title: Affective flattening in elderly patients.
abstract: Forty-eight consecutive patients not taking dopamine antagonists and without Parkinson's disease referred to a psychogeriatric service with a diagnosis of psychiatric disorder were assessed for affective flattening using an objective rating scale. Nearly half (44%) exhibited significant affective flattening, which proved open to reliable assessment. Affective flattening is a useful sign of pathology.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Psychiatry, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nissenbaum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Livingston
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005868:Gestures; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009068:Movement