Neurocognitive Disorders Thesis Topics in Psychiatry
This collection of neurocognitive disorders thesis topics is designed for MD Psychiatry and DNB Psychiatry candidates who want clinically relevant questions that can be completed within one thesis period using routine cognitive assessment, caregiver interviews, medical records, functional measures and investigations already available in the treating centre. The topics cover delirium, mild neurocognitive disorder, major neurocognitive disorders and dementia syndromes, behavioural and psychological symptoms, caregiver burden, medical comorbidity, disability and service utilisation. Each topic can be developed into a focused neurocognitive disorders research topic, a structured psychiatry protocol for neurocognitive disorders or a submission-ready psychiatry synopsis for dementia and cognitive decline.
Last reviewed and updated: September 2026 · 2026–27 admissions
Delirium in Medical and Surgical Settings
Prevalence and clinical correlates of delirium diagnosed using International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision criteria among adults aged sixty years and older admitted to general medicine wards: a cross-sectional study
Association of pre-existing cognitive impairment with delirium during the first seventy-two hours of hospitalisation among adults aged sixty years and older admitted with acute medical illness: a prospective observational study
Comparison of delirium occurrence during the first five hospital days between older adults admitted with infection and those admitted with non-infectious acute medical illnesses: a prospective observational study
Association of dehydration documented at admission with delirium during the first seventy-two hours among adults aged sixty years and older admitted to general medicine wards: a prospective observational study
Association of electrolyte abnormalities documented on admission with delirium during the first seventy-two hours among older adults hospitalised for acute medical illness: a prospective observational study
Association of urinary tract infection with delirium during the first seventy-two hours of admission among adults aged sixty years and older in general medicine wards: a prospective observational study
Association of lower respiratory tract infection with delirium during the first five hospital days among adults aged sixty years and older admitted to a teaching hospital: a prospective observational study
Association of polypharmacy at admission with development of delirium during hospitalisation among adults aged sixty years and older admitted to general medicine wards: a prospective observational study
Association of anticholinergic medication exposure with delirium during the first five days of hospitalisation among older adults admitted for acute medical illnesses: a prospective observational study
Comparison of delirium occurrence between older adults receiving five or more medications and those receiving fewer than five medications during acute medical hospitalisation: a comparative prospective observational study
Association of visual or hearing impairment with delirium during hospitalisation among adults aged sixty years and older admitted to general medicine wards: a prospective observational study
Association of sleep disruption during the first two hospital nights with delirium by the fifth day among older adults admitted for acute medical illness: a prospective observational study
Association of urinary catheterisation with delirium during the first five hospital days among adults aged sixty years and older admitted to medical wards: a prospective observational study
Association of physical restraint exposure during routine care with persistence of delirium twenty-four hours later among hospitalised older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for delirium: a prospective observational study
Comparison of hospital stay duration between older adults with and without delirium admitted for acute medical illnesses to a government teaching hospital: a comparative prospective observational study
Association of delirium at admission with in-hospital functional decline by discharge among adults aged sixty years and older hospitalised for acute medical illness: a prospective observational study
Comparison of discharge destination between older adults with delirium and those without delirium after hospitalisation for acute medical illness: a comparative prospective observational study
Association of pre-existing major neurocognitive disorder with delirium severity during hospitalisation among adults aged sixty years and older admitted with acute medical illnesses: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of clinical features of hypoactive and hyperactive delirium among adults aged sixty years and older diagnosed during medical hospitalisation: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of hypoactive delirium presentation with delayed psychiatry referral among hospitalised older adults diagnosed with delirium in general medical wards: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of postoperative pain during the first twenty-four hours with delirium within three days among adults aged sixty years and older undergoing major surgery: a prospective observational study
Comparison of delirium occurrence after elective and emergency surgery among adults aged sixty years and older during the first five postoperative days: a prospective observational comparative study
Association of preoperative cognitive impairment with postoperative delirium within five days among adults aged sixty years and older undergoing major abdominal surgery: a prospective observational study
Association of anaemia documented before surgery with postoperative delirium within five days among adults aged sixty years and older undergoing major surgical procedures: a prospective observational study
Association of intensive care admission after surgery with delirium during the first five postoperative days among adults aged sixty years and older: a prospective observational study
Comparison of postoperative delirium occurrence between older adults undergoing orthopaedic surgery and those undergoing general surgical procedures during the first five postoperative days: a comparative prospective study
Association of hip fracture with delirium within seventy-two hours of admission among adults aged sixty years and older receiving routine orthopaedic care: a prospective observational study
Association of preoperative benzodiazepine use with postoperative delirium within five days among adults aged sixty years and older undergoing surgery: a prospective observational study
Association of alcohol use disorder with delirium during acute medical hospitalisation among adults aged forty years and older admitted to general medicine wards: a prospective observational study
Comparison of delirium presentation between adults with alcohol withdrawal and older adults with medical delirium referred to consultation-liaison psychiatry: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of delirium with missed oral medication doses during hospitalisation among older adults receiving treatment for chronic medical illnesses: a prospective observational study
Association of family presence during visiting hours with nighttime agitation among hospitalised older adults diagnosed with delirium: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline delirium with cognitive status four weeks after discharge among adults aged sixty years and older hospitalised for acute medical illness: a prospective observational study
