title: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia: consent, quality of life, and dignity.
abstract: Degenerative forms of dementia are progressive, incurable, fatal, and likely to cause suffering in conjunction with personal incapacity. Timely diagnostic disclosure and counseling can facilitate important advance care planning. The risk of harm associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia often has to be balanced against the risk of harm associated with medication management of NPS. A palliative care framework can help preserve autonomy, quality of life, comfort, and dignity for patients with NPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry Program, University of British Columbia, c/o Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. passmoremd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Passmore
mesh_terms: D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D028723:Personhood; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life