THE EARLY-ONSET DEMENTIAS - A STUDY OF CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SERVICE USE

The clinical characteristics and the level of service use were studied in a cohort of 200 patients referred for the investigation of preseni le dementia, having had the onset of symptoms before the age of 65. Th e most common diagnoses given were Alzheimer's disease, vascular demen tia and depressive pseudodementia. The level of psychiatric morbidity was high, depression insomnia, anxiety and aggression being the most c ommon symptoms. As regards rate of service use, 22% of the Liverpool p atients were in residential care after 1 year of follow-up, in contras t to 8% initially. We conclude that there is a need for specialized mu ltidisciplinary services for this group of patients, both diagnostic a nd supportive.