Apathy syndrome after traumatic brain injury compared with deficits in schizophrenia

The authors compared the severity and clinical profiles of patients with two etiologically different apathy syndromes: apathy after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and deficit schizophrenia (DSS). Patients from both groups were equally apathetic, but those with DSS had more severe anhedonia, blunted affect, and alogia, as measured by the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms. These findings suggest that patients with DSS have a more complex presentation of apathy. Their differences may help to identify anatomical correlates of these apathy syndromes and aid in the design of more effective management strategies for both groups of patients.