title: Developing a new apathy measurement scale: Dimensional Apathy Scale.
abstract: Apathy is both a symptom and syndrome prevalent in neurodegenerative disease, including motor system disorders, that affects motivation to display goal directed functions. Levy and Dubois (2006) suggested three apathetic subtypes, Cognitive, Emotional-affective and Auto-activation, all with discrete neural correlates and functional impairments. The aim of this study was to create a new apathy measure; the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS), which assesses apathetic subtypes and is suitable for use in patient groups with motor dysfunction. 311 healthy participants (mean=37.4, S.D.=15.0) completed a 45-item questionnaire. Horn's parallel analysis of principal factors and Exploratory Factor Analysis resulted in 4 factors (Executive, Emotional, Cognitive Initiation and Behavioural Initiation) that account for 28.9% of the total variance. Twenty four items were subsequently extracted to form 3 subscales--Executive, Emotional and Behavioural/Cognitive Initiation. The subscale items show good internal consistency reliability. A weak to moderate relationship was found with depression using Becks Depression Inventory II. The DAS is a well-constructed method for assessing multidimensional apathy suitable for application to investigate this syndrome in different disease pathologies.
authors: Psychology-School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, UK. Electronic address: r.radakovic@sms.ed.ac.uk.
authors: Ratko
authors: R
authors: Radakovic
authors: Psychology-School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Abrahams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057565:Apathy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Apathy scale; Apathy subtypes; Depression; Motivation; Motor dysfunction; Multidimensional apathy