To help the participants to understand the reasons for challenging behaviour in persons with dementia
The Eighth edition of the International Conference on Schizophrenia (IConS) held from August 30 to September 1, 2018 at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The theme of the conference is Strengthening links: Research and Interventions.
IConS VIII, 2018 was an interactive environment, where researchers from all over the world met, talked about and discussed developments in the field of Schizophrenia and related areas. Delegates who are young researchers eager to explore new emerging grounds in the field or are ardent practitioners in psychiatry or a trainee assessing professional pathways, find this conference a fertile ground for enhancing their knowledge in the field.
Pre conference workshop
The 2018 conference featured a Pre-conference workshop on Managing Dementias
Background
Dementia is a progressive condition. India currently has more than 4 million persons with dementia and it is expected to have more than 10 million (1 crore) by 2040. Challenging behaviors are seen in nearly 90% of persons with dementia. These can include altered sleep-wake cycle, agitation, restlessness, presence of delusions & hallucinations, depression, anxiety, repeated calling-out, disinhibition and aggression. These behaviors can be very challenging, both for the person with dementia and the caregiver. Professionals managing persons with dementia should be able to manage challenging behavior and also should support family caregivers. This workshop aimed to help professionals to gain confidence in managing challenging behavior in persons with dementia. It is being held as a pre-conference workshop as part of the eighth edition of the prestigious International conference on Schizophrenia (IConS – VIII).
Aims of the Workshop
Workshop Content
A systematic approach to understanding challenging behaviour in dementia with current updates on use of medication and non-drug options were discussed. The focus was on practical management of challenging behavior in dementia. Participants were encouraged to bring details of their cases for discussion.
Target audience
Clinicians and other professionals dealing with persons with dementia including Psychiatrists, Neurologists, Geriatricians, General Practitioners, Family Medicine Practitioners, Nurses and Psychologists.
Faculty
Oration
IConS VIII Presents The First Dr.M.Sarada Menon Oration
Padma Bhushan, Dr.M. Sarada Menon is the Founder of the Schizophrenia Research Foundation. One of the very early women psychiatrists in India, she has been instrumental in the bringing visibility to Psychosocial Rehabilitation for persons with Serious Mental illness. Extensively involving families of persons with serious mental illnesses and the local community, she gave a new meaning to the concept of resource mobilization. Starting SCARF with many likeminded individuals 34 years ago, her vision was to advance research in the field of schizophrenia and feed this back into the medical and psychosocial management. Promoting awareness on mental health and illnesses was her approach to involve the local community to re-integrate mentally ill patients into the society. A committed and passionate teacher, she has continued to mould mental health professions over several generations. In her mid-nineties, she still updates herself with the advancements in the field of Psychiatry.
As a fitting tribute to the immense contributions of Dr Sarada Menon to the field of mental health, Prof Max Birchwood, University of Warwick, UK, will deliver the First Dr.Sarada Menon Oration.
Over several decades, Prof Max Birchwood has applied and innovated various psychosocial intervention strategies. He pioneered the concept and practice of early intervention in psychosis in the UK and internationally and opened the UK’s first Early Intervention in Psychosis service in 1994, informed by his concept of the ‘critical period’ in psychosis, which he translated into the mental health policy framework for the UK government as part of the NHS ‘National Plan’. Professor Birchwood has undertaken research into the application of CBT to psychosis. His work in acute psychosis (1996; 2000) and in reducing harmful compliance with common hallucinations (2004), have been incorporated into NICE guidelines. He has also undertaken extensive work developing the cognitive model of ‘voices’, particularly the role of appraisals of voices’ power in driving affective dysregulation and compliance with voice commands. He has been a close friend and associate of SCARF for many years and one of the regular participants at ICONS.
Prof Brichwood will deliver a lecture on ‘Psychiatric rehabilitation into the modern age: early intervention in severe and treatment- resistant social disability’