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To tell or not to tell-comparison of older patients' reaction to their diagnosis of dementia and depression
Jha A, Tabet N, Orrell M.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2001-09-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective Investigation of the reaction of elderly patients to the disclosure of their diagnosis of dementia compared with depression. Design Elderly patients suffering from dementia and depression were asked to complete a questionnaire about the diagnosis and other aspects of their clinical summary sent to them by post. Demographic data included age, gender, marital status and occupation; degree of dementia or depression was established by administering the mini-mental state examination and the geriatric depression scale, respectively. Setting Patients were consecutive attendees of outpatient clinics (old age psychiatry) located in two suburban areas near London. Measures Demographic data included age, gender, marital status and occupation; degree of dementia or depression was established by administering the mini-mental state examination and the geriatric depression scale, respectively. Results One hundred cases were recruited, 53 with dementia and 47 with depression. Most depressed and dementia patients ( > 75%) liked the idea of reading their diagnosis but 25% of dementia cases felt upset. Within the dementia group, the majority of patients with mild or severe dementia welcomed the idea of knowing their diagnosis; and 13 (100%) of the patients with vascular dementia wished to know (compared with 68% cases with Alzheimer's disease). None felt upset, and only 39% of them felt pessimistic after reading their own clinical summary. However, among dementia patients who also happened to be depressed, a higher proportion (60%) expressed an unfavourable view towards knowing their diagnosis, but only a minority (40%) of them were actually upset. Most older married females, especially those with depression and Alzheimer's disease, felt pessimistic afterwards. Conclusions There was no significant difference between patients with dementia or depression in their wish to know their diagnosis. Patients with severe dementia, even if they felt upset, preferred to be told their diagnosis. Patients with vascular dementia tended to express a more favourable view.
Key findings
- Objective Investigation of the reaction of elderly patients to the disclosure of their diagnosis of dementia compared with depression.
- Results One hundred cases were recruited, 53 with dementia and 47 with depression.
- Within the dementia group, the majority of patients with mild or severe dementia welcomed the idea of knowing their diagnosis; and 13 (100%) of the patients with vascular dementia wished to know (compared with 68% cases with Alzheimer's disease).
- Conclusions There was no significant difference between patients with dementia or depression in their wish to know their diagnosis.
Why it matters
Most patients with dementia and depression liked the idea of reading their diagnosis, though 25% of dementia cases felt upset. This concerns how patients react to being told their diagnosis, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of geriatric psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2001 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 103 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.8 citations a year over 27 year(s) since 2001 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Martin William Orrell: h-index 88 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 11571768) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Jha, A., Tabet, N., & Orrell, M. (2001). To tell or not to tell-comparison of older patients' reaction to their diagnosis of dementia and depression. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.412
Vancouver
Jha A, Tabet N, Orrell M. To tell or not to tell-comparison of older patients' reaction to their diagnosis of dementia and depression. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2001. doi:10.1002/gps.412. PMID: 11571768.
BibTeX
@article{jha2001-11571768,
author = {Jha, A. and Tabet, N. and Orrell, M.},
title = {{To tell or not to tell-comparison of older patients' reaction to their diagnosis of dementia and depression}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1002/gps.412},
pmid = {11571768},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.412}
}
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