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The Pathology of Paraphrenia

The Pathology of Paraphrenia The term paraphrenia refers to a condition characterized by a strong delusional component with preservation of thought and personality. Most affected patients are women. Although a late age at onset (> 60 years) has been proposed in the literature, evidence for this assertion remains debatable. Deterioration of cognitive functions occurs very slowly but may lead to mild dementia over a period of years. Pathological studies indicate the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), primarily within the entorhinal cortex. Compared with the severity of neuritic changes, amyloid deposition remains scant. Pyramidal cells affected by NFTs appear to be preserved. Both the clinical history and neuropathology of paraphrenia are similar to those aspects described for NFT-predominant senile dementia. Risk factors, including organic lesions, may precipitate an earlier onset of symptomatology in patients exhibiting this pathology. Many of the symptoms in paraphrenia can be explained by involvement of the entorhinal cortex. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Current Psychiatry Reports Springer Journals

The Pathology of Paraphrenia

Casanova, Manuel
Current Psychiatry Reports , Volume 12 (3) – Mar 24, 2010
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6 pages

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 by Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Subject
Medicine & Public Health; Psychiatry
ISSN
1523-3812
eISSN
1535-1645
DOI
10.1007/s11920-010-0108-8
pmid
20425280
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The term paraphrenia refers to a condition characterized by a strong delusional component with preservation of thought and personality. Most affected patients are women. Although a late age at onset (> 60 years) has been proposed in the literature, evidence for this assertion remains debatable. Deterioration of cognitive functions occurs very slowly but may lead to mild dementia over a period of years. Pathological studies indicate the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), primarily within the entorhinal cortex. Compared with the severity of neuritic changes, amyloid deposition remains scant. Pyramidal cells affected by NFTs appear to be preserved. Both the clinical history and neuropathology of paraphrenia are similar to those aspects described for NFT-predominant senile dementia. Risk factors, including organic lesions, may precipitate an earlier onset of symptomatology in patients exhibiting this pathology. Many of the symptoms in paraphrenia can be explained by involvement of the entorhinal cortex.

Journal

Current Psychiatry Reports – Springer Journals

Published: Mar 24, 2010

References

  • The insanities of the third age: a conceptual history of paraphrenia
    Berrios, GE