How Dementias are Diagnosed
Clinical diagnosis relies on the 2 cornerstones of psychiatric assessment: History and MSE.
Typical diagnostic features in the history include:
- Poor short-term memory
- Disorientation in time or place
- Difficulty carrying out daily living activities
Typical diagnostic features on MSE include:
- Score of 24 or less on Mini Mental State Examination
- Word-finding difficulty or repetitive speech
- Limited insight