Characteristics of help-seeking behaviour in subjects with subjective memory complaints at a memory clinic: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
Memory complaints in the absence of objective test impairments are common. Only a subset of these subjects seeks medical attention for these complaints. The aim of the present study was to investigate which factors determine why people with subjective memory complaints (SMC) seek medical attention.


METHODS
Thirty-three cases with SMC from a memory clinic were compared to 85 control subjects with SMC from a population-based study who did not seek help for their complaints. We investigated whether cases differed from controls with respect to the following: depressive and anxiety symptoms (SCL-90), extraversion and neuroticism (EPQ), meta-memory (MIA), quality of life (SF-36), changes in memory and daily functioning according to a relative (DECO), life-changing events, and a family history of dementia.


RESULTS
Cases with SMC who seek medical attention, scored lower on memory self-efficacy and quality of life. They were more often worried due to a positive family history of dementia by comparison to the control subjects. Relatives of cases reported more deterioration in daily functioning than relatives of controls. Both the cases and control subjects had similar levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as levels of extraversion and neuroticism.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower memory self-efficacy and quality of life, deterioration in daily functioning, and worries due to a positive family history for dementia are factors that determine why subjects with SMC seek medical attention. This information may be useful for the development of interventions for these subjects.
Ramakers
Inez H G B
IH
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Institute of Brain and Behaviour, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
Visser
Pieter Jelle
PJ
Bittermann
Arnold J N
AJ
Ponds
Rudolf W H M
RW
van Boxtel
Martin P J
MP
Verhey
Frans R J
FR
D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy