The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 192: 59-64. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.035642
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Clinical referral patterns and cognitive profile in mild cognitive impairment

Jane A. Lonie, MSc

University of Edinburgh Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

Lucie L. Herrmann, MA

University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford

Claire L. Donaghey, MSc

University of Edinburgh Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

Klaus P. Ebmeier, FRCPsych

University of Edinburgh Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, and University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK

Correspondence: Professor K. P. Ebmeier, Old Age Psychiatry Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. E-mail: klaus.ebmeier{at}psych.ox.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None.

Background

There is current interest in exploring the different subtypes of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in terms of both their epidemiology and their cognitive profile.

Aims

To examine the frequency of MCI subtypes presenting to a memory clinic and to document detailed neuropsychological profiles of patients with the amnestic subtype.

Method

Consecutive tertiary referrals (n=187) were psychiatrically evaluated; 45 patients met criteria for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). A subgroup of 33 patients with aMCI as well as 21 healthy controls took part in a thorough neuropsychological examination.

Results

Of the patients who were examined in greater neuropsychological detail, ten had pure aMCI (none with visual memory impairment only). Fifteen met criteria for non-amnestic MCI. Fifteen had normal neuropsychological profiles. Using more than one test increased sensitivity to detect episodic memory impairment.

Conclusions

Amnestic MCI is an important diagnosis in secondary and tertiary memory clinics. There is scope to improve the efficacy and sensitivity of the clinical assessment of this impairment.


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