Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias of Late Life

Developed by experts in the field, the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias of Late Life provides invaluable assistance to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals who care for patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease, Pick's disease, and other frontal lobe dementias. This inclusive guideline contains important advice on the development of an individual, long-term treatment plan that can accommodate the changing nature of these illnesses and address new issues as they arise. It outlines psychiatric management--the cornerstone of the treatment of patients with dementia--and then reviews the specific psychosocial interventions and pharmacological options available. The guideline then discusses special considerations for elderly and dementia populations and describes the factors that may modify treatment decisions, including comorbid conditions, site-specific issues, and demographic and social factors. Directions for future research are also examined.