Neurocognitive Disorders

Question 1

Delirium

Answer 1

A: A disturbance in attention & awareness
B: The disturbance develops over a short period of time, represents a change from baseline attention & awareness, and tends to fluctuate in severity during the course of a day
C: An additional disturbance in cognition
D: The disturbance in Criterion A & C are not better explained by another pre-existing, established or evolving neurocognitive disorder & don’t occur in the context of a severely reduced level of arousal, such as coma
E: There’s evidence from the history, physical examination, or lab findings that the disturbance is a direct physiological consequences of another medical condition, substance intoxication or withdrawal

Question 2

Major & Mild Neurocognitive Disorders

Answer 2

A: Evidence of significant cognitive decline from a previous level of performance in one or more cognitive domains based on:
1. Concern of the individual, a knowledgeable informant, or the clinician that there has been a significant decline in a cognitive function; and
2. A substantial impairment in cognitive performance, preferably documented by standardized neuropsychological testing or in its absence another quantified clinical assessment
B: The cognitive deficits interfere w/ independence in everyday activities
C: The cognitive deficits don’t occur exclusively in the context of a delirium
D: The cognitive deficits are not better explained by another mental disorder

Question 3

Major or Mild Frontotemporal Neurocognitive Disorder

Answer 3

A: The criteria are met for major or mild neurocognitive disorder
B: The disturbance has insidious onset & gradual progression
C: Either 1 or 2:
1: Behavioral Variant
a: 3 or more of the following
behavioral disinhibition
apathy or inertia
loss of sympathy or empathy
perseverative, stereotyped or compulsive/ritualistic behavior
hyperorality & dietary changes
b: Prominent decline in social cognition and/or executive abilities
2. Language variant
a. Prominent decline in language ability, in the form of speech production, word finding, object naming, grammar or word comprehension
D: Relative sparing of learning & memory & perceptual-motor function
E: The disturbance is not better explained by cerebrovascular disease. another neurodegenerative disease, the effects of a substance, or another mental, neurological or systemic disorder