Healthinmind/Mental Health Disorders/Substance Abuse Disorders/Alcohol Related Disorders

Substance-Induced Persisting Dementia

If a dementia persists after a period of withdrawal, or develops during a period of dependence on a substance, this diagnosis may be justified. An example of such a dementia would be Alcohol-Induced Persisting Dementia. This diagnosis should not be made if the dementia occurs only while the individual is suffering from delirium (in the case of the alcoholic, from delirium tremens). The criteria for the diagnosis are the same as for any other dementia, except that there must be evidence that a substance produced the dementia. This type of dementia is rarely seen in young people, usually taking many years to develop. The dementias in this category last long after the person abstains from use of the substance--hence the "persisting" dementia. The outlook for this type of dementia is usually not good even if the person remains abstinent, but there is improvement in some cases. 

Additional technical information on dementias is available at this web site.

                                                                                                                                Last updated  12/19/03