Functional cognitive disorders: memory clinic study

‘Functional cognitive disorders‘ (FCD) is a terminology suggested to denote patients who present with memory complaints but in whom no underlying cognitive disorder is found. Rather than a diagnosis of exclusion, FCD may be positively identified on the basis of typical symptom profiles. Dr Bharambe and Dr Larner examine their data from a dedicated memory clinic, in which historically >50% of patients have not received a diagnosis of either dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The frequency of FCD was examined, along with any factors helpful in diagnosis. FCD accounted for more than 50% of clinic attenders and the data also revealed other common aspects about the FCD patients.