Association of delirium duration during hospitalisation with dependence in activities of daily living four weeks after discharge among older adults: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of delirium referrals to consultation-liaison psychiatry during the preceding year according to referring department, precipitating medical condition and delirium subtype: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of delirium referrals from general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics and intensive care services during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of potentially precipitating medications among adults diagnosed with delirium during the preceding year according to medication class and medical diagnosis: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of investigations ordered for adults diagnosed with delirium during the preceding year according to suspected cause and clinically significant abnormal findings: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of antipsychotic prescribing for delirium during the preceding year according to indication, duration and documentation of non-pharmacological management: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented orientation measures, family counselling and environmental management among hospitalised adults diagnosed with delirium during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Mild Neurocognitive Disorder and Early Cognitive Decline
Association of age with cognitive performance at first assessment among adults meeting International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of educational attainment with cognitive performance among adults aged sixty years and older meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of cognitive performance between older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder from rural and urban backgrounds at first psychiatric or geriatric assessment: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of hypertension with executive cognitive difficulties among adults aged sixty years and older meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of type two diabetes mellitus with memory impairment among adults aged sixty years and older diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of cognitive performance between older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder with and without type two diabetes mellitus at routine outpatient assessment: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of glycated haemoglobin with cognitive performance among older adults with type two diabetes mellitus meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of history of stroke with executive dysfunction among adults aged sixty years and older diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of memory and executive difficulties between older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder with and without previous stroke: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of current tobacco use with cognitive performance among adults aged sixty years and older meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of past hazardous alcohol use with cognitive performance among older adults diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of physical inactivity during the preceding month with cognitive performance among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of self-reported sleep disturbance with cognitive performance among adults aged sixty years and older diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of depressive disorder comorbidity with subjective memory complaints among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of cognitive performance between older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder with and without comorbid depressive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of hearing impairment with cognitive performance among adults aged sixty years and older meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of visual impairment with difficulties in instrumental activities of daily living among older adults diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of polypharmacy with cognitive performance among adults aged sixty years and older meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of anticholinergic medication exposure with cognitive performance among older adults diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of multimorbidity burden with instrumental functional impairment among adults aged sixty years and older meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of instrumental daily functioning between older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder living alone and those living with family: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of social isolation with cognitive performance among adults aged sixty years and older diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of regular participation in household or community activities with cognitive performance among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of retirement within the preceding five years with subjective cognitive complaints among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of widowhood with depressive symptoms and cognitive complaints among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of financial dependence with instrumental functional impairment among older adults diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of cognitive performance between literate and non-literate older adults meeting clinical criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder at a government teaching hospital: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of family history of major neurocognitive disorder with younger age at cognitive symptom onset among adults with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of duration of subjective memory complaints with instrumental functional impairment among adults aged sixty years and older diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of repeated falls during the preceding year with cognitive impairment among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of cognitive complaints between older adults referred from neurology and those referred from general medicine for suspected mild neurocognitive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of baseline cognitive impairment with decline in instrumental daily functioning after six months among older adults with mild neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline diabetes mellitus with cognitive decline after six months among older adults meeting diagnostic criteria for mild neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline depressive disorder with persistence of subjective cognitive complaints after three months among older adults receiving routine care for mild neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of family supervision of medications with adherence at three months among older adults diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of mild neurocognitive disorder diagnoses during the preceding two years according to age, sex, educational attainment and medical comorbidity: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of referral sources for mild neurocognitive disorder during the preceding two years according to neurology, medicine, geriatrics and direct psychiatry attendance: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of documented vascular risk factors among older adults with mild and major neurocognitive disorders during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of cognitive complaints among older adults with depressive disorders during the preceding year according to final diagnosis of depression alone or neurocognitive disorder: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of follow-up attendance among adults diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to age, residence and caregiver accompaniment: a record-based study
Major Neurocognitive Disorders and Dementia Syndromes
Clinical profile of adults meeting International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision criteria for major neurocognitive disorder according to age, sex, symptom onset and predominant cognitive domain affected: a cross-sectional observational study
