Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (331.83

Individuals with mood disorders, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia spectrum disorders with

severe psychosis have a higher likelihood of developing a neurocognitive disorder. The severity

of depressive symptoms is also predictive of neurocognitive decline and major neurocognitive

disorder. Having a life-threating illness will also predict the future development of a major

neurocognitive disorder. HIV disease is also predictive of major neurocognitive disorder so that

there is a separate diagnosis for neurocognitive disorder secondary to HIV.

The prevalence of major cognitive disorder is difficult to know as there are many different

etiologies. The prevalence is about 1-2 percent in those over 65 years but it is 30 percent in

those 85 years or older. There are no actual treatments for major neurocognitive disorder;

however, comorbid diseases can be treated. The type of neurocognitive disorder determines

which treatment strategy is employed. Most people do not recover from this type of disorder

and tend to gradually decline in function over time.

MILD NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDER (331.83)

Patients with mild neurocognitive disorder will present with a decline in cognitive functioning

to include memory impairment, decreased ability to perform ADLs, and difficulty with language, social skills, and/or perceptual-motor skills. Mood disturbances are often seen as early findings,

some of which may rise to the level of another psychiatric disorder. Like major neurocognitive

disorders, the GAF scale, the MMSE, and the SLUMS assessment are used to diagnose the

presence of early cognitive decline in mild neurocognitive disorder.

It is important to remember that both major and minor neurocognitive disorders are secondary

diagnoses so that there will always be a primary diagnosis to explain the neurocognitive deficit,

except in cases of unspecified neurocognitive disorder and neurocognitive disorder due to

multiple etiologies. It is a good idea to make the diagnosis when the patient has mild

neurocognitive disorder so that, if any interventions can take place, they can take place before

the disease can worsen.