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MonPCasual Contributor
My father has dementia, which (I think) is exacerbated by having a personality disorder. Can he be treated for this, or does his dementia prevent this? Has anyone had experience of the two problems.
In response to: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
Unknown userMember
Hello @MonP
Dementia can complicate the treatment of any medical condition. Even in those without a mental health diagnosis, behaviours and personalities change. I do not know if a PD contributes to the risk of developing what are seen as the more challenging aspects of dementia.
Clear communication in relation to the treatment of any medical condition is necessary - not just psych, do you have medical POA? Medication reviews are often helpful to ensure no untoward interactions between prescribed meds. There is a lot of controversy about the use of antipsychotics in patients with dementia (most carry a black box warning for use in the elderly) and these are the RANZCP guidelines.
Help and support is available through Dementia Australia, their website has some excellent information as well as carer support options.
Is it BPD or another PD your father has? The following is a link to nhmrc guidelines regarding the treatment of BPD.
In response to: Re: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
Unknown userMember
My dad has dementia. Recently with his senior Gerontologist, he diagnosed dad with depression, filled out a script for antidepressant BUT asked me to wait 2 weeks to see if dad improved with extra time outside in the sun, BECAUSE antidepressants can make the dementia worse and affect coordination (falls risk). I say this because a lot of personality disorders are treated with antidepressants.
In response to: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
Unknown userMember
Hi @MonP,
Just checking-in to see how your dad and you are going. How have you gone with being able to diagnose and treat your dad who has dementia for a potential personality disorder?
Hopefully, you've been able to hear others experiences around treating such dual diagnoses!
Kindest,
Amour_Et_Psyché
In response to: Re: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
MonPCasual Contributor
Unfortunately no. My father is in a nursing home; I wrote a long email to the geriatrician servicing the home and assumed he'd be in touch before he saw my father (and me) in an official appointment. A week or so later, the nursing home informed me that the geriatrician had come in to see dad and prescribed an anti-psychotic. I wasn't contacted at all. Needless to say I'm not at all happy with the treatment.
In response to: Re: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
Unknown userMember
@MonP
Are you your father's enduring guardian?
In response to: Re: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
MonPCasual Contributor
Yes, along with my brother.
In response to: Re: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
Unknown userMember
@MonP
If you are the guardians, the geriatrician is obliged to liaise with you. Do you know if your brother was contacted? Additionally if any medication is prescribed "off-label" specific informed consent should have been obtained where risks vs benefit are clearly explained (see attached guidelines).
If your brother was not contacted, I would be seeking an urgent appointment with the geriatrician so that the appropriateness of any medication can be discussed with a view to either accepting or declining the treatment.
In response to: Re: Can a person with dementia be treated for a personality disorder?
MonPCasual Contributor
Thank you; I'll contact geriatritian asap.
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
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