Comparison of age at symptom onset between adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease and those with vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of illness duration with dependence in activities of daily living among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of educational attainment with age at clinical presentation among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of initial presenting complaints between adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease and those with vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of hypertension with executive functional impairment among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of type two diabetes mellitus with functional dependence among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of previous stroke burden documented in clinical records with dependence in daily activities among adults diagnosed with vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of daily functional dependence between adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease and vascular major neurocognitive disorder matched for illness duration: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of smoking history with age at presentation among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of past hazardous alcohol use with functional impairment among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of hearing impairment with communication difficulties among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of visual impairment with dependence in instrumental activities of daily living among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of urinary incontinence with greater functional dependence among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for moderate or severe major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recurrent falls during the preceding six months with functional dependence among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of fall history between adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease and those with vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of polypharmacy with falls during the preceding six months among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of anticholinergic medication exposure with worsening confusion reported during the preceding month among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of living alone before diagnosis with delayed clinical presentation among adults newly diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of rural residence with duration from family recognition of cognitive decline to specialist consultation among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family attribution of memory decline to normal ageing with delayed clinical presentation among adults newly diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of treatment-seeking delay between families recognizing memory loss and families first recognizing behavioural change in adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of younger age at onset with diagnostic delay among adults presenting with major neurocognitive disorder before sixty-five years of age: a cross-sectional analytical study
Clinical profile of adults with major neurocognitive disorder presenting before sixty-five years of age according to cognitive symptoms, behavioural changes and occupational disruption: a cross-sectional observational study
Comparison of occupational disruption between adults with younger-onset major neurocognitive disorder and age-matched adults with severe depressive disorder presenting with cognitive complaints: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of Parkinson disease duration with cognitive impairment among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder due to Parkinson disease: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of motor symptom severity documented during routine neurological assessment with functional dependence among adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Parkinson disease: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of hallucination occurrence between adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Parkinson disease and those with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease: a comparative cross-sectional study
Clinical profile of adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies according to hallucinations, cognitive fluctuations, sleep complaints and functional dependence: a cross-sectional observational study
Comparison of visual hallucinations between adults with major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies and those with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of cognitive symptom duration at baseline with decline in activities of daily living after six months among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline vascular risk factors with functional decline after six months among adults diagnosed with vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of caregiver-supervised medication use with six-month treatment adherence among adults receiving routine treatment for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline fall history with repeated falls during six-month follow-up among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of major neurocognitive disorder diagnoses during the preceding two years according to aetiological subtype, age, sex and medical comorbidity: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease and vascular major neurocognitive disorder according to presenting symptoms and referral source: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of younger-onset major neurocognitive disorder presentations during the preceding two years according to age at onset, occupational impact and diagnostic subtype: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of neurocognitive disorder referrals from neurology, general medicine and geriatrics during the preceding year according to final diagnosis and presenting complaint: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of medical comorbidities among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke and Parkinson disease: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of routine investigations documented during diagnostic evaluation of major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to clinical indication and abnormal findings: a record-based study
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms, Caregiver Burden and Family Factors
Association of wandering during the preceding month with caregiver burden among families of adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of nighttime behavioural disturbance with caregiver sleep disruption among primary caregivers of adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of verbal or physical aggression during the preceding month with caregiver distress among families of adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of hallucinations with caregiver burden among adults with major neurocognitive disorder accompanied by a primary family caregiver: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of delusions of theft or infidelity with family conflict among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of repetitive questioning with caregiver frustration and supervision time among families of adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of apathy with dependence in household activities among adults with major neurocognitive disorder living with family caregivers: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of agitation during bathing or dressing with caregiver difficulty in providing personal care among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of caregiver burden between families of adults with major neurocognitive disorder with and without prominent behavioural symptoms: a comparative cross-sectional study
