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Prospective longitudinal study of depression and anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Sergio E. Starkstein ,
Erán Chemerinski ,
Liliana Sabe ,
Gabriela Kuzis ,
Gustavo Petracca ,
Alejandro Tesón  and
Ramón Leiguarda
Sergio E. Starkstein*
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Erán Chemerinski
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Liliana Sabe
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gabriela Kuzis
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gustavo Petracca
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Alejandro Tesón
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ramón Leiguarda
Affiliation:
Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
*
Dr Sergio E. Starkstein, FLENI-Montañeses 2325, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fax: (541) 784 7620
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Abstract

Background

The aim was to examine the longitudinal evolution of depression and anosognosia in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Method

Sixty-two of a consecutive series of 116 AD patients that were examined with a structured psychiatric interview had a follow-up evaluation between one and two years after the initial evaluation.

Results

At the initial evaluation 19% of the 62 patients had major depression, 34% had dysthymia, and 47% were not depressed. After a mean follow-up of 16 months, 58% of patients with major depression at the initial evaluation were still depressed, whereas only 28% of patients with initial dysthymia and 21% of the non-depressed patients were depressed at follow-up. During the follow-up period, all three groups showed similar declines in cognitive status and activities of daily living. At the initial evaluation, 39% of the patients had anosognosia, and there was a significant increment of anosognosia during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

While dysthymia in AD is a brief emotional disorder, major depression is a longer-lasting mood change. Anosognosia is another prevalent disorder among AD patients, and increases with the progression of the illness.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 1 , July 1997 , pp. 47 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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