Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Human Behavior Practice Test

A 48-year-old client with chronic alcoholism exhibits short-term memory loss and confabulation. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Korsakoff's syndrome

2. Wernicke's encephalopathy

3. Alcoholic dementia

4. Delirium tremens

The correct answer is: Korsakoff's syndrome

Korsakoff's syndrome is characterized by significant cognitive impairment, particularly impacting memory. This condition is often associated with chronic alcoholism and results from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which is common in individuals with long-term alcohol abuse. Symptoms of Korsakoff's syndrome include short-term memory loss, confabulation (the unintentional fabrication of memories to fill in gaps), apathy, and difficulty with learning new information. In this scenario, the client's presentation of both short-term memory loss and confabulation aligns closely with the symptoms of Korsakoff’s syndrome, making it the most likely diagnosis. The memory impairment is not just about forgetting recent events but also involves the individual creating plausible but false memories, which is a hallmark of this syndrome. While Wernicke's encephalopathy occurs earlier in the spectrum of alcohol-related brain disorders and involves confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia, it does not primarily feature memory loss and confabulation to the extent seen in Korsakoff's syndrome. Alcoholic dementia denotes cognitive decline associated with chronic alcohol use but lacks the specific symptoms such as confabulation. Delirium tremens is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal characterized by confusion and agitation, rather