Comparison of caregiver burden between spouses and adult children caring for adults with major neurocognitive disorder matched for functional dependence: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of caregiver age with caregiving-related physical health complaints among families of adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver employment with work absenteeism during the preceding three months among families caring for adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of patient dependence in activities of daily living with daily caregiving hours among primary caregivers of adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of urinary incontinence with caregiver burden among families of adults meeting diagnostic criteria for moderate or severe major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recurrent falls with caregiver supervision requirements among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of patient sleep-wake reversal with caregiver sleep duration among families of adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of caregiver burden between families caring for adults with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease and vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of joint versus nuclear family living with caregiver burden among adults with major neurocognitive disorder receiving home-based family care: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of number of available family caregivers with primary caregiver burden among households caring for adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver knowledge about neurocognitive disorders with use of safe supervision practices at home among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family belief that cognitive decline represents normal ageing with delayed treatment-seeking among adults newly diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of supernatural explanatory beliefs with prior traditional-healer consultation among families of adults presenting with behavioural symptoms of major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of stigma related to behavioural disturbance with social isolation of families caring for adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver depressive symptoms with perceived caregiving difficulty among families of adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver sleep disturbance with perceived caregiving difficulty among families of adults with nighttime behavioural symptoms of major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver chronic medical illness with difficulty providing daily supervision to adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of patient behavioural symptoms with caregiver consideration of institutional placement among families of adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of caregiver burden between families of adults with major neurocognitive disorder and families of adults with chronic schizophrenia requiring daily supervision: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of caregiver burden at baseline with missed patient follow-up during the subsequent three months among adults receiving routine care for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline behavioural disturbance with caregiver burden after three months among adults receiving routine treatment for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of family supervision at baseline with medication adherence at three months among adults receiving routine treatment for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline caregiver knowledge with reduction in unsafe wandering incidents during three-month follow-up among adults receiving routine neurocognitive disorder care: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline nighttime behavioural disturbance with caregiver sleep problems after three months among families of adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of behavioural and psychological symptoms documented among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to symptom type and aetiological diagnosis: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of antipsychotic prescribing for behavioural symptoms of major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to indication, duration and documented review: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of emergency presentations among adults with major neurocognitive disorder with agitation, wandering and psychotic symptoms during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of caregiver counselling documentation among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of home-safety advice documented for adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to falls, wandering and medication supervision: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of caregiver-reported sleep disruption among adults with major neurocognitive disorder attending psychiatry services during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of family-requested inpatient admission among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding two years according to behavioural symptoms and caregiver difficulty: a record-based study
Medical Comorbidity, Treatment, Disability and Service Utilisation
Association of hypertension control documented in routine records with functional impairment among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of glycated haemoglobin with functional dependence among adults with type two diabetes mellitus and major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of medication adherence between adults with major neurocognitive disorder with and without caregiver supervision of daily medication administration: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of polypharmacy with self-reported or caregiver-reported medication errors during the preceding month among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of impaired vision with falls during the preceding six months among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of hearing impairment with communication-related treatment difficulties among adults with major neurocognitive disorder attending outpatient services with caregivers: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of urinary incontinence with emergency healthcare utilisation during the preceding six months among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recurrent falls with emergency department visits during the preceding six months among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of hospital utilisation during the preceding six months between adults with major neurocognitive disorder with and without significant medical multimorbidity: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of chronic kidney disease with medication burden among adults diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder attending a teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of Parkinson disease with falls during the preceding six months among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for a major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of functional dependence between adults with major neurocognitive disorder with and without Parkinson disease at routine outpatient assessment: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of previous stroke with Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale disability among adults diagnosed with vascular major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of illness duration with Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale scores among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of disability measured using the Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale between adults with mild and major neurocognitive disorders: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of behavioural symptoms with disability measured using the Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of rural residence with travel burden and missed follow-up during the preceding six months among adults receiving routine treatment for major neurocognitive disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of out-of-pocket travel expenditure with missed outpatient appointments among adults with major neurocognitive disorder attending a government teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver employment commitments with missed patient follow-up during the preceding six months among adults with major neurocognitive disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family accompaniment at first consultation with attendance at the next scheduled visit among adults newly diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of distance from hospital with three-month follow-up attendance among adults newly diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline medication burden with medication adherence at three months among adults receiving routine treatment for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline falls with further falls during three-month follow-up among adults receiving routine care for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline caregiver burden with three-month outpatient retention among adults receiving routine treatment for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline functional dependence with hospitalisation during six-month follow-up among adults receiving routine care for major neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of neurocognitive disorder referrals during the preceding two years according to psychiatry, neurology, general medicine and geriatric service entry points: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of medications prescribed for major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to diagnostic subtype, comorbidity and documented treatment indication: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of potentially inappropriate medications among adults aged sixty years and older with neurocognitive disorders during the preceding year according to drug class and documented indication: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of anticholinergic medication exposure among adults with neurocognitive disorders during the preceding year according to psychiatric and medical prescriptions: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of falls among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding two years according to medication burden, visual impairment and functional dependence: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of emergency department presentations among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to falls, agitation, infection and medication-related problems: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of inpatient admissions among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding two years according to medical indication, delirium occurrence and discharge destination: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of disability certification referrals among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding two years according to diagnosis and documented functional impairment: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale documentation among adults with major neurocognitive disorder referred for disability certification during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of driving-related advice documented among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to cognitive severity and functional impairment: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of financial decision-making concerns documented among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to severity and caregiver involvement: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of capacity assessment documentation among adults with major neurocognitive disorder admitted to psychiatry or general medicine during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of advance care and nominated representative documentation among adults with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year under routine mental healthcare practice: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented caregiver psychoeducation, medication supervision and home-safety counselling among adults treated for major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of first-follow-up attendance among adults newly diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder during the preceding year according to residence, caregiver accompaniment and referral source: a record-based study
Not the psychiatry subspeciality you need? Neurocognitive disorders is one section of our full psychiatry collection — the hub page lists every subspeciality, each with its own free topic list. Updated September 2026.
📌 Updated for 2026–2027 MD Psychiatry Neurocognitive Disorders admissions
The page has been reviewed for realistic recruitment, valid cognitive and functional measurement, clear delirium time anchors and feasible caregiver-based outcomes.
Most projects require structured cognitive assessment, functional evaluation, caregiver information and review of routine medical investigations rather than specialised research equipment.
Advanced neuroimaging, biomarkers and research-only laboratory testing are not required for the majority of feasible topics; careful handling of education, literacy, sensory impairment and acute illness is more important.
Publication potential is strongest when baseline cognition, functional independence, delirium timing, aetiological subtype and caregiver-derived variables are defined before recruitment or record extraction.
Generate a protocol from any topic above
Select Generate Protocol → beside any title in the list above and receive a submission-ready document built around that topic, containing all eighteen components:
Introduction / Synopsis
Research Question
Aim of the Study
Primary Objective
Secondary Objectives
Materials and Methods
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Sample Size Calculation
Methodology
Statistical Analysis
Ethical Considerations
Review of Literature
References
Gantt Chart / Study Timeline
Patient Information Sheet
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Generate the full neurocognitive disorders protocol directly — objectives, methodology, sample size, statistics, timeline, references and annexures.
Alongside neurocognitive disorders protocols and synopses, support is also available for departmental presentations, journal club presentations, ethics committee presentations, and posters and oral presentations for medical conferences — for postgraduate residents, board trainees and research scholars across India and the GCC. Prepared by a practising doctor with long experience in medical publishing and thesis supervision.
The topics above work as research questions anywhere — what changes is the document the institution expects, and who approves it before data collection begins. The Gulf equivalent of an Indian synopsis is the neurocognitive disorders research proposal submitted to an institutional review board, and it ordinarily carries three sections an Indian synopsis does not: a Gantt chart, a budget and resources section, and a Declaration of Helsinki statement.
Board and residency programmes — country by country
Saudi Arabia — SCFHS and the Saudi Board. Residency and fellowship training under the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties includes a research project with a set timeline, and the neurocognitive disorders research proposal is the document prepared at the outset and cleared by the institutional review board before recruitment starts.
United Arab Emirates — DHA, DOH Abu Dhabi and MOHAP. Residents training in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates prepare a neurocognitive disorders research protocol for their programme and submit it for institutional review board approval before any data are collected.
Qatar — DHP (formerly QCHP) and Hamad Medical Corporation. A neurocognitive disorders IRB proposal is reviewed before recruitment, with the ethics section written to the institution's own template rather than a generic one.
Bahrain — NHRA. Trainees turning neurocognitive disorders research topics into a project need the proposal cleared by their institutional research and ethics committee before fieldwork begins.
