Korsakoff's syndrome (amnesic psychosis)

Introduction

An alcoholic amnestic syndrome often coexistent with Wernike's syndrome.

Etiology

• chronic alcoholism
  • severe of repeated episodes of delirium tremens
  • Wernicke's encephalopathy
• nutritional deficiencies
• bilateral lesions of the hippocampus
  • contusions
  • hematoma
  • hemorrhagic stroke

Epidemiology

> 40 years of age

Clinical manifestations

• confusion
• severe memory impairment
  • especially for recent events
  • mixed anterograde & retrograde amnesia
• confabulation
• disorientation
• emotional changes
• apathy
• blandness
• euphoria despite environmental events
• polyneuritis
• delirium tremens may precede Korsakoff's syndrome

Management

• prognosis
  • poor if thiamine-associated, < 20% recovery
  • good if due to head injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage
    • improvement may be seen for 12-24 months
• institutionalize patient
• pharmaceutical agents
  • clonidine
  • propranolol

More general terms

• psychosis
• syndrome

More specific terms

• Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Additional terms

• Wernicke's syndrome (Wernicke's encephalopathy)

Patient information

Korsakoff's syndrome patient information