Clinically significant depressive symptoms and very mild to mild dementia of the Alzheimer type.
OBJECTIVE
To compare depressive symptoms reported by persons with very mild or mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) with those reported for the person by a collateral source.


METHODS
Cross-sectional evaluation.


METHODS
Washington University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.


METHODS
Consecutive series of elderly volunteers (n = 156) enrolled in longitudinal studies with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 0.5 (very mild) or 1 (mild). Twenty-one per cent (n = 33) exhibited clinically significant depressive symptoms for which treatment was recommended.


METHODS
Presence and frequency of DSM-IV depressive symptoms within the last year and last month reported by the participant or collateral source as ascertained by clinical examination and structured interviews.


RESULTS
Collateral source information is essential in diagnosing clinically significant depressive symptoms. The Geriatric Depression Scale scores correlate with participant information only and therefore may substantially underestimate depression. Depressive symptoms fluctuate in individuals with DAT. The most consistent depressive symptoms are depressed mood, fatigue and indecision.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically significant depressive symptoms may be common in individuals with very mild or mild DAT, although they may fluctuate. Information from both a knowledgeable collateral source and the participant is important for detection of depressive symptoms.
Rubin
E H
EH
Department of Psychiatry and the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. rubing@psychiatry.wustl.edu
Veiel
L L
LL
Kinscherf
D A
DA
Morris
J C
JC
Storandt
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019727:Proxy; D012647:Self-Assessment