An 82-year-old man constantly feels sad, demoralized, and worthless. He also is experiencing significant memory problems. Based on this pattern of symptoms, physician examining Mr. Grah should take care to rule out which possible cause of his memory loss?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with pseudodementia, a condition in which a person exhibits symptoms of cognitive decline but the cause is primarily psychological or emotional rather than neurodegenerative. It is important to rule out this condition before making a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder such as Lewy body dementia or Pick's disease. Polypharmacy could also contribute to memory problems but it is not the main concern given the patient's other symptoms.

An 82-Year-Old Man Constantly Feels Sad, Demoralized, and Worthless