BACKGROUND: Depression is common in Alzheimer's and vascular dementia and is associated with poorer outcomes; however, less is known about the impact of depression on frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of diagnostic methods and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in FTD. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and PsychINFO were queried for 'depression' and/or 'depressive mood' in behavioral- and language-variant FTD. The prevalence and diagnosis of depressive symptoms were extracted from relevant studies and the results pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: We included 29 studies in this meta-analysis, with sample sizes ranging from 3 to 73 (n = 870). The omnibus estimated event rate of depressed mood was 0.334 (33%; 95% CI: 0.268-0.407). Symptoms were most commonly assessed via standardized neuropsychiatric rating scales, with other methods including subjective caregiver reports and chart reviews. The study results were heterogeneous due to the variability in diagnostic methods. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms similar to those in other dementias are commonly detected in FTD. However, the diagnostic methods are heterogeneous, and symptoms of depression often overlap with manifestations of FTD. Having a standardized diagnostic approach to depression in FTD will greatly facilitate future research in this area.
BACKGROUND:Depression is common in Alzheimer's and vascular dementia and is associated with poorer outcomes; however, less is known about the impact of depression on frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of diagnostic methods and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in FTD. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and PsychINFO were queried for 'depression' and/or 'depressive mood' in behavioral- and language-variant FTD. The prevalence and diagnosis of depressive symptoms were extracted from relevant studies and the results pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: We included 29 studies in this meta-analysis, with sample sizes ranging from 3 to 73 (n = 870). The omnibus estimated event rate of depressed mood was 0.334 (33%; 95% CI: 0.268-0.407). Symptoms were most commonly assessed via standardized neuropsychiatric rating scales, with other methods including subjective caregiver reports and chart reviews. The study results were heterogeneous due to the variability in diagnostic methods. CONCLUSIONS:Depressive symptoms similar to those in other dementias are commonly detected in FTD. However, the diagnostic methods are heterogeneous, and symptoms of depression often overlap with manifestations of FTD. Having a standardized diagnostic approach to depression in FTD will greatly facilitate future research in this area.
Authors: Mari N Maia da Silva; Fábio Henrique de Gobbi Porto; Pedro Maranhão Gomes Lopes; Catarina Sodré de Castro Prado; Norberto Anízio Ferreira Frota; Candida Helena Lopes Alves; Gilberto Sousa Alves Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Emma M Devenney; Kate McErlean; Nga Yan Tse; Jashelle Caga; Thanuja Dharmadasa; William Huynh; Colin J Mahoney; Margaret Zoing; Srestha Mazumder; Carol Dobson-Stone; John B Kwok; Glenda M Halliday; John R Hodges; Olivier Piguet; Rebekah M Ahmed; Matthew C Kiernan Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2021-11-25 Impact factor: 4.003