Ron M A, Toone B K, Garralda M E, Lishman W A
Br J Psychiatry. 1979 Feb;134:161-8. doi: 10.1192/bjp.134.2.161.
A follow-up study of patients diagnosed as suffering from presenile dementia has revealed a high incidence of erroneous diagnoses. Of 52 patients discharged from hospital with this diagnosis, information was obtained 5-15 years later on 51. Eighteen were alive and the diagnosis was rejected in 16 (31 per cent). Possible reasons for the mistaken diagnoses are discussed.
