title: Pseudodementia caused by severe depression.
abstract: The diagnosis of pseudodementia may be difficult in a patient with a history of major depressive disorder. Clinical case history. A 70-year-old man with a history of major depressive disorder, in remission for 3 years, presented with confusion, agitation and cognitive disorder. The differential diagnosis included depression with pseudodementia, drug-induced dementia or Alzheimer disease. Mild cognitive improvement was noted after discontinuation of simvastatin. After 9 months of treatment for depression, the patient had remission that was sustained for >1 year, with mild residual difficulty remembering words of songs. The differential diagnosis of dementia includes major depressive disorder and adverse events from simvastatin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, University of Medicine and Dentistry State of New Jersey/School of Osteopathic Medicine, Camden, New Jersey, USA. tobe@comcast.net
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tobe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin