hrvatski

Late-onset depression as a prodrome to Alzheimer’s disease: Case report

We present a case of a 71 year old that started treatment in 2011. for depressive symptoms at the Psychiatric Clinic of University Hospital Center Rijeka. The patient was diagnosed with a depressive episode. Clinical symptoms were dominated by depressive ideas, hopelessness, loss of self-confidence and suicidal thoughts. She was prescribed antidepressive and anxiolytic drugs. She arbitrarily stopped taking the medication six months later. Her son brought her to the hospital in April 2013. because his mother doesn’t do household chores, doesn’t function, is forgetful and cries a lot. Psychiatric evaluation shows time disorientation, slow responses to questions, depressive thoughts and interpretations, flattened mood. Mini mental status examination (MMSE) was performed with the score 18. Those results led to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, unspecified F00. Diagnosis was confirmed with a MRI scan in May 2013., which showed initial cortical atrophy. Patient has been given escitalopram, memantine and low dose of risperidone to which she responded well. She regularly takes medication and comes to control visits. She functions independently under her husband’s supervision and is currently in remission. To conclude, we emphasize the importance of differential diagnostic thinking when faced with late-onset depressive symptoms as a possible prodrome of Alzheimer’s disease.

depression ; Alzheimer’s disease ; Case report

Mentorirani rad studentu

engleski

Late-onset depression as a prodrome to Alzheimer’s disease: Case report

We present a case of a 71 year old that started treatment in 2011. for depressive symptoms at the Psychiatric Clinic of University Hospital Center Rijeka. The patient was diagnosed with a depressive episode. Clinical symptoms were dominated by depressive ideas, hopelessness, loss of self-confidence and suicidal thoughts. She was prescribed antidepressive and anxiolytic drugs. She arbitrarily stopped taking the medication six months later. Her son brought her to the hospital in April 2013. because his mother doesn’t do household chores, doesn’t function, is forgetful and cries a lot. Psychiatric evaluation shows time disorientation, slow responses to questions, depressive thoughts and interpretations, flattened mood. Mini mental status examination (MMSE) was performed with the score 18. Those results led to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, unspecified F00. Diagnosis was confirmed with a MRI scan in May 2013., which showed initial cortical atrophy. Patient has been given escitalopram, memantine and low dose of risperidone to which she responded well. She regularly takes medication and comes to control visits. She functions independently under her husband’s supervision and is currently in remission. To conclude, we emphasize the importance of differential diagnostic thinking when faced with late-onset depressive symptoms as a possible prodrome of Alzheimer’s disease.

depression ; Alzheimer’s disease ; Case report

Mentorirani rad studentu