IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING FOR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN OLDER HISPANICS
2024
Assessing PTSD in Older Hispanics
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Alcantar Sandy
Primary Institution: Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Hypothesis
Older Hispanics may be misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia instead of post-traumatic stress disorder due to inadequate assessment.
Conclusion
Improving assessment practices for PTSD in older Hispanics can help reduce misdiagnoses of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Supporting Evidence
- Hispanic older adults are at a higher risk of being misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
- Factors such as lack of collaboration with community providers and understanding of PTSD assessment contribute to this issue.
- Effective communication and interdisciplinary approaches are necessary for proper assessment.
Takeaway
Older Hispanic people might be wrongly told they have Alzheimer's when they actually have PTSD, so it's important to check for trauma in their past.
Participant Demographics
Older Hispanic adults.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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