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Life‐Span Perspective of Personality in Dementia
Author(s) -
Kolanowski Ann M.,
Whall Ann L.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
image: the journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 0743-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1996.tb00380.x
Subject(s) - personality , dementia , personality psychology , cinahl , perspective (graphical) , psychology , life span , personality development , personality changes , population , big five personality traits , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , gerontology , medicine , social psychology , disease , psychological intervention , environmental health , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science
Purpose: To propose an alternative view of personality change in dementia by presenting existing evidence for the continuity of personality. Significance: As the population continues to age, dementing illnesses will account for a greater proportion of morbidity and mortality; the care of these people will have a significant effect on the health care system. Organizing Framework: Life‐span perspective of personality continuity. Scope, Method: Review of current literature on personality in dementia using Medline, 1980–1994; CINAHL, 1990–1994; and Psych Lit, 1980–1994. Findings: Although there are systematic shifts in personality with dementia, individuals tend to maintain their unique pattern of premorbid personality traits. Conclusions: The personalities of dementia patients seem to reflect adaptive patterns that served them in the past. Implications: Use of a life‐span perspective can enhance individualized care for demented patients and advance theory development.