The psychology of dementia - Edgar Miller

The Psychology of Dementia Edgar Miller, University of Leicester, UK and Robin Morris, University of London, UK Dementia is a condition which is all too common ? and, unfortunately, increasingly so. As the title suggests, this book is primarily concerned with the psychological aspects of dementia, especially Alzheimer–type dementia, but with reference to other forms of ?dementia?. Although the dementing disorders always have a physical basis (pathology in the brain), dementia implies a decline in intellectual functioning and psychological changes are therefore central to any consideration of it. After an introductory chapter, which sets the context by describing the various dementing illnesses and outlining what is known of their pathology, genetic basis, and epidemiology, the following three chapters set out what is known about the changes in memory, language, and intellect that occur in dementia. A fifth chapter deals with the so–called ?subcortical dementias?, which are of current concern. The remaining four chapters deal with the more applied aspects of the psychology of dementia. They cover such things as the psychological investigation of people with dementing or suspected dementing illnesses, psychological approaches to the management and amelioration of dementia, and the psychosocial aspects of dementia (e.g. the impact on carers looking after a relative with a dementing illness). This volume will prove a valuable tool for clinical psychologists and other health care professionals who work both with those suffering from dementia and with their families. This book appears in The Wiley Series in Clinical Psychology Series Editors: Fraser N. Watts, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, UK and J. Mark G. Williams, Department of Psychology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, UK