PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF DEPRESSION AND ANOSOGNOSIA IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Background The aim was to examine the longitudinal evolution of depres sion and anosognosia in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD ). Method Sixty-two of a consecutive series of 116 AD patients that we re examined with a structured psychiatric interview had a Follow-up ev aluation between one and two years after the initial evaluation. Resul ts At the initial evaluation 19% of the 62 patients had major depressi on, 34% had dysthymia, and 47% were not depressed. After a mean follow -up of 16 months, 58% of patients with major depression at the initial evaluation were still depressed, whereas only 28% ofpatients with ini tial dysthymia and 21% of the non-depressed patients were depressed at follow-up. During the follow-up period, all three groups showed simil ar declines in cognitive status and activities of daily living. At the initial evaluation, 39% of the patients had anosognosia, and there wa s a significant increment of anosognosia during the follow-up period. Conclusions While dysthymia in AD is a brief emotional disorder, major depression is a longer-lasting mood change. Anosognosia is another pr evalent disorder among AD patients, and increases with the progression of the illness.