Diagnosing dementia: a comparison between a monodisciplinary and a multidisciplinary approach

F. R. J. Verhey, J. Jolles, R. W. H. M. Ponds, N. Rozendaal, L. A. Plugge, R. C. W. de Vet, F. W. Vreeling, P. J. M. van der Lugt

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Abstract

Discrepancies were examined in diagnostic outcome between a monodisciplinary approach and multidisciplinary, criteria-based approach in patients referred to a university memory clinic. Of 278 patients not fulfilling dementia criteria, 19 had been previously diagnosed as demented (specificity: 0.93). In 60 of 152 demented patients, dementia had not been diagnosed before (sensitivity: 0.61). Underreporting was frequent for mildly demented patients and for patients with coexisting depressive symptoms. In patients referred by psychiatrists, sensitivity rates for dementia and Alzheimer's disease were low; in patients referred by neurologists, depression often went unreported. Results underscore the need for more frequent use of integrated multidisciplinary services for cognitively disturbed patients.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)78-85
JournalJournal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

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