Dementia Series 1B: Clinical Approaches to Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Mental Health Practice

Presenter: Dr. Cynthia Fields, MD

Description:

This workshop will focus on the clinical syndrome of “dementia” and attempt to answer the following questions. What exactly is dementia, aka Major Neurocognitive disorder? What do the most common types of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Vascular, etc.) look like in clinical practice? Are there other conditions that can mimic dementia? What are some signs and symptoms that might indicate the presence of cognitive decline in a new or existing patient/client? Which assessment tools should psychotherapists be administering? And what should be the next steps in management? Lastly, when is psychotherapy no longer appropriate for a patient/client with cognitive impairment? We will reinforce this material using case-based learning and audience input.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this workshop, participants should be able to:

- List at least four changes associated with the development of a dementia syndrome;

- Administer at least one tool to aid in the assessment a patient/client with cognitive changes;

- Describe circumstances in which psychotherapy may not be appropriate for someone with dementia.

2.0/Category 1 CE's