Billig N
Center on Aging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Nurs Clin North Am. 1988 Mar;23(1):125-33.
Alzheimer's disease is a catastrophic disease for both the patient and family with medical, psychologic, and social ramifications. The psychiatrist can function as the primary clinician, team leader, or consultant in the effort to manage the process of diagnosis and treatment through the months and years of progressive deterioration of the patient. Psychiatrists consult and collaborate with neurologists, internists, and other medical specialists and participate with nurses, social workers, dietitians, and physical therapists in the care of patients with AD and their families. Although the present state of treatment is limited to palliative therapies, basic and clinical psychiatric research is directed at the quest for etiologies and definitive treatments.
阿尔茨海默病对患者及其家庭来说是一种灾难性疾病，具有医学、心理和社会方面的影响。在患者病情逐年逐渐恶化的数月乃至数年中，精神科医生可以充当主要临床医生、团队领导者或顾问，负责管理诊断和治疗过程。精神科医生会与神经科医生、内科医生及其他医学专家进行咨询和协作，并与护士、社会工作者、营养师及物理治疗师共同参与对阿尔茨海默病患者及其家庭的护理。尽管目前的治疗仅限于姑息治疗，但基础和临床精神病学研究旨在探寻病因及确定治疗方法。
