Cognitive dysfunction in stress disorder – differential diagnosis from young–onset Alzheimer disease

Abstract

Anxiety/depression/stress occurs at any age including young adults, presenting with psycho–behavioral symptoms (absenteeism, irritability, etc.) and somatic symptom disorder (SSD, insomnia, numbness, orthostatic intolerance, functional gastrointestinal disorder, etc.). SSD can include cognitive dysfunction. We reviewed cognitive dysfunction in stress disorder (also referred to as ‘cognitive SSD’) with particular reference to symptomatology, difference from ‘true’ dementia, putative brain mechanism including functional neuroimaging, and treatment/ care. In neurology/ psychiatry clinics, early diagnosis of cognitive SSD is important for the patients' quality of life and for not–to–missing young–onset Alzheimer disease. In order to achieve this, the collaboration of neurology and psychiatry now becomes a priority.