Functional cognitive disorders: update on diagnostic status.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Many patients presenting with cognitive symptoms lack identifiable neurological explanations.
• A significant subset exhibits a discrepancy between subjective cognitive complaints and objective functional capacity.
• This diagnostic category is termed 'functional cognitive disorders' (FCD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding and evidence base for functional cognitive disorders (FCD).
• To explore diagnostic approaches and associated conditions within FCD.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on functional cognitive disorders.
• Analysis of clinical profiles, including discourse and simple clinical signs.
• Examination of concurrent conditions such as mood and sleep disturbances.

Main Results:

• Research on FCD is nascent, with preliminary evidence supporting diagnosis through characteristic clinical presentations.
• Typical diagnostic indicators include specific patterns in language discourse and straightforward clinical observations.
• Functional cognitive disorders frequently co-occur with mood disorders, sleep disturbances, and other functional conditions.

Conclusions:

• Functional cognitive disorders represent a distinct diagnostic category requiring further investigation.
• Positive diagnosis of FCD appears feasible based on established clinical profiles.
• The underlying pathogenesis of FCD remains undetermined, with a potential role for metamemory dysfunction suggested.