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Diagnosed With Pseudo Dementia. Have Short Term Memory Loss. Prognosis?

Posted on Tue, 27 Aug 2013

Question: My mum has just been guven a provisional diagnosis of pseudo dementia amd will be regerred for follow up care. Currently she cannot remember anything at all in her shirt term memory. She knows her family. But sje was asking where my dad was. He died 10 years ago. She has also been saying that she has done something very bad but cant remember what. This episode of nit remembering came on literally overnight. Could you givee some idea on prognosis and if she will recover %3F Thank you

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)

Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this diagnosis your mom has.

Dementia which starts overnight may not be dementia. I would rather label it delirium. After investigations, we may settle with this diagnosis.
Pseudo-dementia is a diagnosis made in people who develop dementia after having had depression that is poorly treated.

Pseudo-dementia is difficult to treat. Saying she would really regain her memory fully is unlikely. However, if the cause is reversible, then she can truly regain her memory.

I will suggest that you get a thorough investigation of possible causes of abrupt memory decline. When the final decision is arrived at, then we can say exactly what her prognosis is going to be.

Hope this help. let me know if there are more questions we can help you with. I wish her the best of possible outcomes.
Dr, Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (11 minutes later)

Thank you. I think that they disgnosed pseudo dementuia because her fluoxetine had been increased from 20mg per day to 40 mg per for 6 weeks. The problem started at this point she had also been very deptessed. . Can thus be reversed%3F Thanks for your help

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (54 minutes later)

Hi and thanks for this follow up question.

I am wondering why the dosage of this drug was increased. Could it be that the initial signs of this memory difficulties were interpreted as treatment failure?
Worsening depression may signal another ongoing pathological process. Please, has her thyroid function been checked alongside other basic tests for people who present with failing memory? Get these done to at least look for reversible causes and address if any are identified.

Talking about reversal greatly depends on the cause. If it is without any identifiable cause, then it is probably not going to be reversed.

Sorry about this. Hope it helps you and maybe guides you on how to continue this process.
Best wishes of health.
Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (4 minutes later)

She takes thyroxine 50mcg. Her thyroid bloods are normal. He fluoxetine was increased as she was depressed

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (6 minutes later)

Please, can you tell me what her TSH levels were(absolute value)?
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 minute later)

I dont know level. Doctior just said they were normal

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (5 minutes later)

Thanks for responding.

Well, I cannot for real tell what the road ahead looks like.
However, if reversible causes like hypothyroidism, hydrocephalus, VitB12 deficiency etc have been ruled out, then we can only continue to do the possible and see what the outcome becomes.

I wish her well and the best of possible outcomes.
Once more, thank you so much for this opportunity to discuss the health of your mother with you.
Dr. Ditah, MD.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar