Zimmer R, Lauter H
Z Gerontol. 1984 May-Jun;17(3):109-12.
The term "depressive pseudodementia" introduced 20 to 30 years ago by Madden and coworkers and by Kiloh is critically evaluated. This originally descriptive term is not unequivocal due to its diagnostic and therapeutic connotations. Even by omitting the negative prefix "pseudo" it cannot be distinguished whether a psychopathological description of symptoms or a clinical diagnosis is meant. Therefore, on the present state of knowledge of dementia research and in view of the necessary distinction between syndromal and nosological classification level, the authors favour the abandoning of the term "depressive dementia". At the syndromal level it is suggested to use the term "dementia syndrome" according to Folstein and McHugh or to use the term "cognitive impairment" according to Caine. At the diagnostic-nosological level this procedure should include the information as to whether the "cognitive impairment" of an elderly patient coincides with a depression, a certain type of dementia or a combination of both. Such a positive terminology may promote the qualitative differentiation and quantification of the "cognitive impairment" which are scientifically necessary.
对20到30年前由马登及其同事以及基洛提出的“抑郁性假性痴呆”这一术语进行了批判性评估。由于其诊断和治疗内涵，这个最初具有描述性的术语并不明确。即使省略否定前缀“假性”，也无法区分它指的是对症状的精神病理学描述还是临床诊断。因此，基于目前痴呆症研究的知识水平，并考虑到综合征分类水平和疾病分类水平之间的必要区分，作者们倾向于摒弃“抑郁性痴呆”这一术语。在综合征水平上，建议根据福尔斯坦和麦克休的说法使用“痴呆综合征”这一术语，或者根据凯恩的说法使用“认知障碍”这一术语。在诊断性疾病分类水平上，这一程序应包括关于老年患者的“认知障碍”是否与抑郁症、某种类型的痴呆症或两者的组合相符的信息。这样一种积极的术语可能会促进“认知障碍”在科学上所必需的定性区分和定量分析。
