LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

Within the “Active approach consultation” model project
of the Düsseldorf dementia network, in addition to lowthreshold
care groups (BEAtE) and home care for dementia
patients, volunteers from this working group set up an
active approach consultation service as the third part of this
project. This is aimed at those individuals with dementia who
– because of their dementia – cannot perceive their need
for help and therefore do not use assistance or even refuse
it. The aim is to inform these individuals and their relatives
about the opportunities for help and motivate them to use
these opportunities. Gerontopsychiatric-consultative home
visits (performed by a specialist from the gerontopsychiatric
institutional outpatient clinic with gerontopsychiatric
experience and the administrator of the BEAtE group
nearest to the place where the person with dementia lives)
allow the person with dementia to enter the support system
before a crisis occurs because of a lack of diagnostic efforts
or treatment and because of long-lasting inadequate care of
the individual, all of which may even lead to hospitalisation
or admission to a nursing home. In the model phase
of the project, approximately 70 persons with cognitive
impairments who refused assistance and lacked insight into
the nature of their mental illness received consultations, as
did their families. In 54 cases, home visits were made.
Alzheimer’s Dementia and cognitive disorders in
systemic lupus erythematosus
Director: M. Haupt (until September 2002 Gerontopsychiatry
Department of the LVR Clinic, Düsseldorf, from October
2002 Neuro-Centre Düsseldorf, Neurological Research
Institute, primary practice – brain performance disorders)
Scientific assistants: A. Karger, B. Höft, M. Jänner, S. Müller
Cooperation (external): M. Schneider, Department of
Rheumatology, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf;
Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA) and the University of
Witten/Herdecke; Alzheimer-Gesellschaft Düsseldorf und
Mettmann e. V.
The main task was to plan, coordinate and execute a
scientific programme on the detection and treatment of
Alzheimer´s disease as the most frequent type of dementia
of older age. Another focus was research into cognitive
impairments in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In
one of the projects, neuropsychological tests were used to
assess cognitive impairments in a sample of 100 people
with SLE. These were correlated with somatic disease
parameters like accelerated vascular aging. Based on this
project, another project dealt with a highly structurised and
manualised psychoeducation therapy in individuals with
SLE and mental problems. This lead to an improvement of
depression, anxiety and general disease load. Annual public
sessions and joint sessions with the Alzheimer Society
ReseaRch
Düsseldorf and Mettmann informed the regional and supraregional
public about the state of knowledge about dementia
disorders. In addition, the workgroup participated in the
writing of a scientifically based national guideline about
dementia disorders coordinated by the University Witten/
Herdecke (2002-2003; cooperation in the topics behaviour
disorders, drug therapy, psychotherapy, psychoeducation),
the curriculum for advanced education and specialisation in
gerontopsychiatry and gerontopsychotherapy of the German
Academy of Gerontopsychiatry and Gerontopsychotherapy
(DAGPP) (2003-2004; collaboration on the topic “dementia
disorders”), and the framework recommendations for
nursing care of individuals with dementia commissioned
by the Federal Health Ministry in cooperation with the
Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe and the University Witten/
Herdecke (2003-2004: member of the expert committee).
Test situation for determining cognitive impairment
101