Conservation-withdrawal and mental retardation in medical and surgical patients

Conservation-withdrawal and mental retardation should be considered in evaluating inactive, apathetic medical and surgical patients. The management of conservation-withdrawal per se requires only realistic reassurance based on the patient's progress. Diagnosing mental retardation enables implementation of an appropriate treatment, tailored to the patient's limited ability to cooperate. Psychological testing is a valuable adjunct to the psychiatric examination when the diagnosis is unclear and when conservation-withdrawal or mental retardation is suspected.