Prevalence and correlates of the catastrophic reaction in Alzheimer's disease.
We examined the prevalence of the catastrophic reaction (CR) in 146 patients with Alzheimer's disease. Sixteen percent showed a CR during the neuropsychological evaluation. A factor analysis of the CR scale demonstrated an anxious/angry factor that was significantly associated with higher irritability scores and a longer duration of illness, as well as a depressive factor that was significantly associated with more severe cognitive impairments and older age.
Tiberti
C
C
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Raúl Carrea Institute of Neurological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sabe
L
L
Kuzis
G
G
García Cuerva
A
A
Leiguarda
R
R
Starkstein
S E
SE
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety; D002388:Catastrophic Illness; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*