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NeuroRehabilitation 17 (2002) 115-122
IOS Press |
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Dementia Due to Head Trauma: An obscure
name for a clear neurocognitive syndrome
José León-Carrión
Human Neuropsychology Laboratory, Dept. of Experimental Psychology, University of Seville, San Francisco
Javier s/n, 41005 Seville, Spain
Tel: +34 95 455 7688; Fax: +34 95 4374558; E-mail: LeonCarrion@us.es
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Abstract: This paper questions the DSMIV TR criteria for
Dementia Due to Head Trauma (DDHT). We studied 20 consecutive
traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and checked them for mis
criteria. We found the diagnosis criteria to be oversensitive and
lacking in specificity, consequently raising the possibility for all
subjects who have sustained severe TBI to be diagnosed with dementia.
A careful analysis of data and literature showed that nearly half of
these patients were able to return to work after undergoing an
intensive and holistic rehabilitation program, indicating a reversal
of the "dementia". Severe head injury produces a set of
multiple cognitive deficits that shouldn't be considered dementia. The
term "Severe Neurocognitive Disorder" is suggested for use
instead of DDHT for the cognitive deterioration of severe TBI
patients.
Keywords: Dementia,
brain injury, post-concussional disorder, neurobehavioral disorder,
neuropsychiatric disorder, neuropsychological assessment
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