Factors affecting deficit awareness in persons with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined factors affecting deficit awareness (DA) and the effects of diagnostic status (dementia and depression), measurement method and DA dimension on these relationships.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-one participants (66 persons with dementia and 55 persons without dementia, matched for depression diagnosis) were enrolled, each with a family informant. Participant DA (clinician and informant rated), cognitive impairment, physical illness, functional disability and caregiver burden were assessed.


RESULTS
Factors affecting DA included presence of dementia, presence of depression, cognitive impairment, caregiver burden, and functional disability. The relationship between these factors and DA varied by DA dimension.


CONCLUSIONS
DA measurement method was an important moderating variable; clinicians may be better at evaluating cognitive DA whereas informants may be better at evaluating functional and emotional/behavioral DA.
Snow
A Lynn
AL
Mental Health Services Research & Development, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. asnow@bcm.tmc.edu
Graham
David P
DP
Molinari
Victor A
VA
Orengo
Claudia A
CA
Doody
Rachelle S
RS
Norris
Margaret P
MP
Kunik
Mark E
ME
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D017028:Caregivers; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept