DEMENTIA-DSM V CRITERIA

SUMMARY

A. Evidence of significant cognitive decline from previous performance in one or more cognitive domains*: learning and memory, language, executive function, complex attention, perceptual-motor, social cognition.

B. Deficits interfere with independence in everyday activity. At a minimum assistance required with complex instrumental activities: IADL , paying bills, managing medications.

C. Cognitive deficits are not associated with the course of a delirium.

D. Cognitive deficits are not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g. major depression, schizophrenia).

*Evidence of decline: concern of the individual, a knowledgeable informant, or the clinician. Significant decline in cognitive function and a substantial impairment in cognitive performance, preferably documented by standardized neuropsych testing or another quantified clinical assessment.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].