Korsakoff's syndrome on the MMPI-2

Abstract

The results show the potential usefulness of the MMPI-2 in the differential diagnosis of chronic alcoholism and Korsakoff's disease.

Prevalence and severity of behavioural symptoms in patients with Korsakoff syndrome and other alcohol‐related cognitive disorders: a systematic review

“…In addition to the cognitive deficits, behavioural symptoms, such as aggression and apathy or lack of initiative, have been noticed from the earliest reports of the disease and have also been mentioned in some more recent studies amongst KS patients (Blansjaar et al, 1987;Egger et al, 2002;Gerridzen and Goossensen, 2014;Ridley et al, 2013;Thomson et al, 2012;Victor et al, 1989). Sergei S. Korsakoff, a Russian physician who was the first to describe KS, observed that in some KS cases, the predominant features were increased irritability and agitation (Victor and Yakovlev, 1955).…”

“…Table 1 provides an overview of the characteristics of the 15 included studies. Seven of them involved specialist Korsakoff wards of which five are in nursing homes (Blansjaar et al, 1992;Gerridzen and Goossensen, 2014;Oudman and Zwart, 2012;Schepers et al, 2000;Wijnia et al, 2012) and two are in psychiatric hospitals (Egger et al, 2002;Ganzevles et al, 1994), all located in the Netherlands. Only Cheon et al (2008) and Wilson et al (2012) reported longitudinal data on behavioural symptoms.…”

“…BPRS-E (mean scores) (Blansjaar et al, 1992) MMPI-2 (mean T-scores or percentile scores) (Egger et al, 2002) NPI* (mean scores) (Cheon et al, 2008) GOK (mean scores) (Ganzevles et al, 1994) Scores each item are not given BPRS-E (mean scores) (Blansjaar et al, 1992) MMPI-2 (mean T-scores or percentile scores) (Egger et al, 2002) NPI* (mean scores) (Cheon et al, 2008) GOK (mean scores) (Ganzevles et al, 1994) Scores each item are not given…”

“…Executive functioning is also commonly impaired (Brion et al, 2014;Maharasingam et al, 2013;Van Oort and Kessel, 2009). A lack of insight into their own disease has also been noticed in clinical practice as a characteristic of KS patients, although this has not been subject to much research (Egger et al, 2002;Thomson et al, 2012;Victor et al, 1989). A lack of insight into their own disease has also been noticed in clinical practice as a characteristic of KS patients, although this has not been subject to much research (Egger et al, 2002;Thomson et al, 2012;Victor et al, 1989).…”

“…In other cases, confusion predominated, either apathetic or associated with excitement (Talland, 1960;Victor et al, 1989). Egger et al (2002) described patients with KS as follows: 'They are often very indifferent and are lacking initiative in performing the simplest daily activities. Furthermore, they are very slow, a-practical and apathetic.…”