Disclosure of Diagnosis in MCI and Dementia

Diagnostic disclosure adopting an individualized approach and maintaining respect for the wishes of the patient is as important as correct and accurate diagnostic evaluation. A dementia diagnosis is often a shock and associated with considerable negative feelings, but the way the message is delivered may mitigate this and help the patient to adjust to the situation. Considerations regarding diagnostic disclosure begin at the first visit for diagnostic evaluation and include determining the reasons the patient is seeking medical help. Pre biomarker counselling, when biomarker sampling is undertaken, is important in order to enable the patient to make an informed choice and will set the stage for the diagnostic disclosure. Post-biomarker counselling should include information on how the biomarkers may be interpreted including risk of progression. A plan for follow-up should be given.