Home › DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders › Cognitive Disorders ›

Dementia

Diagnostic Criteria

  1. Impairment in short- and long-term memory
  2. At least 1 of the following:
    1. Impairment in abstract thinking
    2. Impaired judgment
    3. Other disturbances of higher cortical function
    4. Personality change
  3. Memory impairment and intellectual impairment caused significant social and occupational impairments
  4. Absence of occurrence exclusively during the course of Delirium
  5. Either of the following:
    1. Evidence of an organic factor causing this impaired memory and intellect
    2. Impaired memory and intellect cannot be accounted for by any nonorganic mental disorder

Treatment

  • Expert Guidelines: Treatment of Agitation in Dementia (very extensive description of treatment options)
  • A Guide for Patients and Families (short version for laypersons of the above)

Associated Feature

  • Learning Problem
  • Dysarthria or Involuntary Movement
  • Hypoactivity
  • Psychosis
  • Depressed Mood
  • Somatic or Sexual Dysfunction
  • Hyperactivity
  • Addiction
  • Sexually Deviant Behavior
  • Odd or Eccentric or Suspicious Personality
  • Anxious or Fearful or Dependent Personality
  • Dramatic or Erratic or Antisocial Personality

Differential Diagnosis

Some disorders have similar or even overlapping symptoms. The clinician, therefore, in his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.

  • Normal process of aging;
  • Delirium;
  • Schizophrenia;
  • Major Depressive Episode;
  • Factitious Disorder with Psychological Symptoms.