Differential diagnostic distinction from depression
Depressive symptoms often occur in incipient dementia, but even purely depressive illnesses may be associated with disturbances of concentration and attention and with mild cognitive impairments ("pseudodementias"). A preliminary guide to distinguishing between dementia and depression is given in the table:
Evidence of depression |
Evidence of dementia |
Rapid onset, duration less than 6 month |
Usually slow onset, first signs more than 1 year ago |
Conspicuous variability of performance in tasks of the same difficulty |
Usually gradual reduction in performance of tasks of the same difficulty |
Orientated, knows where to get help |
Disoriented, unfocused, looking for help |
Subjective complaints stronger than objective findings |
Trivializes, complains less |
Depressive mood, with morning low |
Affective lability, easily changes mind |
Feelings of guilt and fear of failure |
Denies, blames others, confabulates |
Libido reduced |
Libido maintained |
Antidepressant therapy successful |
Antidepressant therapy not primarily successful |
Differential diagnostic dues to distinguishing between dementia and depression (After Herrschaft, Antidementiva in der Praxis, Unimed, 2001)
