Excess disability and malignant social psychology: A case study of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

An in-depth case study was undertaken to assess the effects of what Kitwood has termed 'malignant social psychology' on the observed behaviour of an Alzheimer's disease sufferer. Interviews were conducted with the spouse and observations were made in an adult day-care centre, where staff members were also interviewed. Abilities that the spouse reported to be absent at home were readily observed at the day-care centre, lending support to Brody's idea of excess disability, i.e. disability not due to disease alone. Furthermore, forms of malignant social psychology existed in the home environment but did not exist in the day-care centre. Excess disability and its absence coincided with the presence and absence of aspects of malignant social psychology. The sufferer's behaviour was found to be affected not only by the extant neuropathology, but also by social relationships.

Do older adults presenting with memory complaints wish to be told if later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease?

“…The model draws on more recent conceptualizations of dementia that emphasize the interaction between biomedical and psychological factors-that tend to focus on the individual-and the social context that surrounds the person (e.g. Sabat, 1994Sabat, , 1995Kitwood, 1997). The model proposes that there are two main aspects to a person's experience, viz.…”

Palliative Care for Patients With Dementia in Long-Term Care

“…Physicians who understand the harm that can be caused by unintentionally "malignant social interaction" [37][38][39] can make a major contribution to the creation of beneficial interpersonal environments in long-term care facilities. The manner in which professional and lay-people perceive, frame, and interact with persons with dementia can either greatly enhance function and quality of life or cause great damage.…”

Menschen mit Demenz als Interaktionspartner. Eine Auswertung empirischer Studien vor dem Hintergrund eines dimensionalisierten Interaktionsbegriffs / People with Dementia as Interactional Partners: An Analysis of Empirical Studies Based on a Dimensional Concept of Interaction

“…In einem derartigen Umfeld verschlechtert sich die Symptomatik der Demenz systematisch (vgl. Kitwood & Bredin 1992;Sabat 1994 Ich renne in den Fluren meines Gedächtnisses herum und versuche fieberhaft zu verstehen, was los ist. Manchmal macht mich die Suche noch verwirrter, worauf ich vergesse, was mich so verwirrt.…”