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Negative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease
W E Reichman1, A C Coyne, S Amirneni
1COPSA Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway 08855-1392, USA.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Negative symptoms are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and differ from depression. These symptoms, including lack of interest in daily activities, are linked to dementia severity and impact patient management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Negative symptoms are often overlooked in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research.
- Distinguishing negative symptoms from depression is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment in AD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the prominence of negative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.
- To differentiate these negative symptoms from depressive symptoms in AD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 24 Alzheimer's disease patients was assessed.
- A comparison group of 26 cognitively intact older adults was included.
- The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease was utilized.
Main Results:
- Patients with Alzheimer's disease exhibited significantly more severe negative symptoms compared to healthy controls.
- A correlation was observed between the severity of negative symptoms and the overall severity of dementia in AD patients.
Conclusions:
- Alzheimer's disease patients demonstrate reduced interest in self-care, work, social activities, and emotional engagement, independent of depression.
- These distinct negative symptoms can exacerbate functional disability and complicate the clinical management of Alzheimer's disease.
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