Dementia has a wide range of reversible causes. Well known among these is 
depression, though other psychiatric disorders can also impair cognition and 
give the appearance of neurodegenerative disease. This phenomenon has been known 
historically as "pseudodementia." Although this topic attracted significant 
interest in the 1980s and 1990s, research on the topic has waned. In this paper, 
we consider reasons for this decline, including objections to the term itself 
and controversy about its distinctness from organic dementia. We discuss 
limitations in the arguments put forward and existing research, which, 
crucially, does not support inevitable progression. We also discuss other 
neglected masquerades, such as of pseudodementia itself 
("pseudo-pseudodementia") and depression ("pseudodepression"). Based on this 
reappraisal, we argue that these terms, while not replacing modern diagnostic 
criteria, remain relevant as they highlight unique groups of patients, potential 
misdiagnosis, and important, but neglected, areas of research.