Suicide in frontotemporal dementia

Abstract

Introduction

Behavioral and personality changes are the core symptoms of frontotemporal dementia. Suicide and suicide attempts have been reported in demented patients.

Clinical case

We present a case of an 80 years-old-male patient, with a suicide attempt at the age of 76 as the presentation symptom of FTD.

Clincal study

There are few studies of suicide or selfharm in frontotemporal dementia where such behavior might be expected to be more common. We are conducting a clinical study in FTD patients about the relation between FTD and suicide. The results of such study will be presented and discussed.

Discussion

To our knowledge, there are no reliable data or reports about suicide in FTD patients. Also, we didn’t find any case report of a suicide attempt as the first presentation symptom of FTD. We discuss the known data about this issue considering our clinical study and report.