Negative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to demonstrate that negative symptoms are prominent in patients with Alzheimer's disease and are distinct from depression.


METHODS
patients with Alzheimer's disease (N=24) and a group of cognitively intact older adults (N=26) were compared in terms of scores on the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease.


RESULTS
Negative symptoms were more severe in patients with Alzheimer's disease than in the healthy elderly comparison subjects. Among the patients with Alzheimer's disease, negative symptoms were correlated with dementia severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Alzheimer's disease display little interest in self-care, work and household tasks, social and family activities, and emotional needs of others, despite an absence of depressive symptoms, positive symptoms, comorbid systemic illnesses, or medication exposure. Such negative symptoms may contribute to functional disability and thus complicate management of such patients.
Reichman
W E
WE
COPSA Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway 08855-1392, USA.
Coyne
A C
AC
Amirneni
S
S
Molino
B
B
Egan
S
S
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index