Neurocognitive Disorders

Cognitive disorders in the DSM-IV-TR included delirium, dementia, amnestic disorder, and cognitive disorders not otherwise specified. DSM-V retains the diagnosis of delirium and introduces the term neurocognitive disorder (NCD), dividing NCDs into major NCD or mild NCD and unspecified NCD. The diagnostic category of major NCD encompasses syndromes that were previously categorized as dementia and amnestic disorder. Memory loss is no longer an essential criterion for major NCD in DSM-V as it was for dementia in DSM-IV-TR. Major NCD also includes progressive neurodegenerative dementias, as well as static cognitive disorders that are not expected to worsen over time. The term dementia is retained in DSM-V because of familiarity of the term to the public and medical practitioners.