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How Do You Know if it's FTD?

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Could it be a psychiatric problem?

When behavioral symptoms predominate, FTD patients who become ill in mid-life may be confused with patients who have late life depression, or when the onset is in younger persons, the FTD may be confused with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Repetitive compulsive behaviors are very common in bvFTD, and some patients may initially be given the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Since the history and exam may look very similar for a psychiatric patient and an FTD patient, neuropsychological testing and a brain image will help clarify the picture.

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