[Management of memory disorders in anxious patients consulting a memory clinic]

The proportion of patients consulting pluridisciplinary memory clinics who present anxiety disorders varies with recruitment and referral practices but often exceeded 10p.100. Most of these subjects have an anxiety trait or stress-related generalized anxiety, often triggered by diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a close friend or relation. The consultant should play special attention to analyzing the complaint in order to disclose difficulties in attention, true "loss of memory" events, and any recent traumatic events. The psychometric examination is generally normal or evidences discrete frontal dysfunction. Other diagnoses should be ruled out: associated depression, iatrogenic effect, alcoholism, anxiety as a sign of a somatic disease. Management may include drugs, usually on a short term regimen. Short-term psychotherapy or group therapy may be helpful.