiologies such as personality traits and overload of information. Consequences were all negative and concerned the patients themselves such as anxiety and loss of self-confidence, others such as feelings of irritation and anger towards others or activities like abandoning leisure activities. Patients applied emotion-oriented, problem-focused and avoidant coping strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
MCI patients encounter stress-inducing practical, social and psychological difficulties. Based on the current preliminary findings, the key themes for an MCI support-group programme should include the provision of information about the syndrome's causes, course, concomitant symptoms, attributions, social consequences, and available treatments. The impact of receiving an MCI label warrants further investigation.
Joosten-Weyn Banningh
Liesbeth
L
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Medical Psychology, the Netherlands. l.joosten@ger.umcn.nl
Vernooij-Dassen
Myrra
M
Rikkert
Marcel Olde
MO
Teunisse
Jan-Pieter
JP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged