title: A methodology for evaluating change and impact of illness perceptions among patients with memory complaints and their next of kin during the diagnosis process.
abstract: Memory complaints (MCs) are experienced by a large proportion of middle-aged and older adults and are often a source of distress and worry. Because of the perceived threat of Alzheimer's disease (AD), MCs are known to be associated with depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life (QoL). Generally, these MCs are part of a normal aging process but may also reflect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or the onset of dementia. Although the literature is unclear about evolution of patients with MCs, there is growing evidence that suggests that MCs are associated with an increased risk of dementia. The potential importance of MCs is furthermore reflected in the new diagnostic criteria proposed for early AD (Duboiset al., ).
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychologie de la Santé - EPSAM, UE 4360 APEMAC, Université de Lorraine, Metz, France Email: a.besozzi@chu-nancy.fr.|Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Anaïck
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Besozzi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et de Neuropsychologie, EA 2027, Université Paris 8, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montel
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychologie de la Santé - EPSAM, UE 4360 APEMAC, Université de Lorraine, Metz, France Email: a.besozzi@chu-nancy.fr.|Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perret-Guillaume
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychologie de la Santé - EPSAM, UE 4360 APEMAC, Université de Lorraine, Metz, France Email: a.besozzi@chu-nancy.fr.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spitz