Thinking Through Dementia by Julian C Hughes

Thinking Through Dementia by Julian C Hughes

With a rapidly expanding elderly population, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of dementia, and this dreadful, debilitating illness now affects - directly or indirectly - millions of people across the world. Dementia throws up a number of particular clinical, ethical, and conceptual problems, which mostly reflect complicated evaluative decisions, for instance about diagnosis and the distinction between normal and abnormal ageing. Different disciplines approach dementia in different ways - thus there are disease, cognitive neuropsychology, and social constructivist models of dementia, Underlying these models and approaches, each of which is clinically useful, are various and differing conceptual committments. These models carry ethical implications concerning how we ought to treat people suffereing from dementia. Thinking through Dementia offers a critique of the main models used to understand dementia-the biomedical, neuropsychological, and social constructionist. It discusses both clinical issues and cases, together with philosophical work that might help us better understand and treat this illness. Drawing on philosophical critique of models of dementia, as well as empirical data and clinical experience, the book unifies the biological, psychological, and social accounts of illness and disease. Highly original and thought provoking, this book will interest psychiatrists, philosophers, psychologists, and anyone involved in the care and management of those with dementia.

This is an interesting, thoughtful, and thought-provoking philosophical critique of the models of dementiaWritten and edited by a philosophically-oriented geriatric psychiatrist, this book provides a refreshing look at this all too common syndrome. This book is a welcome addition to this neurological, psychiatric, and bioethical literature. * Doody's *
Overall, the book is a valuable addition to theorising about dementia and is a welcome addition to the bookshelves of academics, students and practitioners who wish to challenge their knowledge base about understanding dementia. * Ageing and Society *
This is a challenging important book demanding careful reading and thoughtful reflection. Regardless of professional identification or partisan loyalty, it is relevant to anyone who seeks philosophical understanding, conceptual clarity, critical analysis of complex degenerative neurocognitive conditions and their social impact, and who labours to develop humane, ethical dementia care practice. * Journal of Dementia Care *
The book displays the intellectual rigor of an academic philosopher, tempered by the compassion and pragmatism of a good clinician. * Daniel Harwood, Journal of International Psychogeriatrics *

Hughes, Julian C.: - Julian C. Hughes is a consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at North Tyneside General Hospital and an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Institute for Ageing and Health at the University of Newcastle. He is currently the Chair of the Philosophy Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He also held a short-term Fellowship in 2003 from the Wellcome Trust to consider quality of life in dementia.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780199570669
ISBN 10	0199570663
Title	Thinking Through Dementia
Author	Julian C Hughes
Series	International Perspectives In Philosophy And Psychiatry Ser
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Year published	2011-02-17
Number of pages	316
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.