title: Prevalence and cognitive underpinnings of isolated apathy in young healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apathy is well described in neurodegenerative conditions, however to date there is no evidence of significant isolated apathy in subjects free from other neurological and psychiatric co-morbidites. Identifying isolated apathy in subjects free from neuropsychiatric conditions could contribute to refining current concepts of apathy and reevaluate its nosological classification as an independent clinical syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed apathy and perceived quality of life in a group of 2751 adults (age 19-40 years) free from neuropsychiatric or medical conditions. Subjects with and without elevated apathy were compared on measures of depression, self-efficacy, behavioral inhibition, and behavioral activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Observed prevalence of isolated elevated apathy was 1.45%. Subjects with apathy presented with reduced quality of life and lower behavioral activation compared to apathy-free subjects, while there was no difference between the two groups on measures of depression, self-efficacy, and perceived social skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main limitation of this study is the use of self-report questionnaires.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated, ecologically-relevant apathy can be found in adults independently from the presence of subclinical depression or of concurrent medical conditions. Apathy screening should be considered in the evaluation of young non-depressed subjects with reduced perceived quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy; Neuropsychiatric Unit, Centre for Communication and Neurorehabilitation Research-CNAPP, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: matteo.pardini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pardini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordano
authors.affiliation: Adult Residential Facilities for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities of the Social Cooperative A.N.F.F.A.S., Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grafman
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sassos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massucco
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy; Neurology Unit, Valtellina, Val Chiavenna Hospital, Sondrio, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Yaldizli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, IRCCS San Martino Hospital - IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrati
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.affiliation: Territorial Psychiatry Unit, Local Health Service, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Largo Daneo 3-16132, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cocito
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Unit, Centre for Communication and Neurorehabilitation Research-CNAPP, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Rome Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Emberti Gialloreti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057565:Apathy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Affective disorders; Epidemiology; Motivation; Neuropsychiatry