Treatment Approaches to Neurocognitive Disorders

Moukaddam, Nidal MD, PhD
Bejjani, Carla MD
Shah, Asim A. MD

Nidal Moukaddam, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine. Carla Bejjani, MD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine. Asim A. Shah, MD, is an Associate Professor, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine; and a Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma.

Address correspondence to Asim A. Shah, MD, Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Room 2.125, Neuropsychiatric Center, 1502 Taub Loop, Houston, TX 77030; email: [email protected].

Asim A. Shah discloses contracted research from Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, Synchroneuron (a biopharmaceutical company), and Assure Pharma. The remaining authors have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Psychiatric Annals 46(2):p 103-109, February 01, 2016. | DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20160105-01

Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) represent a growing epidemic in the modern world, concomitant with increasing life expectancy. NCDs represent the newer term replacing dementia. A major NCD is the equivalent of dementia, whereas a mild NCD is a new addition to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). The approach to diagnosing NCDs should include a thorough medical examination targeting potentially reversible causes of impairment, as well as screening for cognitive impairment in the outpatient setting, with focus on memory and functional decline. NCDs tend to have comorbid neuropsychiatric symptoms that include depression, anxiety, psychosis, sleep disturbances, and apathy, which may reduce quality of life and accelerate out-of-home care. The provider needs to be aware of these potential comorbidities, and of the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options. [Psychiatr Ann. 2016;46(2):103–109.]