Related Experiment Videos
Experiences with depression in a dementia clinic
M F Weiner1, M Bruhn, D Svetlik
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9070.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Depression frequently causes cognitive complaints in patients without dementia. However, it is rarely a significant factor in Alzheimer's disease severity, indicating distinct clinical presentations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cognitive complaints are common in elderly populations.
- Differentiating depression from dementia is clinically challenging.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and impact of depression in patients presenting with cognitive complaints.
- To differentiate cognitive impairment due to depression from Alzheimer's disease.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 317 consecutive cases from a dementia clinic.
- Clinical examination and extensive neuropsychological testing.
- Diagnosis of probable/possible Alzheimer's disease (AD) and assessment of depression using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and DSM-III-R criteria.
Main Results:
- 6% of patients had no objective cognitive impairment.
- 64% of patients with cognitive impairment were diagnosed with probable or possible AD.
- 42% of non-demented patients had cognitive difficulty attributed to depression, compared to 2% in the AD group.
Conclusions:
- Depression is a common cause of cognitive complaints in patients without organic disease in a tertiary care setting.
- Depression is a rare cause of excess morbidity in Alzheimer's disease patients.
- Distinguishing depression-related cognitive issues from AD is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.