03-24-2007, 02:33 AM
A 65-year-old woman presents to a primary care physician with a complaint of poor memory. Her husband died six months ago and she has recently decreased her church involvement and interest in her hobbies. She complains of feeling tired and worried, and has difficulty with attention and memory. She has a history of a major depressive episode approximately ten years ago, which required hospitalization. She was treated with an antidepressant for two years until it was tapered and discontinued. She currently denies depressed mood. She states that her mother died of Alzheimer's disease, and that she finds her memory loss particularly worrisome in light of this family history. Which of the following factors would be more likely if this patient has a pseudodementia of depression rather than a true dementia?
A. The patient appears unconcerned
B. The patient emphasizes disability related to memory loss
C. The patient has more difficulty with recent memory than remote memory
D. The patient tends to conceal the difficulty
E. The patient tries hard to answer questions about orientation and registration
A. The patient appears unconcerned
B. The patient emphasizes disability related to memory loss
C. The patient has more difficulty with recent memory than remote memory
D. The patient tends to conceal the difficulty
E. The patient tries hard to answer questions about orientation and registration