Dementia - American Description
Diagnostic Criteria
-------------------
* Impairment in short- and long-term memory
* At least 1 of the following:
o Impairment in abstract thinking
o Impaired judgment
o Other disturbances of higher cortical function
o Personality change
* Memory impairment and intellectual impairment caused significant social
and occupational impairments
* Absence of occurrence exclusively during the course of Delirium
* Either of the following:
o Evidence of an organic factor causing this impaired memory and
intellect
o Impaired memory and intellect cannot be accounted for by any
nonorganic mental disorder
Associated Features
-------------------
* Learning Problem
* Dysarthria/Involuntary Movement
* Hypoactivity
* Psychotic
* Depressed Mood
* Somatic/Sexual Dysfunction
* Hyperactivity
* Addiction
* Sexually Deviant Behavior
* Odd/Eccentric/Suspicious Personality
* Anxious/Fearful/Dependent Personality
* Dramatic/Erratic/Antisocial Personality
Differential Diagnosis
----------------------
Normal process of aging;
Delirium;
Schizophrenia;
Major Depressive Episode;
Factitious Disorder with Psychological Symptoms.
Internet Mental Health
copyright 1995-1997 by Phillip W. Long, M.D.
<http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-or05.html>
janet paterson
52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
snail-mail: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada
website: a new voice <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/>
e-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
