The authors analyzed the pretreatment clinical presentations of 14
patients with depressive pseudodementia and 28 patients with primary
degenerative dementia as measured by the Mini-Mental State, the Blessed
Dementia Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. They
found that patients with pseudodementia showed significantly greater
pretreatment early morning awakening, higher ratings of psychological
anxiety, and more severe impairment of libido. Patients with dementia,
however, showed significantly more disorientation to time, greater
difficulty finding their way about familiar streets or indoors, and more
impairment with dressing. The authors suggest that these findings be
considered preliminary.Abstract Teaser