[SPECT and depressive pseudo-dementia. A case report]

The SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography), a new advance in medical imagery, allows the measure of cerebral blood flow and could be of interest in studying mental disorders. We report here a case of pseudo-dementia for which a SPECT has been performed before and after treatment. Mrs V., a 49 years old female, has been suffering from a dementia-like syndrome for several months. She is divorced, has two children, lives with a boy-friend, and has been working in a factory for 25 years. The first psychiatric disorders began three years ago with a gradual apragmatism and muteness. A neuroleptic treatment gave no result. One year later, without any reason, Mrs V. recovered a normal way of life. Nevertheless, from time to time, she had some periods of subexcitation. Few months later, she relapsed in her previous state of apragmatism and muteness. During a new hospitalization, neuroleptic treatment is tried again without any success. Mrs V. is then referred to us for medical screening of a dementia syndrome. In the Unit, it is difficult to communicate with her; she looks sad or amimic and has motor stereotypies (like rubbing her feet continuously against the floor). She has polidypsia and glutonny. Neurologic examination is normal, as well as EEG, X Scan, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The Folstein Mini Mental State score is 9/30.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)