title: Diagnostic criteria for depression in Alzheimer disease: a study of symptom patterns using latent class analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although depression in Alzheimer disease (AD) has a negative emotional and functional impact on patients and caregivers, specific criteria to diagnose depression in AD are still to be validated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To validate a set of diagnostic criteria for major depression in AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional design using latent cluster analysis (LCA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited from consecutive referrals to a Memory Clinic of a tertiary hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of 971 outpatients with probable AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clusters of patients with or without major depression as determined with LCA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A LCA demonstrated three clusters that were considered to represent major depression, minor depression, and no depression. All nine Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for major depression were significantly associated with the major depression cluster. Although a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and apathy were also associated with the major depression cluster, irritability was not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DSM-IV criteria for major depression should be used unmodified to diagnose depression in AD. Future studies should determine whether GAD should be included as an additional diagnostic criterion.
authors: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia and Fremantle Hospital, Australia. ses@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
authors: Sergio E
authors: SE
authors: Starkstein
authors: Milan
authors: M
authors: Dragovic
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Jorge
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Brockman
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Robinson