[Persistent subjective cognitive decline in middle age: diagnosis and treatment]

A 47-year-old highly educated man without psychiatric history was referred for psychiatric evaluation because of persistent subjective cognitive decline after repeated and extensive diagnostic evaluation in an outpatient memory clinic. The patient developed increasing preoccupation and anxiety with memory complaints and concerns, despite repetitive negative findings from clinical investigations. This clinical case is coined as ‘neurocognitive hypochondria’, a syndrome interfacing with cogniform and illness anxiety disorders, in which obsessions and concerns about progression of unexplained memory deficits are indicated for specialized treatment. This case study provides more insight into differential diagnosis, classification according to the current DSM-5 criteria and discussion on potential treatment approaches.