Oman — OMSB. Residency programmes under the Oman Medical Specialty Board include a research component, and the neurocognitive disorders research proposal is the document assessed at the start of it.
Kuwait — KIMS. A neurocognitive disorders study protocol goes to the institutional committee for approval before the project begins.
Arab Board programmes across the region. The Arab Board carries its own research requirement irrespective of the host country, and the neurocognitive disorders proposal follows the same structure throughout.
Postgraduate degrees — Malaysia, the Gulf and beyond
Malaysia — MMed, the National Medical Research Register and MREC. A neurocognitive disorders dissertation proposal for a Master of Medicine programme carried out in a Ministry of Health facility must be registered on the NMRR and approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee before the study begins, and the guidance asks for submission four to six months ahead of data collection. Every investigator on the study team registers on the NMRR as well, so the methodology, ethics and team sections are written in far more detail than an Indian synopsis requires.
PhD and Master's candidates elsewhere. University programmes generally require a full neurocognitive disorders research proposal of roughly 6,000 to 10,000 words, with an extended literature review, a theoretical framework and a detailed methodology chapter.
PhD and MMed proposals are written individually by a medical doctor and revised until the supervisor accepts them. They are not produced by the automated protocol generator.
🔥 Trending research areas in Neurocognitive Disorders for 2026–27
Delirium superimposed on pre-existing cognitive impairment: separating acute fluctuation from chronic decline improves diagnostic validity and gives clinically meaningful hospital outcomes.
Function-first cognitive phenotyping: instrumental activities, medication management, falls and independent living are increasingly useful outcomes beyond a screening score alone.
Behavioural symptoms and caregiver impact: wandering, sleep-wake reversal, aggression, hallucinations and repetitive behaviour provide feasible patient-caregiver outcomes with direct service relevance.
Medication burden and potentially reversible contributors: anticholinergic exposure, polypharmacy, sensory impairment, vascular risk factors and depression can be studied using routine records and clinical assessment.
Protocol and synopsis guidance
What a Neurocognitive Disorders protocol must contain
Separate acute change from chronic decline. For delirium studies, state the assessment window, whether symptoms were present at admission or developed later, and how fluctuation in attention and awareness will be captured. For mild or major neurocognitive disorder, establish that decline is persistent rather than occurring only during acute illness, intoxication, withdrawal or delirium.
Define cognition and function separately. A cognitive screening score should not by itself determine mild versus major neurocognitive disorder. The protocol should specify the cognitive domains assessed, the instrument and language used, and the measure of independence in instrumental or basic activities of daily living. Functional loss should be attributed cautiously when arthritis, stroke, visual impairment or another physical condition can independently limit daily activities.
Record major sources of measurement bias. Education, literacy, language, hearing, vision, depression and cultural familiarity can alter cognitive-test performance. The protocol should state how these factors will be measured and whether informant reports will be obtained when direct testing is unreliable.
Neurocognitive Disorders synopsis versus Neurocognitive Disorders protocol
The synopsis states the research question and broad diagnostic approach. It should identify whether the population has delirium, mild neurocognitive disorder or major neurocognitive disorder, the principal cognitive or functional outcome, the study design and the main source of clinical information.
The protocol must operationalise baseline cognition, function and timing. It should define how premorbid function is estimated, which cognitive and functional instruments are used, how sensory or educational limitations are handled, and how caregiver reports are reconciled with direct assessment. For delirium, it should specify when and how often patients are assessed because a single normal assessment can miss a fluctuating disorder.
Avoid circular classification. If functional dependence is part of the definition of major neurocognitive disorder, the same dependence score should not then be presented as an independent validation of that diagnosis without acknowledging incorporation. Similarly, a screening cut-off should not be treated as an aetiological diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, vascular disease or another subtype.
Sample size and statistical analysis
The patient is usually the unit of analysis. Repeated delirium assessments, cognitive scores, falls, admissions and caregiver observations from the same individual are correlated measurements. If repeated observations are retained, the statistical method should account for within-person clustering rather than treating every measurement as independent.
Match analysis to the research question. Cognitive scores may be continuous or ordinal, delirium occurrence may be binary, number of falls or admissions may be count data, and time to follow-up default may be time-to-event data. Prospective change in cognition or function requires paired or repeated-measures methods rather than independent-group tests.
Adjust for confounding where necessary. Age, education, literacy, sensory impairment, depression, vascular risk factors, medication burden and baseline functional status may influence both exposure and outcome. Regression is often preferable to unadjusted comparisons when the objective is analytical rather than purely descriptive.
