EmMa - Promotion of capacity for consent to medical treatment among persons with dementia by means of resource-oriented communication

 Background and objectives of the project

Psychologists, legal experts and geropsychiatrists are cooperating with the aim of examining the capacity of persons with dementia to give their consent to treatment with anti-dementia drugs. The departure point for the examination is the observation that persons suffering from dementia are currently put at a disadvantage because the methods used to assess their capacity for consent are largely dependent on their verbal communication skills. However, it is precisely these that are limited by the disease. Against this background, the undertaking is focused on two research questions: How are specific verbal and non-verbal communication skills and the assessment of the capacity for consent of people with dementia related to one another? How can this assessment be improved with the help of information from the treating doctor that is adjusted to take these communication skills into account? These questions are to be pursued by means of a prospective observational study and two experimental longitudinal intervention studies. In this respect, the results of recent research, as well as our own preliminary studies draw attention to the possibility of making use of the non-verbal communication skills of persons with dementia. The results are important as they can help to strengthen the self-determination of those concerned, as well as ensure greater security from both a legal and a medical perspective when taking actions and making decisions.

 Cooperation partners

  • Prof. Dr. Frank Oswald, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
  • Prof. Dr. Johannes Pantel, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
  • Prof. Dr. Johannes Schröder, Dipl.-Psych. Maren Knebel, UniversitätsKlinikum Heidelberg
  • Prof. Dr. Thomas Klie, Evangelische Hochschule Freiburg

 Funding and duration

The project has been sponsored by the Volkswagen foundation as part of a Schumpeter Fellowship for Julia Haberstroh; Duration of the project: five years (until 2016).

 Contact / Responsible employees