Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2004 Sep-Oct;19(5):309–315. doi: 10.1177/153331750401900512

Lay person's recommendations about interventions for Alzheimer's disease: Correlates and relationship to help-seeking behavior

Perla Werner 1
PMCID: PMC10833906  PMID: 15553987

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine lay persons' beliefs about the helpfulness of interventions for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its correlates. Interviews were conducted with 206 Jewish Israeli adults (mean age 59.7), using an experimental vignette methodology varying in the severity of the disease. Information regarding participants' recommendations about the helpfulness of 10 interventions for the person described in the vignette was elicited. Sociodemographic and psychological correlates were examined.

We discovered that the lay public endorses the use of nonpharmacological treatments more than pharmacological ones. Engagement in social activities and participation in a support group were the treatment approaches most recommended, while the use of physical restraints and isolation were the least recommended. Beliefs about AD treatments were associated with helpseeking from professional sources.

Advances in the development of effective treatments for AD should be accompanied by research into the public's understanding of these treatments.

Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer's disease, help-seeking, pharmacotherapy, intervention

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (103.8 KB).

References

  1. Scarpini E, Scheltens P, Feldman H: Treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Current status and new perspective. Lancet Neurol.2003; 2(9): 539-547. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Doody RS, Stevens R, Beck C, et al.: Practice parameter: Management of dementia (an evidence-based review). Neurology. 2001; 56(9): 1154-1166. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Reichman WE: Current pharmacologic options for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Ann Gen Hosp Psychiatry.2003; 2(1): 1-14. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Geldmacher DS: Alzheimer's disease: Current pharmacotherapy in the context of patient and family needs. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003; 51(5 Suppl Dementia): S289-S295. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Knopman DS, DeKosky ST, Cummings JL, et al.: Practice parameter: Diagnosis of dementia (an evidence-based review). Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2001; 56(9): 1143-1153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Teri L, Logsdon RG, McCurry SM: Nonpharmacologic treatment of behavioral disturbance in dementia. Med Clin North Am. 2002; 86(3): 641-656. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Angermeyer MC, Matschinger H: Public attitude towards psychiatric treatment. Acta Psychiatric Scandinavia. 1996; 94(5): 326-336. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Jorm AF, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, et al.: Helpfulness of interventions for mental disorders: Beliefs of health professionals compared with the general public. Br J Psychiatry.1997; 171: 233-237. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lauber C, Nordt C, Falcato L, et al.: Lay recommendations on how to treat mental disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol.2001; 36(11): 553-556. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Jorm AF, Medway J, Christensen H, et al.: Public beliefs about the helpfulness of interventions for depression: effects on actions taken when experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. Aust N Z J Psychiatry.2000; 34(4): 619-626. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Jorm AF, Christensen H, Medway J, et al.: Public belief systems about the helpfulness of interventions for depression: Association with history of depression and professional help-seeking. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol.2000; 35(5): 211-219. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Werner P: Perceptions about memory problems and help seeking in elderly persons: A qualitative analysis. Clin Gerontol. (in press). [Google Scholar]
  13. Werner P: Knowledge about symptoms of Alzheimer's disease: Correlates and relationship to help-seeking behavior. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003; 18(11): 1029-1036. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Angermeyer MC, Matschinger H: The effect of personal experience with mental illness on the attitude towards individuals suffering from mental disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol.1996; 31(6): 321-326. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Alzheimer's Association: Ten warning signs of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Association Web site. Available at http:// www.alz.org/AboutAD/Warning.asp.Accessed February 19, 2003.
  16. Eichenberger A, Rossler W: Comparison of self-ratings and therapist ratings of outpatients' psychosocial status. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2000; 188(5): 297-300. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lumme-Sandt K, Hervonen A, Jylha M: Interpretative repertoires of medication among the oldest-old. Soc Sci Med. 2000; 50(12): 1843-1850. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lewis DK, Robinson J, Wilkinson E: Factors involved in deciding to start preventive treatment: Qualitative study of clinicians' and lay people's attitudes. BMJ. 2003; 327(7419): 841-846. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Priest RG, Vize C, Roberts M, et al.: Lay people's attitudes to treatment of depression: results of opinion poll for Defeat Depression Campaign just before its launch. BMJ. 1996; 313(7061): 858-859. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Jorm AF, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, et al.: “Mental health literacy”: A survey of the public's ability to recognise mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. Med J Aust.1997; 166(4): 182-186. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Jorm AF, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, et al.: Helpfulness of interventions for mental disorders: Beliefs of health professionals compared with the general public. Br J Psychiatry.1997; 171: 233-237. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Werner P: Nursing care adaptations, behavioral interventions, environmental changes, and sensory enhancement: Conceptual, process and outcome issues. In Hay D, Klein D, Hay L, et al. (eds.): Agitation inpatients with dementia: A practical guide to diagnosis and management.Arlington: American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 2003. [Google Scholar]
  23. Blascovich J, Mendes WB, Hunter SB, et al.: Perceiver threat in social interactions with stigmatized others. J Psychiatr Soc Psychol. 2001; 2: 253-267. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Blascovich J, Mendes WB, Hunter SB, et al.: Stigma, threat, and social interactions. In Heaterton TF, Kleck RE, Hebl MR, et al. (eds.): The Social Psychology of Stigma.New York: Guilford Press, 2000. [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias are provided here courtesy of SAGE Publications

RESOURCES