title: Diagnostic accuracy in presenile dementia.
abstract: A follow-up study of patients diagnosed as suffering from presenile dementia has revealed a high incidence of erroneous diagnoses. Of 52 patients discharged from hospital with this diagnosis, information was obtained 5-15 years later on 51. Eighteen were alive and the diagnosis was rejected in 16 (31 per cent). Possible reasons for the mistaken diagnoses are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies