Overview: pseudodementia

Despite the increased attention that the syndrome of pseudodementia is receiving, several important questions regarding diagnostic criteria and accuracy, etiology, and even the appropriateness of the term itself remain unanswered. The author reviews the literature on this topic, including published case reports. On the basis of the available data, it appears that there may be at least two categories of pseudodementia and that the cognitive impairment associated with depressive illness is more appropriately viewed as a depression-induced organic mental disorder. Directions for future research are suggested.