Affective flattening in elderly patients.
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.
Wood
K A
KA
Academic Department of Psychiatry, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Nissenbaum
H
H
Livingston
M
M
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