Subjective experiences of cognitive decline and receiving a diagnosis of dementia: qualitative interviews with people recently diagnosed in memory clinics in the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore people's experiences of cognitive decline and receiving a diagnosis of dementia.

Design

61 semistructured interviews within 2 weeks of diagnosis. Audio recordings were transcribed, line-by-line coded using NVIVO V.11 and analysed using thematic analysis.

Setting

9 memory clinics (UK).

Participants

People with mild/moderate dementia.

Results

Most participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (56% female, mean age 81 years). 104 codes were grouped into 22 categories, feeding into 9 subthemes and 4 overarching themes: (1) dissonance, threat to identity and visibility of dementia: dementia was associated with a progressive loss of competence, culminating in being an idiot, crazy and losing the plot. The stigma of dementia led peo

SUBMITTER: Xanthopoulou P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6688685 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature