Criterios diagnósticos de los pacientes con demencia en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Universitario René Vallejo Ortiz

Introducción: La Organización Mundial de la Salud reconoce la demencia como una prioridad de salud pública. Afecta a 50 millones de personas en todo el mundo y se registran alrededor de 10 millones de nuevos casos cada año. Objetivo: Aplicar los criterios diagnósticos a los pacientes con demencia de acuerdo al Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales-V y la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades-10, en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Universitario René Vallejo Ortiz entre junio de 2016 y diciembre de 2022. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo de corte transversal. El universo estuvo compuesto por todos los pacientes ingresados en la mencionada institución. La muestra no probabilística y a criterio de los autores la integraron 66 pacientes adultos, con el diagnóstico en el periodo de estudio señalado. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Los datos se presentaron en tablas y gráficos. Resultados: De los 66 pacientes investigados el 33,3 % presentaban entre 60 y 69. El sexo femenino representó el 57,6 %. De acuerdo al Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales- V, 24 pacientes para un 36,4 % se encontraban dentro de los A9, mientras que 12 (18,2 %) en los A10. Sin embargo, según la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades-10 el 93,9 % cumplen los criterios de demencia. Conclusiones: Las principales manifestaciones clínicas fueron la desorientación y la hipomnesia con asociación al deterioro cognitivo leve. En la asociación de las clasificaciones se constató que solo la mitad de los estudiados cumplían los criterios diagnósticos de forma unánime.

Introduction: The World Health Organization recognizes dementia as a public health priority. It affects 50 million people worldwide, with around 10 million new cases reported each year. Objective: To apply the diagnostic criteria to patients with dementia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V and the International Classification of Diseases-10 at the René Vallejo Ortiz University Psychiatric Hospital between June of 2016 and December 2022. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out. The universe was made up of all patients admitted to the aforementioned institution. The non-probabilistic sample and at the discretion of the authors was made up of 66 adult patients with the diagnosis in the indicated study period. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The data was presented in tables and graphs. Results: Of the 66 patients investigated, 33.3% were between 60 and 69. The female sex represented 57.6%. According to the DSM-V, 24 patients, 36.4%, were within A9, while 12 (18.2%) were within A10. However, according to ICD -10, 93.9% meet the criteria for dementia. Conclusions: The main clinical manifestations were disorientation and hypomnesia associated with mild cognitive impairment. In the association of the classifications, it was found that only half of those studied unanimously met the diagnostic criteria.

Cognitive screening test in primary care: cut points for low education

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To establish the diagnostic accuracy of the Brazilian version of the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG-Br) compared to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in individuals with low educational level. METHODS Ninety-three patients (≥ 60 years old) from Brazilian primary care units provided sociodemographic, cognitive, and functional data. Receiver operating characteristics, areas under the curve (AUC) and logistic regressions were conducted. RESULTS Sixty-eight patients with 0-4 years of education. Cases (n = 44) were older (p = 0.006) and performed worse than controls (n = 49) on all cognitive or functional measures (p < 0.001). The GPCOG-Br demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy to the MMSE (AUC = 0.90 and 0.91, respectively) and similar positive and negative predictive values (PPV/NPV, respectively: 0.79/0.86 for GPCOG-Br and 0.79/0.81 for MMSE). Adjusted cut-points displayed high sensitivity (all 86%) and satisfactory specificity (65%-80%). Lower educational level predicted lower cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS The GPCOG-Br is clinically well-suited for use in primary care.

Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia: a case report

This case report highlights the challenges encountered in arriving at the diagnosis of a case with ‘behavioural variant Frontotemporal Dementia’. Methods: We report a case of ‘behavioural variant Frontotemporal Dementia’ diagnosed in a 49 year old Chinese lady. Results: This patient was misdiagnosed as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Parkinson Disease and Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS), deemed not responding to medications which was later complicated with Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Her diagnosis was revised only after 2 years, after which her behavioural problems stabilised, bringing some relief to her family’s distress. Conclusion: Though not rare, ‘behavioural variant Frontotemporal dementia’ is often misdiagnosed and patients and their families suffer unnecessary suffering before the condition is finally diagnosed.

