THE ONSET OF DEMENTIA THROUGH THE COTARD SYNDROME - THE DELIRIUM OF NEGATION

Abstract

ICD-10 (The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders. Clinical description and diagnostic guidelines) Introduction. Cotard syndrome is a neuropsychiatric pathology that is uncommon in medical practice but has a significant impact on public awareness of the importance of mental health. This mental disorder is also known as negation delirium, living dead syndrome, nihilistic delirium, or walking corpse syndrome. Objectives. A clinical case of a patient diagnosed with dementia due to late-onset Alzheimer's disease is presented; dementia also includes symptoms of Cotard's syndrome. Over time, the transmission of knowledge and data about Cotard Syndrome, despite its very low frequency, has become a pathology that intrigues and inspires curiosity among individuals. Consciousness of the existence of this delirious illness and the accurate definition of the symptoms of a dual diagnosis are required in a number of psychiatric pathologies. Method. This document was created using the "Elisabeta Doamna" psychiatry hospital Database from Galati, Romania, where patient data was acquired and admitted to the Psychiatry Clinic Section II. In addition, a variety of bibliographical references and diagnostic criteria were utilized, including the ICD-10 (the Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders, Clinical Description, and Diagnostic Guidelines), the DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and the psychometric tests: the MMSE (the Mini Mental Status Test) and the GAFS (the Global Functioning Assessment Scale). Results and Conclusions Despite having no psychiatric history, the patient arrived at the psychiatric hospital after experiencing psychiatric symptoms caused by both Alzheimer's disease and Cotard's syndrome, symptoms that were ignored and gradually deteriorated, resulting in full-blown delirium, rapid dementia degradation, and a not-very-favorable outlook.