Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Oct 1999
ReviewManaging common behavioral problems in dementia. How to improve quality of life for patients and families.
Dementia is the most common reason for nursing home placement, and related behavioral symptoms are the primary factors precipitating the decision. Disruptive behaviors such as depression, sleep disturbance, agitation, aggression, and psychosis can tax family members' abilities to care for a loved one who has reached that stage of the illness. Working with families to institute effective management strategies may help delay institutionalization. In this article, Drs Burke and Morgenlander present a systematic approach to identifying and treating common problems in dementia.
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Illicit drug abuse continues to become more widespread, especially in teenagers. Therefore, it is important for physicians to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse in their patients. ⋯ The primary classes of drugs of abuse--cannabinoids, opiates, stimulants, hallucinogens, and inhalants--produce clinically diverse presentations. By recognizing these unique signs and symptoms, physicians can differentiate between drug-induced conditions any psychiatric illness.