Definition
Dementia is a disorder characterized by a progressive decline in intellectual function or behavior severe enough to cause impairment in social and occupational functioning.
Description
The term dementia is derived from the Latin words de (“without”) and mens (“the mind”). The most widely used criterion for diagnosing dementia is the DSM-IV, which defines dementia as a disorder characterized by progressive decline in intellectual function or behavior severe enough to cause impairment in social and occupational functioning. Memory loss is the hallmark feature as well as impairment in one or more cognitive abilities, including language, reasoning, executive function, praxis, and visuospatial skills.
The DSM-V, which is expected to be published in 2012, has adopted the term “Neurocognitive Disorders” and further subdivided it into “Major” and “Minor” to replace the DSM-IV classification of “Delirium, Dementia,...
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Levin, B. (2013). Dementia. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_177
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_177
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