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Apathy in Dementia: Clinical and Sociodemographic Correlates

Received August 28, 2005; revised February 4 and April 19, 2006; accepted April 24, 2006. Dr. Clarke was affiliated with the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences and the Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, and Department of Psychiatry, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care; Dr. van Reekum is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, and Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Dr. Simard is affiliated with École de Psychologie, Université Laval, and the Centre de Recherche-Université Laval-Robert-Giffard, Québec, Québec; École de psychologie, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick; Dr. Streiner is affiliated with C.Psych. Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Dr. Conn is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, and Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Mr. Cohen is affiliated with the Learning Disabilities Research Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; Dr. Freedman is affiliated with the Division of Neurology, Behavioural Neurology Program and Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, and Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto. Address correspondence to Diana Clarke, M.Sc., Ph.D., Research Division, American Psychiatric Association, 1000 Wilson Blvd., Ste 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901; dclarke{at}jhsph.edu (e-mail).

The authors examine prevalence and the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of apathy in dementia. Apathy was assessed in 121 outpatients in a behavioral neurology clinic using the Informant and Clinician versions of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-I, AES-C). Apathy was found to be very prevalent across the dementias. Functional impairment, aberrant motor behavior, and irritability were associated with a greater likelihood of being apathetic upon evaluation with the AES-I. Additionally, with the AES-C, persons with dementia who lived with individuals other than their spouses were more likely to suffer apathy compared to those who lived with their spouses. These findings have clinical and research implications.

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