title: Differential diagnosis of pseudodementia in the elderly.
abstract: When depression occurs in the elderly, it may mimic dementia. The identification of depressive pseudodementia is important because this syndrome, unlike true dementia, often responds to antidepressant treatment. In this paper, the authors present strategies for differentiating pseudodementia, dementia, and coexisting depression and dementia. The treatment of depression in the elderly is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Haggerty
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Janowsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents