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History and Physical Examination of Elderly Patients With Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2005

Sanford I. Finkel
Affiliation:
Northwestern University Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, USA Northwestern Alzheimer's Disease Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Cheryl Woodson
Affiliation:
Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey, Illinois, USA
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Abstract

The role of the physician is critical in the evaluation of cognitively impaired patients for two reasons: (a) The longitudinal relationship between the patient and physician provides a unique opportunity to observe changes over time, generating confidence that may encourage the patient and family to report any concerns; (b) All research in this field is geared toward the earliest possible intervention, a process made possible by early diagnosis. Preparations for interview and the interview process itself require special knowledge of dementia on the part of the evaluating physician, who must understand the potentials and problems of both the content and the process of taking a history from the demented patient and his/her caregivers.

Type
Differential Diagnosis
Copyright
© 1997 International Psychogeriatric Association

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