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Factors affecting deficit awareness in persons with dementia
A Lynn Snow1, David P Graham, Victor A Molinari
1Mental Health Services Research & Development, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. asnow@bcm.tmc.edu
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
|July 16, 2005
Summary
Deficit awareness (DA) is influenced by dementia, depression, cognitive impairment, and caregiver burden. The way DA is measured affects these relationships, with clinicians better assessing cognitive aspects and informants better assessing functional and emotional aspects.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Deficit awareness (DA) is crucial for individuals with cognitive impairments.
- Understanding factors influencing DA is essential for effective intervention and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors affecting deficit awareness (DA).
- To examine the impact of diagnostic status (dementia, depression), measurement method, and DA dimension on these relationships.
Main Methods:
- 121 participants (66 with dementia, 55 without) were enrolled, matched for depression.
- Data collected included participant DA (clinician/informant rated), cognitive impairment, physical illness, functional disability, and caregiver burden.
- Family informants provided additional ratings for participants.
Main Results:
- Dementia, depression, cognitive impairment, caregiver burden, and functional disability all affected DA.
- The influence of these factors on DA differed across various DA dimensions.
- The measurement method for DA acted as a significant moderating variable.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians may excel at evaluating cognitive aspects of DA.
- Informants may be more adept at assessing functional and emotional/behavioral dimensions of DA.
- The choice of DA measurement method is critical and influences observed relationships.