Reaction to a dementia diagnosis in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To examine short-term changes in depression and anxiety after receiving a dementia diagnosis.


METHODS
Pre/post survey design.


METHODS
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.


METHODS
Ninety individuals and their companions.


METHODS
Fifteen-item Geriatric Depression Scale and 20-item "state" version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine percent of the individuals were diagnosed with dementia; two-thirds of those were in the earliest symptomatic stages of dementia that, in other settings, is considered to represent mild cognitive impairment. No significant changes in depression were noted in individuals or their companions, regardless of diagnostic outcome or dementia severity. Anxiety decreased substantially after diagnostic feedback in most groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Disclosure of a dementia diagnosis does not prompt a catastrophic emotional reaction in most people, even those who are only mildly impaired, and may provide some relief once an explanation for symptoms is known and a treatment plan is developed.
Carpenter
Brian D
BD
Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA. bcarpenter@wustl.edu
Xiong
Chengjie
C
Porensky
Emily K
EK
Lee
Monica M
MM
Brown
Patrick J
PJ
Coats
Mary
M
Johnson
David
D
Morris
John C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology