psychologist Gernot Lämmler about the taboo disease, the chances of early detection and the unrecognized benefits of modern therapies
Dr. phil. Dipl.-Psych Gernot Laemmle
About the Author: Dr. Gernot Lämmler is a senior neuropsychologist in Protestant Berlin Geriatric Center, one of the leading institutions for geriatric medicine in Germany.
His research interests include the early diagnosis of dementia
Dr. Lämmler, "Alzheimer's Greetings" forgetfulness to comment much. How about that?
annoying. Even worse jokes about Alzheimer's. That can really make me angry.
you work as a psychologist with Alzheimer's patients and helping in the management of the diagnosis.
Is the message a shock?
This is rather the exception. Only a very small percentage of the diagnosis comes as a surprise.
Most have played through for themselves. If you look deeply, we learn often that Alzheimer's disease in the family theme was long ago.
Why are people so late?
Once there is certainly a fear of the diagnosis. And not only to the concerned, but also to doctors and therapists. For it is not easy, the patient such a message to convey. It depends
together with the fact that the Alzheimer's image is shaped in the company of the advanced disease: One thinks of people lying in bed and barely communicate. In it
find patients with early Alzheimer's disease again.
Why early diagnosis?
The patient can plan its future independently. This is a very different Situation than in a late-stage diagnosis. We also have many more options for therapy. Again and again I hear
: "Against Alzheimer helps anyway." But that is outdated, you can do a lot. It's not just to slow the disease, but also independence and quality of life.
Chances are underestimated?
Yes. This is my impression of Alzheimer's drugs that bring on average almost one extra year, but just for psychological therapies, including occupational therapy. Unfortunately, many doctors are not known.
place where these therapies at?
A typical problem is such that patients register at the early stage of their intellectual degradation entirely.
For fear of doing something wrong, then they are doing less and less: They no longer go shopping, make no friends, no longer trust themselves, even to cook. This is fatal, because what is not done more is lost quickly. The disease then proceeds more rapidly. Added to this is: who is no longer active brings himself about the possible successes. This is one of the reasons why every second patient suffering from depression.
How to control?
I would wish to describe an example. There was a patient who had the great fear of to run.
We then worked with her in a behavioral treatment strategies, as they could prepare themselves for this event - bring about a cell phone and some money for the taxi. We also have trained certain routes.
Finally, she was so far that they could ride the subway alone with a psychologist.
the beginning of treatment she can be brought down even by her husband.
are the limitations of these learning outcomes?
must be careful. It's always the question: What activities go,
which pass through - and what should we make? Otherwise there is the danger of being overwhelmed, and that leads to frustration.
To what extent can the memory still work out at all?
The sick brain can not like a mental muscle auftrainieren again, this is a naive idea.
rote learning and similar tasks stubborn lead to the patient, therefore, only its shortcomings in mind, because the capacity to absorb new information is already disturbed early sensitive.
But you should develop compensatory strategies: carry a diary or use a whiteboard, on which the patient can check off completed including work in the household.
But it must also not be a "Scheme F": It does not make sense to someone used to a schedule, who had previously never done.
What role do the members?
Without them make little sense psychological treatments. Often the partner in the therapy sessions are in the process.
you should not slip at home in the role of the co-therapists:
The disease accounts for an equal relationship a relationship anyway.
This may worsen if the healthy partner now occurs also as a kind of teacher. I would generally recommended that members of the patients did not decline as early responsibility - that's a common mistake.
you now in a scientific article of information to patients criticized. Why?
We have an almost absurd situation. On the one hand, an ever
Earlier Alzheimer's diagnosis is required. But as soon as the diagnosis is, is hardly talked to the patients, but primarily on him.
The patient is not seen as responsible person.
So you could say it. The result is that the patient is a glaring lack of information. Who wants to ask
finds, though a variety of brochures.
But these are directed almost exclusively to members. This means that
The patient reads about himself in third person. Moreover, these writings often draw a gloomy disaster scenario which I received too little attention to the chances of the patient.
Do you have the hope that it will change anything?
Yes. For example, a few weeks ago published a guide book that is aimed directly to the patients - the first on the German market.
And at international congresses Alzheimer's patients often I come across forums to comment on where the parties involved, sometimes with professional help. I think also the fact that now almost everyone knows a patient with family or friends, will gradually lead to a more open treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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