Heterogeneity in the psychiatric presentation of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD)

Abstract

Objective: This article describes how the onset of bvFTD can be heralded by psychiatric symptoms. Method: Case reports are described with reference to the relevant literature review. Results: Three patients were admitted with psychiatric symptoms, including depression, mania, psychosis and catatonia. Two had been previously diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. All three were diagnosed with probable bvFTD. Conclusion: bvFTD is an important differential diagnosis to consider when patients present with atypical psychiatric symptoms.