Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Conversion pseudodementia in older people: a descriptive case series.

J Hepple1

  • 1Department of Mental Health, Peninsula Medical School, Somerset BA20 2BN, UK. Jason.hepple@sompar.nhs.uk

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|September 28, 2004
PubMed
Summary

This case series describes conversion pseudodementia in older adults, a syndrome characterized by cognitive impairment and dependency without organic dementia. Early recognition and psychotherapy may help manage this condition.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Isolation and segregation of 44 microsatellite loci in the South African abalone Haliotis midae L.

Animal genetics·2009
Same author

Talking about cognitive analytic therapy.

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2003
Same author

Insights into the structure of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and implications for receptor activation.

FEBS letters·1998
Same author

Engineered mutants of HGF/SF with reduced binding to heparan sulphate proteoglycans, decreased clearance and enhanced activity in vivo.

Current biology : CB·1998
Same author

One hundred cases of attempted suicide in the elderly.

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·1997
Same author

Domain structure of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF).

Ciba Foundation symposium·1997

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

  • Conversion pseudodementia presents as apparent cognitive decline in older adults.
  • This syndrome is distinct from organic dementia, lacking evidence from investigations or illness course.

Observation:

  • A case series of ten patients over 12 years in UK old age psychiatry.
  • The syndrome predominantly affects women from higher socioeconomic backgrounds with a history of depressive symptoms.

Findings:

  • Core features include cognitive impairment, regression, and increasing physical dependency in late middle or old age.
  • The condition often necessitates long-term institutional care, with a mean survival of 13 years post-onset.

Implications:

  • Conversion pseudodementia may stem from a catastrophic reaction to cumulative loss in individuals with borderline or narcissistic personality traits.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Early psychotherapeutic intervention is suggested to potentially limit syndrome progression.