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

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.