title: A memory clinic at a geriatric hospital: rationale, routine and results from the first 100 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the operation of a memory clinic with reference to the referral pattern, patient characteristics and psychiatric diagnoses, frequency of reversible dementias and utility of brief cognitive screening tools in the detection of dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent cognitive screening tests (Mini Mental Status Examination, Abbreviated Mental Test Score, Organic Brain Syndrome Scale of the Brief Assessment Scale) and two activities of daily living instruments. Psychiatric diagnoses were made according to criteria of the Diagnostic and statistical manual, third edition revised, of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-III-R).
  
  
  METHODS
  A large geriatric hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  First 100 patients referred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 75.5 years and 75 were women. Seventy-four met DSM-III-R criteria for dementia and a further 13 had other organic brain syndromes. No case of reversible dementia which recovered was encountered. The cognitive screening tools had a high correlation (r = 0.85-0.89) with one another but a much lower correlation with the activities of daily living instruments (r = 0.27-0.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reversible dementias are unlikely to be detected in a memory clinic at a geriatric hospital, but the assessment process may have other benefits which will need to be assessed in prospective research. The clinic population represents a unique resource for further research on dementia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flicker
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Helme
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs