[Depressive symptoms in a case of "posterior cortical atrophy"].
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a neurodegenerative disease which leads to a dementing syndrome that involves an irreversible impairment of higher visual and spatial functions. Memory and language functions generally tend to be preserved better than in other types of dementia including Alzheimer's disease. Here we report a case of PCA, which initially was diagnosed and treated for about a year as a major depressive episode. While most patients initially present with neurologic symptoms, in some PCA cases secondary manifestations, such as e. g. affective symptoms, might appear before the onset of overt cognitive dysfunction. In some cases, this might lead to a diagnostic delay of this neurodegenerative disease.
Wolf
R C
RC
Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie der Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. christian.wolf@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Uttner
I
I
Osterfeld
N D
ND
D000339:Affect; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001284:Atrophy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride