BACKGROUND: The aim was to examine the longitudinal evolution of depression and anosognosia in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHOD: Sixty-two of a consecutive series of 116 AD patients that were examined with a structured psychiatric interview had a follow-up evaluation between one and two years after the initial evaluation. RESULTS: At the initial evaluation 19% of the 62 patients had major depression, 34% had dysthymia, and 47% were not depressed. After a mean follow-up of 16 months, 58% of patients with major depression at the initial evaluation were still depressed, whereas only 28% of patients with initial dysthymia and 21% of the non-depressed patients were depressed at follow-up. During the follow-up period, all three groups showed similar declines in cognitive status and activities of daily living. At the initial evaluation, 39% of the patients had anosognosia, and there was a significant increment of anosognosia during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: While dysthymia in AD is a brief emotional disorder, major depression is a longer-lasting mood change. Anosognosia is another prevalent disorder among AD patients, and increases with the progression of the illness.
BACKGROUND: The aim was to examine the longitudinal evolution of depression and anosognosia in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHOD: Sixty-two of a consecutive series of 116 ADpatients that were examined with a structured psychiatric interview had a follow-up evaluation between one and two years after the initial evaluation. RESULTS: At the initial evaluation 19% of the 62 patients had major depression, 34% had dysthymia, and 47% were not depressed. After a mean follow-up of 16 months, 58% of patients with major depression at the initial evaluation were still depressed, whereas only 28% of patients with initial dysthymia and 21% of the non-depressedpatients were depressed at follow-up. During the follow-up period, all three groups showed similar declines in cognitive status and activities of daily living. At the initial evaluation, 39% of the patients had anosognosia, and there was a significant increment of anosognosia during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: While dysthymia in AD is a brief emotional disorder, major depression is a longer-lasting mood change. Anosognosia is another prevalent disorder among ADpatients, and increases with the progression of the illness.
Authors: G A Marshall; D I Kaufer; O L Lopez; G R Rao; R L Hamilton; S T DeKosky Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: J M Ringman; C Diaz-Olavarrieta; Y Rodriguez; M Chavez; L Fairbanks; F Paz; A Varpetian; H C Maldonado; M A Macias-Islas; J Murrell; B Ghetti; C Kawas Journal: Neurology Date: 2005-08-23 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Robert S Wilson; Patricia A Boyle; Lei Yu; Lisa L Barnes; Joel Sytsma; Aron S Buchman; David A Bennett; Julie A Schneider Journal: Neurology Date: 2015-08-26 Impact factor: 9.910