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Bertrand E, Marinho V, Naylor R, Bomilcar I, Laks J, Spector A, Mograbi DC. Metacognitive Improvements Following Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for People with Dementia: Evidence from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Gerontol 2023; 46:267-276. [PMID: 36482733 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2022.2155283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Impaired self-awareness is a common feature of dementia, with considerable clinical impact. Some therapeutic strategies such as cognitive stimulation and psychotherapy have been suggested to mitigate loss of awareness. Nevertheless, evidence of intervention improving awareness of deficits is scarce. The present study aims to explore the impact of a Brazilian adapted version of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST-Brasil), an evidence-based psychosocial intervention for people with dementia (PwD), on the level of awareness, reporting here a secondary outcome of a pilot randomized controlled trial. METHODS 47 people with mild to moderate dementia attending an out-patient unit were randomly allocated to CST (n = 23) or treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 24) across 7 weeks, in a pilot randomized controlled trial. Awareness was measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS Results indicated that people in both groups increased in overall awareness of the disease, but only those receiving CST exhibited improvements of awareness of cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that CST may also improve metacognitive abilities in PwD, which could potentially be applied to other settings with beneficial effects. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Considering the negative impacts of anosognosia, CST-led improvements in awareness have the potential to benefit PwD and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Bertrand
- Laboratoire Mémoire, Cerveau et Cognition (LMC2 UR7536), Institut de Psychologie, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Valeska Marinho
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renata Naylor
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Iris Bomilcar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jerson Laks
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Translational Biomedicine Postgraduate Programme, Universidade do Grande Rio (Unigranrio), Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Aimee Spector
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel C Mograbi
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Psychology & Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
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Bomilcar I, Bertrand E, Morris RG, Mograbi DC. The Seven Selves of Dementia. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:646050. [PMID: 34054604 PMCID: PMC8160244 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.646050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The self is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, encompassing a variety of cognitive processes and psychosocial influences. Considering this, there is a multiplicity of "selves," the current review suggesting that seven fundamental self-processes can be identified that further our understanding of the experience of dementia. These include (1) an embodied self, manifest as corporeal awareness; (2) an agentic self, related to being an agent and influencing life circumstances; (3) an implicit self, linked to non-conscious self-processing; (4) a critical self, which defines the core of self-identity; (5) a surrogate self, based on third-person perspective information; (6) an extended self, including external objects or existences that are incorporated into the self; and, finally, (7) an emergent self, a property of the self-processes that give rise to the sense of a unified self. These are discussed in relation to self-awareness and their use in making sense of the experience of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Bomilcar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elodie Bertrand
- Laboratoire Mémoire, Cerveau et Cognition (LMC2, URP 7536), Institut de Psychologie, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Robin G. Morris
- Department of Psychology, King's College Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel C. Mograbi
- Department of Psychology, King's College Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Calil V, Sudo FK, Santiago-Bravo G, Lima MA, Mattos P. Anosognosia in dementia with Lewy bodies: a systematic review. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2021; 79:334-342. [PMID: 34133514 PMCID: PMC9231445 DOI: 10.1590/0004-282x-anp-2020-0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anosognosia, i.e. lack of awareness of one's own symptoms, is a very common finding in patients with dementia and is related to neuropsychiatric symptoms and worse prognosis. Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common form of degenerative dementia, literature on anosognosia in this disease is scarce. OBJECTIVES This paper aimed to review the current evidence on anosognosia in patients with DLB, including its prevalence in comparison with other neurological conditions, its severity and anatomical correlations. METHODS Database searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Knowledge and PsycINFO for articles assessing anosognosia in DLB. A total of 243 studies were retrieved, but only six were included in the review. RESULTS Potential risk of selection, comparison or outcome biases were detected in relation to all the studies selected. Most of the studies used self-report memory questionnaires to assess cognitive complaints and compared their results to scores from informant-based instruments or to participants' cognitive performance in neuropsychological tasks. Subjects with DLB had worse awareness regarding memory than healthy older controls, but the results concerning differences in anosognosia between DLB and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients were inconsistent across studies. Presence of AD pathology and neuroimaging biomarkers appeared to increase the prevalence of anosognosia in individuals with DLB. CONCLUSION Anosognosia is a common manifestation of DLB, but it is not clear how its prevalence and severity compare with AD. Co-existence of AD pathology seems to play a role in memory deficit awareness in DLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Calil
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Médica, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marco Antonio Lima
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Médica, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Departamento de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
| | - Paulo Mattos
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Programa de Ciências Morfológicas, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
