Specificity of symptoms of depression in Alzheimer disease: a longitudinal analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Authors examined the temporal stability of symptoms of major and minor depression and apathy in dementia.


METHODS
A consecutive sample of 65 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and depression at baseline evaluation received a follow-up psychiatric assessment that included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression an average of 17 months later.


RESULTS
Half of the sample had no depression at follow-up, and showed a significant improvement in sadness, guilt, suicidal ideation, disruption in sleep, loss of interest, loss of energy, thoughts of death, social withdrawal, psychomotor changes, changes in appetite/weight, and symptoms of anxiety. No significant changes were found on scores of irritability or apathy.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates the specificity of depressive symptoms in AD and suggests that apathy and depression are different behavioral domains.
Starkstein
Sergio E
SE
Education Building T-7, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, 6959 WA, Australia. ses@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Mizrahi
Romina
R
Garau
Laura
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014904:Western Australia