Dementia vs. Pseudodementia in Elderly
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 15:28 — saif
Dementia in elderly vs. Pseudodementia in elderly
*Dementia: slow onset, patient focuses on past success, increased confusion at night, guesses at answers (confabulation), unaware of promblems
*Pseudodementia: depression in elderly. Acute onset, patietn focuses on failures, not confused at night, often avoids answering questions (“don’t know”), is aware of problems.
*Treatement for pseudomenetia: SSRIs, ECT, Mirtazapine (sedating so good for insomnia too), Methylphenidate (for those with psychomotor retardation.. but don’t give after noon to avoid insomonia).