North East London Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
J Affect Disord. 2010 Sep;125(1-3):295-300. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.12.015. Epub 2010 Jan 20.
Anxiety is extremely common in dementia and can lead to social exclusion, excess disability and associated problems including high physical dependency, problems in the patient/carer relationship, and increased cognitive and behavioural difficulties. Despite this, there is little research on the detection or management of anxiety in dementia, and nothing from the perspective of people with dementia or their carers.
This study aimed to conceptualize users', carers' and staff views on the causes and management of anxiety in dementia. Eighty-one participants (users, carers and staff) participated in nine focus groups. Results were analysed using a mind-map technique and the 'long table approach'.
Themes related to the causes of anxiety included coming to terms with the diagnosis, loss of skills, physical and environmental factors and relationships with others. Themes related to the management of anxiety included coming to terms with the diagnosis, person-centred care, memory aids, enjoyable and distracting activities, management of physical and environmental problems and medication as a last resort.
Support around diagnosis, person-centred care, fostering good relationships and engagement in meaningful activity are of great importance to people with dementia and those who care for them. Yet in clinical practice, people with dementia suffering from anxiety may receive no help or else be given medication due to a lack of understanding of what else might help. Developing evidence-based psychological treatments for anxiety in dementia, to improve care and quality of life, should be a priority.
焦虑在痴呆症中极为常见，会导致社会排斥、过度残疾以及相关问题，包括高度身体依赖、患者/照顾者关系问题、认知和行为困难增加。尽管如此，痴呆症患者焦虑的检测或管理研究甚少，且无人从痴呆症患者或其照顾者的角度进行研究。
本研究旨在从痴呆症患者、照顾者和工作人员的角度来构思引起和管理焦虑的原因。81 名参与者（患者、照顾者和工作人员）参加了 9 个焦点小组。结果使用思维导图技术和“长桌方法”进行分析。
与焦虑原因相关的主题包括接受诊断、丧失技能、身体和环境因素以及与他人的关系。与焦虑管理相关的主题包括接受诊断、以人为本的护理、记忆辅助、有趣和分散注意力的活动、管理身体和环境问题以及将药物作为最后的手段。
为痴呆症患者及其照顾者提供围绕诊断、以人为本的护理、培养良好关系和参与有意义的活动的支持非常重要。然而，在临床实践中，患有焦虑症的痴呆症患者可能得不到任何帮助，或者由于缺乏对其他可能有帮助的方法的了解而被给予药物。为改善护理和生活质量，应优先开发针对痴呆症患者焦虑的循证心理治疗方法。
