When Neurodegenerative Disease Masquerades as Psychiatric Illness: A Clinical Case Study of Early-Onset Frontotemporal Dementia and Novel Findings for Measuring Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia

Dr. Soble is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine. He also is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and a Fellow of the American Psychological Society (Division 40: Society for Clinical Neuropsychology). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He completed a 1-year Clinical Psychology Internship and 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, FL. While on Fellowship, he also trained at the University of South Florida/Tampa General Hospital Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Prior to joining the faculty at UIC, he was a VA Staff Neuropsychologist at the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System in San Antonio, TX. His clinical interests include neuropsychological assessment of adults with dementia, complex neurological/medical disorders, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) (TBI)/concussion, as well as personality assessment and working with veteran/active duty military populations. His research broadly investigates the psychometric/diagnostic properties and clinical utility of neuropsychological tests (e.g., performance validity tests), as well as neuropsychological sequalae associated psychiatric (e.g., ADHD) and neurological disorders (e.g., electrical shock injury; TBI; cerebrovascular disease).

Objectives:

1. Identify challenges in differentiating psychiatric disorders from neurodegenerative conditions with primary neuropsychiatric symptoms during diagnostic workup.
2. Describe limitations related to identifying and objectively measuring neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia.
3. Demonstrate familiarity with Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and recent validation research on this measure to guide clinical use.

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1credit AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Education Units (1) will be available for Social Workers and affiliated reciprocal agencies. Illinois Board License number 159-000112.

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This event is 1 credit hour continuing education.

No member of the planning committee for this activity have reported a relevant relationship with a commercial interest.  There is no conflict of interest and nothing to disclose.

Jason R. Soble, PhD, ABPP has no relevant financial relationship with commercial interests related to this CME activity.