Commentary on Delis and Wetter, “Cogniform disorder and cogniform condition: Proposed diagnoses for excessive cognitive symptoms”

This commentary discusses the criteria proposed by Delis and Wetter [Delis, D. C., & Wetter, S. R. (2007). Cogniform disorder and cogniform condition: Proposed diagnoses for excessive cognitive symptoms. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 589–604] for diagnosis of Cogniform Disorder and Cogniform Condition. These criteria are intended to establish a new category of somatoform disorder, that is specific to cognitive complaints and/or neuropsychological dysfunction that are either atypical or excessive for bona fide neurological, psychiatric or medical conditions, and that are not the product of malingering. The Cogniform criteria are considered in relation to the criteria for Malingered Neurocognitive Dysfunction (MND) proposed by Slick et al. [Slick, D. J., Sherman, E. M. S., & Iverson, G. L. (1999). Diagnostic criteria for malingered neurocognitive dysfunction: Proposed standards for clinical practice and research. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 13, 545–561], with discussion of issues relative to establishing intent for diagnoses of definite and probable MND. Chronic post-concussion syndrome is considered as a specific example of a Cogniform Disorder or Condition.