[Psychopathological spectrum in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurology

Background:

• Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by prominent changes in personality and behavior.
• Understanding the full psychopathological spectrum of bvFTD is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Observation:

• This study examined 8 patients diagnosed with bvFTD, focusing on their psychopathological alterations, cognitive function, and neuroimaging results.
• Psychiatric history was positive in 5 patients.
• Patients exhibited either externalizing/disinhibited (5 patients) or internalizing/apathetic (3 patients) symptomatology.

Findings:

• The onset of bvFTD is typically insidious with a progressive course and impaired insight into behavioral changes.
• Neuropsychological assessment revealed preserved profiles in 2 patients and deficits in episodic memory and executive functions in 6 patients.
• Neuroimaging showed heterogeneous patterns, with cortical atrophy and frontotemporal hypometabolism being common.

Implications:

• bvFTD presents a wide range of psychopathological symptoms, including both externalizing and internalizing features.
• Neuropsychological testing can identify early deficits in executive functions.
• The heterogeneity of neuroimaging findings suggests their potential utility in refining diagnostic criteria for bvFTD.