What condition is characterized by confabulation and impaired short-term memory?

Korsakoff psychosis is characterized by confabulation, which is a memory error where a person creates false memories or distortions without the intention to deceive, often filling in gaps in their memory. This condition is primarily associated with chronic alcohol abuse, leading to a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which negatively affects brain function, particularly in areas responsible for memory processing.

Impaired short-term memory is another hallmark of Korsakoff syndrome. Individuals with this condition struggle to retain new information for short periods, significantly impacting their ability to learn and recall recent experiences. This is often accompanied by disorientation and difficulties in transferring memories into long-term storage.

The other options represent different medical conditions that do not share the same features characteristic of Korsakoff psychosis. While Wernicke's encephalopathy can initially present with cognitive impairment and memory issues, it is primarily an acute neurological condition that may lead to Korsakoff psychosis if untreated. Systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune conditions that primarily affect different body systems, such as joints in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple organ systems in lupus, and do not typically present with the specific memory impairments seen in Korsakoff syndrome.