As diversas faces da síndrome demencial: como diagnosticar clinicamente?: [revisão] / The several faces of dementia syndrome: how to diagnose clinically?: [review]

Objetivos: a presente revisão descreve aspectos clínicos relacionados às diferentes síndromes demenciais, objetivando tornar comum, no meio médico, o conhecimento das nuanças que permeiam o diagnóstico diferencial dessas afecções. Fonte de Dados: foi realizada uma revisão da literatura através das bases de dados Medline, Ovid e Scopus até outubro de 2009, assim como de livros-texto. Artigos com enfoque na fisiopatogenia e na patologia não foram priorizados, tendo em vista os objetivos deste estudo. Síntese dos Dados: este artigo revisa aspectos dealgumas síndromes demenciais reversíveis e irreversíveis, como Doença de Alzheimer e Demência Vascular, enfocando principalmente as características clínicas e diagnósticas que as tornam entidades distintas. Conclusões: a literatura sugere que o processo diagnóstico das síndromes demenciais assenta-se fundamentalmente na clínica, priorizando uma avaliação rigorosa do estado mental. Entretanto, a avaliação por neuroimagem e exames laboratoriais tem participação considerável em determinar a causa subjacente ao quadro demencial, revelando peculiaridades que podem nortear o diagnóstico diferencial. Diagnosticar diferentes etiologias é importante para o prognóstico e conduta terapêutica específica.

Aims: This review describes the clinical aspects related to different dementia syndromes, aiming to become common in the medical , the knowledge of the nuances that permeate the differential diagnosis of these disorders. Data Source: A review of literature published up to October 2009 was conducted on Medline, Ovid, and Scopus databases, as well as on textbooks. Articles that focused on the pathogenesis and pathology were not prioritized, given the objectives of this study. Summary of the Findings: This article reviews some aspects of reversible and irreversible dementia syndromes, such as Alzheimer?s disease and Vascular Disease, focusing on the clinic and diagnostic features that make them distinct entities. Conclusions: The literature suggests that the diagnostic process of dementia syndromes is based mainly on clinical practice, prioritizing a rigorous assessment of mental status. However, neuroimaging evaluation and laboratory tests have considerable input in determining the underlying cause of dementia, revealing peculiarities that can guide the differential diagnosis. The diagnosis of different etiologies is important to the prognosis and the specific therapeutic approach.

Attitudes toward Disclosing Dementia Diagnosis in Korean Elderly and Family with Dementia Patients

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know whether Korean healthy elderly and family with dementia patients were wishing to disclose the diagnosis of dementia, to identify reasons of their wishing and unwishing to disclose, and to analyze influencing factors on the disclosing of dementia. METHODS: We obtained data from 78 healthy elderly with age over 60 and 73 family with dementia patients by interviewing with questionnaire about attitudes toward disclosing dementia. RESULTS: 1) 51.3% of healthy elderly and 58.9% of family with dementia patients were wishing to disclose dementia. Other relatives whom they wanted to tell were spouse or adult children. Most family with dementia patients wanted to have predictive tests in preparation for their future. 2) The main reasons for wishing to disclose were to make advance planning in healthy elderly, and to be careful and cooperate well to treat if they aware their illness in family with dementia patients (p<0.005, respectively). The main reasons for unwishing to disclose were whether they might be frightened or upset in healthy elderly (p<0.025), and to worry about being depressed in family with dementia patients (p<0.005). The main reasons why family wanted to be told were family's right to know and to explore treatment options. 3) The influencing factors on disclosing dementia seemed to be sex (p<0.01) and marital status (p<0.005) in healthy elderly, and education (p<0.005), marital status (p<0.005), religion (p<0.025) and socioeconomic status (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The attitude toward disclosing diagnosis of dementia in Korean healthy elderly and family with dementia patients seemed to be more active. Therefore, doctors should prepare in mental attitude and knowledge to satisfy their need by active provision of information and education.