Coping with challenges to memory in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: observation of behaviour in response to analogues of everyday situations.
OBJECTIVE
To describe ways of coping in people with mild to moderate AD when faced with situations that are challenging to their memory.


METHODS
Twenty-four participants (12 with mild and 12 with moderate AD) were presented with a set of seven tasks that were analogues of everyday situations that tax memory. The participants' responses were videotaped and analysed.


RESULTS
Participants' coping responses were grouped into seven categories to best reflect the main strategies. Individuals used a significantly greater frequency of effortful problem solving (self-reliance and reliance on carers) (p < 0.01) than other ways of coping. Positive acknowledgement of memory difficulties was used significantly more than negative acknowledgement and defensive coping (concealment and avoidance) (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study used novel methodology of observation of behavioural responses in analogues of everyday situations. The predominance of effortful problem-solving emphasizes the role of the person with AD as an active agent in the management of memory loss. An emphasis in previous literature on defensive coping and denial is counter-balanced by the finding that participants commonly coped by acknowledging their memory impairment.
Oyebode
Jan Rachel
JR
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. j.r.oyebode@bham.ac.uk
Motala
Jamilah R
JR
Hardy
Rachel M
RM
Oliver
Chris
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009313:National Health Programs; D019370:Observation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011581:Psychological Tests; D006113:United Kingdom; D014743:Videotape Recording