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Apathy syndrome treated successfully with modafinil.
Einstein Francisco Camargos1, Juliana Lima Quintas
1Geriatric Medical Centre, University Hospital, Brasilia University, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. einstein@unb.br
BMJ Case Reports
|June 8, 2012
Summary
A case study shows modafinil effectively treated apathy syndrome in an elderly woman. The treatment improved motivation and quality of life without causing sleep disturbances.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Apathy syndrome presents significant challenges in treatment, often complicating patient care.
- Current therapeutic options for apathy are limited and frequently ineffective.
Observation:
- An 87-year-old woman exhibited apathy syndrome, scoring 25 on the apathy scale, with no concurrent depression or sleep disorders.
- Previous treatments with various antidepressants over two years yielded no improvement.
Findings:
- Modafinil, initiated at 100 mg/day, led to a significant reduction in apathy, with the patient's score decreasing to 18.
- The patient reported increased motivation and resumed daily swimming, indicating a substantial improvement in her condition.
- Actigraphic analysis confirmed no sleep disturbances before or after modafinil treatment.
Implications:
- Modafinil demonstrates potential as a novel and effective treatment for apathy syndrome, particularly in elderly patients.
- This case highlights the need for exploring non-antidepressant pharmacotherapies for apathy.
- Further research into modafinil's efficacy and safety for apathy is warranted.
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