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Diagnosis of dementia. II—Diagnostic methods: A survey of current consultant practice and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Smith C. W.,
Byrne E. J.,
Arie T.,
Lilley J. M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930070504
Subject(s) - dementia , etiology , medicine , clinical practice , family medicine , psychiatry , psychology , disease , pathology
Inaccuracy in the diagnosis of the dementia syndrome is widely reported. In a postal survey which asked hospital specialists about their use of diagnostic criteria and explored their knowledge of the aetiology of the syndrome, clear differences between research findings and clinical practice emerged. Clinicians are unlikely to use research diagnostic criteria and about half of the respondents consider the results of investigations to be essential in the diagnosis of the dementia syndrome. The frequency of contact with new patients with the dementia syndrome influenced some aspects of knowledge of its aetiology.