Confabulations in post-acute and chronic alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome: a cross-sectional study conducted in two centres

Abstract

Introduction

Confabulations refer to the emergence of memories of experiences and events that are incorrect in place and time, or never took place. In alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome, confabulations have been frequently reported, but seldomly been investigated. Traditional reports on confabulations state that confabulations in KS mainly occur in the post-acute phase of the illness. The aim of the study was to investigate whether confabulations extinguish in KS.

Methods

An observational rating of confabulation behaviour (the NVCL-R) was completed for 172 KS patients with alcoholic KS. Post-acute and chronic KS patients were compared cross-sectionally in two centres.

Results

Provoked and spontaneous confabulations were present in post-acute and chronic patients. Patients residing in a long-term care facility more often presented themselves with spontaneous confabulations than patients in a diagnostic centre.

Conclusions

In contrast to the traditional view, confabulations may be present throughout the course of KS, and are possibly more frequently present in patients receiving care in specialised long-term care facilities than in patients who receive less intensive support.

Key points

• Confabulations are a central characteristic of Korsakoff’s syndrome

• In contrast to popular belief, confabulations may be present in acute and chronic Korsakoff’s syndrome

• The severity of confabulations is related to an unfavourable disease outcome in KS

• A longitudinal approach would help the confirmation of finding no decline in confabulations over time.

Keywords:

• Alcoholic
• Korsakoff syndrome
• neuropsychiatry
• long-term care
• neuropsychology
• thiamine deficiency

Author contributions

E.O. designed the study and acquired the data, which all authors analysed. All authors wrote the article and revised it. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).