Suicide risk in frontotemporal lobe degeneration: to be considered, to be prevented

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2012 Apr-Jun;26(2):194-6. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e3182223254.

Abstract

Suicide is difficult to ascertain in elderly patients, and dementia might represent a risk factor, though predictors of suicide in dementia are still unknown. We report the case of a patient recently diagnosed as having a behavioral variant of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), apathetic syndrome, who committed suicide by hanging. His personal and family history was negative for mental disorders; a depressive syndrome was diagnosed 1 year before FTLD diagnosis, and treated unsuccessfully. To the best of our knowledge, no data are available about self-harmful events in FTLD. This case report argues for the urgent need for developing specific tools for the assessment of suicidal ideation among at-risk population.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Dementia / complications*
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration / complications*
  • Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Risk Factors
  • Suicide Prevention*