Planting a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a person's mind

Corresponding Author

Harald Merckelbach

Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Dr Harald Merckelbach, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Tel: 043 3881945;
Fax: 043-3884196;
E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Marko Jelicic,

Marko Jelicic

Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

Cees Jonker,

Cees Jonker

Department of Psychiatry/Alzheimer Centre, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

Harald Merckelbach,

Corresponding Author

Harald Merckelbach

Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Marko Jelicic,

Marko Jelicic

Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

Cees Jonker,

Cees Jonker

Department of Psychiatry/Alzheimer Centre, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 25 July 2011

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-5215.2011.00586.x

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Abstract

Merckelbach H, Jelicic M, Jonker C. Planting a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a person's mind.

Objective: There is an extensive corpus of knowledge about how misinformation may distort autobiographical memories. A diagnostic error can be conceptualised as a form of misinformation.

Methods: The authors discuss the case of a 58-year-old woman who was given a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Results: The patient was deeply convinced that the diagnosis was correct, even when she was confronted with contradictory evidence.

Conclusion: A diagnosis is not a neutral piece of information. It profoundly affects the lives of patients. The consequences of a misdiagnosis may be similar to persistent false memories.

References

1 Loftus EF. Our changeable memories: legal and practical implications. Nat Rev Neurosci 2003; 4: 231–234.
10.1038/nrn1054
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
2 Ost J, Costall A, Bull R. A perfect symmetry? A study of retractors' experiences of making and then repudiating claims of early sexual abuse. Psychol Crime Law 2002; 8: 155–181.
10.1080/10683160208415004
Web of Science® Google Scholar
3 Rietveld S, Brosschot JF. Current perspectives on symptom perception in asthma: a biomedical and psychological review. Int J Behav Med 1999; 6: 120–135.
10.1207/s15327558ijbm0602_2
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
4 Jonker C, Launer LJ, Hooijer C, Lindeboom J. Memory complaints and memory impairment in older individuals. J Am Ger Soc 1996; 44: 44–49.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1996.tb05636.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5 Wolf SA, Henry M, Deike R, Ebert AD, Wallesch C-W. Verdachtsdiagnose Alzheimer-Demenz. Bei welchen Patienten erfolgt eine neuropsychologische Abklärung? [Suspected Alzheimer's disease. Selection of outpatients for neuropsychological assessment]. Nervenarzt 2008; 79: 444–453.
10.1007/s00115-007-2384-z
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
6 Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. Mini-mental state: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiat Res 1975; 12: 189–198.
10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
7 Hopman-Rock M, Tak ECPM, Staats PGM. Development and validation of the observation list for early signs of dementia (OLD). Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2001; 16: 406–414.
10.1002/gps.354
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
8 Larner AJ. Getting it wrong: the clinical misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Int J Clin Pract 2004; 58: 1092–1104.
10.1111/j.1368-5031.2004.00314.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
9 Merckelbach H, Jelicic M, Pieters M. The residual effect of feigning: how intentional faking may evolve into a less conscious form of symptom reporting. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2011; 33: 131–139.
10.1080/13803395.2010.495055
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
10 Page LA, Wessely S. Medically unexplained symptoms: exacerbating factors in the doctor-patient encounter. J R Soc Med 2003; 96: 223–227.
10.1258/jrsm.96.5.223
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
11 Suhr JA, Gunstad J. Diagnosis threat: the effects of negative expectations on cognitive performance in head injury. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2002; 24: 448–457.
10.1076/jcen.24.4.448.1039
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar

Volume24, Issue1

February 2012

Pages 60-62

Planting a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a person's mind

Abstract

References

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Planting a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a person's mind

Abstract

References

References

Related

Information