[Comment on the S3 Guidelines Dementia by the DGPPN and the DGN from the neurological point of view]

Abstract

The German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Nervous Diseases (DGPPN) and the German Society for Neurology (DGN) have appointed an expert panel to develop guidelines for the diagnosis of and therapy for dementias and to reach a consensus on these guidelines with other relevant societies. These guidelines have now been broadly consented. They assess the present evidence according to transparent standards and give a number of recommendations that are outlined in the present communication. The guidelines lack recommendations for the organisation of medical and social services and for adequate settings of care. These are key elements of national practice guidelines, the development of which is of key importance in view of the socioeconomic consequences of dementias. The financing of national practice guidelines cannot be the responsibility of scientific societies.