1. How do I choose a feasible Neurocognitive Disorders thesis topic?
For 2026–2027 admissions, choose a population that the department or collaborating medical service sees regularly and an outcome that can be measured during routine care, such as delirium occurrence, functional dependence, falls, caregiver burden, medication adherence or follow-up attendance. A topic becomes more feasible when the cognitive diagnosis, assessment instrument, functional outcome and observation period are defined before recruitment.
2. Which study designs are accepted for Neurocognitive Disorders research?
Cross-sectional observational and analytical studies, comparative studies, prospective observational follow-up and retrospective record-based audits are all suitable when aligned with the objective. Delirium incidence and functional decline are often better studied prospectively, whereas referral patterns, prescribing, falls and documentation questions may be suitable for retrospective audits.
3. What should I settle with my guide before finalising the topic?
Settle the diagnostic framework, age group, cognitive instrument, language of assessment, functional measure, recruitment source, informant requirements and follow-up interval. Also decide how education, literacy, hearing, vision, depression, stroke, Parkinson disease and acute medical illness will be handled because these can materially affect cognitive and functional measurements.
4. How should caregiver reports be used when the patient cannot provide reliable information?
Caregiver reports are essential for premorbid function, behavioural symptoms, medication supervision and change from baseline, but they are not free from bias. The protocol should define who qualifies as an informant, how long the person has known the patient, how frequently they provide care and which variables come from the caregiver rather than direct examination. Caregiver burden or depression can influence perceptions of symptom severity and should be considered when those reports are key outcomes.
5. What is the difference between a synopsis and a protocol for these topics?
The synopsis is the concise academic proposal submitted for approval, whereas the protocol is the operational document that specifies exactly how cognition, function, behaviour and clinical course will be measured. Neurocognitive-disorder protocols need explicit rules for baseline cognition, delirium timing, education and sensory limitations, caregiver information, functional independence and aetiological classification.
6. What are the main ethics issues in Neurocognitive Disorders research?
Decision-making capacity for research consent should be assessed rather than assumed from the diagnosis. When a participant lacks capacity, the applicable ethics-approved surrogate or nominated-representative pathway should be followed, while the participant's assent or dissent should still be respected where possible. Eligible retrospective record-based studies may receive a consent waiver after ethics approval and appropriate anonymisation.
Prospective studies should not add unnecessary radiation, contrast or research-only venepuncture; if blood sampling is genuinely required, an appropriate volume limit should be stated. Separate consent is required for identifiable photographs, audio or video. The protocol should also define an escalation pathway for newly identified delirium, unsafe wandering, falls risk, abuse, severe depression, suicidality or another clinically important incidental finding that requires action.
7. Why can a cognitive screening score not diagnose mild or major Neurocognitive Disorder by itself?
A screening score is influenced by age, education, literacy, language, hearing, vision, mood, fatigue and acute illness. It can identify possible cognitive impairment or quantify performance, but it does not by itself establish persistent decline from a previous level of functioning or determine the aetiology of that decline.
The distinction between mild and major neurocognitive disorder also depends on functional independence. A person with a low cognitive score may remain independent, while another person with a modest score reduction may have clinically important loss of medication management, finances or other instrumental activities. The protocol should therefore combine cognitive assessment with history, functional evaluation and the stated diagnostic framework rather than using a single numerical cut-off as the diagnosis.
8. Can these topics be used for PhD proposals or board research projects outside the Indian MD pathway?
Yes, but the scope and document structure differ. A PhD proposal generally requires a broader research gap, conceptual framework and programme of work than an MD synopsis. Focused neurocognitive-disorder questions can also be adapted to mandatory research-project or proposal requirements used by SCFHS and the Saudi Board, the Arab Board of Health Specializations, and DHP, DHA, DOH and MOHAP-linked training programmes, subject to local supervision, ethics and submission requirements.
9. When should I register a Neurocognitive Disorders thesis protocol?
Registration should occur after the guide has approved the diagnosis, cognitive and functional measures, variables and recruitment source but before prospective enrolment or research data collection begins. Ethics and institutional or university registration should follow the local sequence. Retrospective studies should define the record period and extraction framework before reviewing the dataset.
Found a topic that fits your department?
Generate its full protocol — objectives, methodology, sample size, statistics, timeline, references and annexures — in editable format.
