Clinical and paraclinical diagnosis in psychiatry
Lebert, F.
L'Encephale 25(Special Issue 5): 19-21; Discussion 22
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-7006 PMID: 10609098 Document Number: 508594
Alzheimer's disease patient can be addressed sometimes in psychiatry. At the early stage of the disease, the reason can be depressive symptoms or paranoiac reactions. Later, agitation associated with psychotic symptoms is the principal reason of hospitalization in psychiatry. The knowledge of the management of dementia has dramatically progressed, by example, antidepressant agents are not used as a diagnostic method. Psychiatric and behavioral assessment, neuropsychological tests, assessment of activities of daily life are very useful during the first consultation. Before the second consultation with the neuropsychological assessment, the stop of negative treatment, the treatment of depressive mood and the CT-scan must be realized. When the patient is hospitalized for agitation, the global assessment must be conducted after the hospitalization during consultation or day-hospital. Now, the psychiatrist must treat not only behavioral signs but specifically the disease too.