National survey to assess current practices in the diagnosis and management of young people with dementia.

BACKGROUND: The Royal College of Psychiatrists has recommended that old age psychiatrists may be best placed to take responsibility for service provision for younger people with dementia. There are concerns however, that if referral between specialists, particularly neurologists and old age psychiatrists, is incomplete, patients may be under investigated or inappropriately followed up. OBJECTIVES: We have assessed the current level of referral between these specialists, how each investigates their patients and details of follow up care. METHOD: We conducted a postal survey of all consultant neurologists and consultant old age psychiatrists in the UK with an overall response rate of 64%. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The ideal of full collaboration between old age psychiatrists and neurologists is not achieved. Young patients may be under investigated if managed solely by an old age psychiatrist and may not receive adequate follow up services if managed solely by a neurologist.