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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease guidance for health workers

This guidance is intended to guide healthcare professionals caring for patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and their families. It has been written in recognition of the fact that some features of CJD may make care provision more difficult. These include: the rarity of the disease and uncertainty about the diagnosis in the early stages; the combination of psychiatric and physical symptoms; the rapidity of progression of symptoms; and the high media profile surrounding the condition. Patients with CJD are initially cared for in a cariety of settings, including psychiatric, neurology, geriatric, andpsycho-geriatric units. Coordination of care has been a particular difficulty in the past. This guidance covers the care of patients with known or strongly suspected CJD. It addresses patients' and families' care and information needs, including coordination of care. It complements advice on care planning in the document 'CJD: Good practice guidelines for social service professionals' issued by the CJD Support Network in 1998. Cites 16 references. [Book abstract]