Methods for Assessing the Person with Alzheimer's Disease: Integrating Person-Centered and Diagnostic Approaches to Assessment

摘要

When a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, there is a great need to understand the person both in terms of the cognitive changes and their psychological consequences. This article describes several methods by which researchers and clinicians can better understand and engage the person who is undergoing diagnostic assessment. Specific methods include (1) a modified clinical interview that targets both the person's current symptoms as well as a broader sense of their life story, and (2) standardized instruments designed to measure noncognitive aspects of living with dementia such as quality of life, activity levels, understanding of Alzheimer's disease, stigma and fear associated with Alzheimer's disease, and values and preferences regarding their life and care. The empirical basis for these measures and their clinical application are described.View full textDownload full textKeywordsAlzheimer's disease, dementia assessment, person-centered, quality of lifeRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2012.702647