Features of pseudodementia with depression
What features are characteristic of pseudodementia associated with depression?
Patients with pseudodementia may or may not have a history of depressive or vegetative symptoms.
They tend to have flat affect, to give up easily when mental status is examined, or to say that they cannot perform a task without even trying it.
They often respond surprisingly well when given extra time and encouragement, but they may deny their success.
Results of mental status examination are inconsistent; for example, they may fail a simple task but perform a similar, more difficult one correctly.
Or they may have variable strengths and weaknesses over repeated testing sessions.
