A 62yo male is brought to the ED by his daughter because of his persistent lying. He is a known
alcoholic and has been admitted recently with delirium tremens. On questioning, he denies any
problem with memory. He knows his name and address and states that was at the betting shop
this morning, but his daughter interjects calling him a liar explaining that he was at her home.
What is the most likely dx?
a. Ganser syndrome
b. Cotard syndrome
c. Wernicke’s encephalopathy
d. Korsakoff psychosis
e. Alcohol withdrawal
Ans. The key is D. Korsakoff psychosis. [In Korsakoff psychosis there is confabulation (a memory disturbance, defined as the production of fabricated, distorted or misinterpreted memories about oneself or the world, without the conscious intention to deceive) which may present like this].