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Related Experiment Videos

Apathy and executive function in depressed elderly.

Robert S Marin1, Meryl A Butters, Benoit H Mulsant

  • 1The Intervention Research Center for the Study of Late-Life Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA. rmarin@pitt.edu

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
|June 13, 2003
PubMed
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Apathy and executive cognitive dysfunction (ECD) in late-life depression appear independent. This study found no significant link between apathy scores and cognitive measures in elderly depressed patients.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Neuropsychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Late-life depression presents with apathy and executive cognitive dysfunction (ECD), which are distinct but significant clinical features.
  • Understanding the relationship between apathy and ECD is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment of elderly individuals with depression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between apathy and executive cognitive dysfunction (ECD) in elderly patients with major depression.
  • To examine the association of apathy and ECD with global cognitive impairment and verbal fluency.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-two elderly subjects with major depression (MMSE ≥ 15) were assessed.
  • Apathy was measured using apathy-related items from the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (ApHRSD).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Executive function was evaluated using the Executive Interview (EXIT), alongside the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and Controlled Oral Word Association test (COWA).

    • Main Results:

    • ApHRSD scores showed no significant correlation with ECD measures (EXIT), global cognition (DRS), or word generation (COWA).
    • EXIT scores were significantly correlated with DRS and COWA, indicating a relationship between executive function and broader cognitive abilities.
    • These findings suggest apathy and ECD may be independent in this cohort.

    Conclusions:

    • Apathy and executive cognitive dysfunction (ECD) may represent independent constructs in elderly individuals experiencing late-life depression.
    • The lack of correlation might be influenced by limited variable variance and the psychometric properties of the apathy scale used.
    • Further research with refined measures is needed to clarify the complex interplay between apathy, executive function, and cognition in geriatric depression.