Abstract
BACKGROUND: The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) strongly resembles primary psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, a bvFTD mimic may occur, without neurodegenerative aetiology.
AIM: To offer psychiatrist clinical tools for making or ruling out a bvFTD diagnosis.
METHOD: To present the results of the first prospective cohort study on bvFTD patients and primary psychiatric patients. Results are discussed within the context of the international literature.
RESULTS: Frontotemporal atrophy on imaging confirms a suspected bvFTD diagnosis. Merely fulfilling the bvFTD clinical criteria, with or without frontotemporal hypometabolism on functional imaging, may also result from primary psychiatric disorders or the bvFTD-phenocopy syndrome. A high level of stereotypy, hyperorality, a low level of depressive symptoms, impaired social cognition or absent insight increases the probability of bvFTD. Biomarker or genetic tests and follow-up are recommended. CONCLUSIONS A bvFTD diagnosis should be made multidisciplinary. Without the confirmation of atrophy or genetics, great reserve in making the diagnosis is in place and careful analyses for psychiatric aetiologies is advised.
| Translated title of the contribution | Diagnostics of frontotemporal dementia in psychiatric practice: Guides and pitfalls |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 366-373 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2021 |
Keywords
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Frontotemporal Dementia/diagnosis
- Humans
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropsychological Tests
- Prospective Studies
- Psychiatry