Determining levels of unawareness in dementia research.
Clinical methods used to determine unawareness in dementia exist; however, their applicability to empirical research is limited. The authors present a statistically derived approach to determining unawareness that addresses these limitations. Dementia patients (n=32) completed an awareness questionnaire. On an identical questionnaire, collateral sources (relatives or friends; n=32) provided their best estimate of participants' abilities. The authors compared cluster analysis, the proposed empirical approach, to a currently used standard deviation cutoff score approach. Cluster analysis included all participants, displayed sound statistical properties, and was more sensitive to between-group differences in psychotic symptoms than standard deviation cutoff. Cluster analysis appears more appropriate for understanding the overall spectrum of unawareness in dementia research.
Lamar
Melissa
M
Neuropsychology Program, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. lamarm@lpc.grc.nia.nih.gov
Lasarev
Michael R
MR
Libon
David J
DJ
D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires