Summary
Cognitive models of pathology. It is important to continue studying two basic psychological parameters: memory and attention since accurate definition of pathology and measurement of function is necessary for both the diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
Assessment. Although discussion of psychological probles in the dementias often centers on cognitive dysfunction, two major behavioral probles are often associated with such patients: depression and emotional lability.
Psychological retraining and other interventions. Although there is some evidence for clinical effects of cognitive retraining with elderly demented, outcome studies of such therapies have suffered from lack of controls and lack of sophistication of the interventions proposed.
The family. Of major importance is the development of methods of family support which will enable the demented patient to live at home as long as possible without the need for dehumanizing and expensive institutionalization.
Environmental considerations. There is little data on how demented patients respond to environmental manipulations.
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Yesavage, J.A., Widrow, L.A. (1985). Senile Dementia: Psychological and Behavioral Treatments. In: Gaitz, C.M., Samorajski, T. (eds) Aging 2000: Our Health Care Destiny. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5058-6_39
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5058-6_39
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