[The psychopathological pictures of the early stages of dementia syndromes (vasogenic and of Alzheimer's type)]

Abstract

The goal of the research is to determine the early symptoms predicting dementia syndromes both Vasogenic and Alzheimer type. The investigations covered: 36 people without any psychopathological syndrome, 32 people with dementia of Alzheimer type and 36 people with vasogenic dementia. DSM IV criteria were accepted as a basis for recognition of dementia syndromes. The qualified patients underwent basic examination consisting of the following elements: AMDP scale (the estimation of psychic and somatic condition), Global Scale of Dementia, Hachinski scale, Blessed scale, Folsteins scale (MMS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Physical self Maintenance Scale and two methods of the authors: Current Events Card and Prodromal Symptoms Card. On the basis of examinations the following conclusions can be stated:--persons in early stages of dementia differ from those without any symptoms of it by the occurrence of many psychopathological symptoms--not only connected with the cognitive sphere;--in the period preceding the development of dementia the frequency of occurrence of some symptoms is different according to etiology of the process (Alzheimer or vasogenic);--the applied clinical scales differ significantly in their value for the diagnosis and the estimation of intensification of dementia processes.