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Dementia: sociological and philosophical constructions.

Daniel H J Davis1

  • 1College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, Scotland EH8 9 AG, UK. d.h.j.davis@sms.ed.ac.uk

Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|November 8, 2003
PubMed
Summary

This analysis challenges the biomedical view of dementia, integrating sociological and philosophical perspectives to improve dementia care and understanding of personhood.

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Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Medicine
  • Sociology of Health and Illness
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • The dominant biomedical model of dementia as a disease is critically examined.
  • Sociological and philosophical perspectives offer alternative frameworks for understanding dementia.
  • Existing dementia care practices may negatively impact family caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critique the biomedical paradigm of dementia.
  • To explore sociological and philosophical underpinnings of dementia.
  • To suggest improvements in dementia care by revising current conceptions.

Main Methods:

  • Sociological analysis drawing on Foucault's work on the history of medicine.
  • Philosophical inquiry into the question of Being, referencing Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty.
Keywords:
Mental Health TherapiesPhilosophical Approach

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of dementia nursing practices and their impact on caregivers, informed by Kitwood's theories.

    • Main Results:

    • Dementia is presented as a socially and philosophically constructed phenomenon, not solely a biomedical disease.
    • The analysis highlights the potential for maintaining personhood in individuals with dementia.
    • Damaging aspects of current dementia care for family caregivers are identified.

    Conclusions:

    • Challenging the sociological and philosophical foundations of dementia can lead to a revised understanding of the self.
    • This critique offers a pathway to dismantle current conceptions of dementia care.
    • Improved dementia care models can better support both individuals with dementia and their caregivers.