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Kwon CY, Lee B. Prevalence of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Community-Dwelling Dementia Patients: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:741059. [PMID: 34744832 PMCID: PMC8566725 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.741059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Identifying the characteristics of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) associated with different dementia types may be a promising strategy to effectively deal with BPSD. We aimed to synthesize the prevalence rates of BPSD characteristics in community-dwelling dementia patients. Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, and PsycARTICLES databases for original clinical studies published until December 2020 that enrolled at least 300 community-dwelling dementia patients. The methodological qualities of prevalence studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal checklist. Results: Thirty studies were included. The prevalence of the BPSD characteristic ranged from 4 (elation and mania) to 32% (apathy) in the pooled samples. The prevalence of delusions, anxiety, apathy, irritability, elation and mania, and aberrant motor behavior in Alzheimer's disease patients was 1.72-2.88 times greater than that in vascular dementia (VD) patients, while the prevalence of disinhibition in VD patients was 1.38 times greater. The prevalence of anxiety, irritability, and agitation and aggression, delusion, hallucinations, apathy, disinhibition, and aberrant motor behavior tended to increase as the severity of dementia increased, while that of depression, eating disorder, sleep disorders, and elation and mania tended to stable. In community-dwelling patients with dementia, the pooled prevalence of apathy, depression, anxiety, irritability, agitation and aggression, sleep disorders, and eating disorder was higher than 20%, while that of disinhibition and elation and mania was lower than 10%. Conclusion: Overall, the pooled prevalence of apathy, depression, anxiety, irritability, agitation and aggression, sleep disorders, and eating disorder was generally high in patients with dementia. Also, the prevalence of some BPSD characteristics differed according to the type and the severity of dementia. The methodological quality of the included studies is not the best, and high heterogeneity may affect the certainty of the findings. However, the results of this review can deepen our understanding of the prevalence of BPSD. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/dmj7k, identifier: 10.17605/OSF.IO/DMJ7K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan-Young Kwon
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Boram Lee
- Clinical Research Coordinating Team, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
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Bertrand E, Fischer A, Mograbi DC. Response: Commentary: Metacognition and Perspective-Taking in Alzheimer's Disease: A Mini-Review. Front Psychol 2020; 11:453. [PMID: 32265783 PMCID: PMC7105856 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Bertrand
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Universidade Do Grande Rio (Unigranrio), Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Anna Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Mograbi
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Mayelle A, El Haj M, Antoine P. Awareness of Self and Disease Assessment: Development and Validation of a Subjective Measure in People with Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 71:841-850. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-190371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Mayelle
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 – SCALab – Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, France
| | - Mohamad El Haj
- Univ. Nantes, EA 4638 – LPPL – Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire, Nantes, France
- Unité de Gériatrie, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, Tourcoing, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Antoine
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 – SCALab – Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, France
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Wilson RS, Barnes LL, Rajan KB, Boyle PA, Sytsma J, Weuve J, Evans DA. Antecedents and consequences of unawareness of memory impairment in dementia. Neuropsychology 2018; 32:931-940. [PMID: 30047756 PMCID: PMC6234063 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence, antecedents, and consequences of unawareness of memory impairment in dementia. METHOD Persons (n = 1,862) from a geographically defined community without dementia at enrollment subsequently underwent clinical classification (248 with dementia, 611 with mild cognitive impairment, 1,003 with no cognitive impairment), memory testing, and self-appraisal of memory. Memory performance was regressed on self-appraised memory, and the residuals served as an index of memory awareness. After clinical classification, participants completed brief cognitive testing at 3-year intervals for up to 15 years. RESULTS When unawareness was defined as a score at or below thresholds ranging from the 15th to 25th percentiles, it was more common in dementia (67%-83%) and mild cognitive impairment (15%-33%) than in no cognitive impairment (2%-6%; all p < .001). A continuous measure of awareness (M = 0.00, SD = 0.61) was reduced by 0.37-unit in mild cognitive impairment (SE = 0.04, p < .001) and 1.04-unit in dementia (SE = 0.06), p < .001) compared with those without cognitive impairment, and these associations were weaker in Black persons than White persons (estimate for dementia by race = 0.37, SE = 0.12, p = .003; estimate for mild cognitive impairment by race = 0.30, SE = 0.08, p < .001). Higher premorbid neuroticism was associated with better memory awareness in dementia. Higher memory awareness was not related to mortality in mild cognitive impairment or dementia but had a marginal association with slower cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS Unawareness of memory impairment is a common manifestation of dementia, particularly in White persons, but is not strongly related to adverse disease outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S. Wilson
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Lisa L. Barnes
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Kumar B. Rajan
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Patricia A. Boyle
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Joel Sytsma
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Jennifer Weuve
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Denis A. Evans
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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Bertrand E, van Duinkerken E, Landeira-Fernandez J, Dourado MCN, Santos RL, Laks J, Mograbi DC. Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms Impact Clinical Competence in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:182. [PMID: 28670272 PMCID: PMC5472652 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Decision-making is considered a fundamental aspect of personal autonomy and can be affected in psychiatric and neurologic diseases. It has been shown that cognitive deficits in dementia impact negatively on decision-making. Moreover, studies highlighted impaired clinical competence in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In this context, the current study explored the relationship between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and clinical competence, especially the capacity to consent to treatment, in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Seventy-one patients with mild to moderate AD participated, completing assessments for capacity to consent to treatment, general cognition and neuropsychiatric disturbances. For each neuropsychiatric symptom, patients with and without the particular disturbance were compared on the different subscales of the MacArthur Competence Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T; Understanding, Appreciation, Reasoning and Expression). The results showed that patients presenting delusions, as well as apathetic patients, had a lower ability to express a clear treatment choice compared to patients without these symptoms. By contrast, patients with dysphoria/depression had higher scores on this variable. Additionally, AD patients with euphoria had more difficulties discussing consequences of treatment alternatives compared to patients without this disturbance. None of the differences were confounded by global cognition. There were no between-group differences in clinical decision-making for patients with hallucinations, agitation/aggression, anxiety, irritability, disinhibition and aberrant motor behavior. These findings highlight the importance of taking BPSD into account when assessing decision-making capacity, especially clinical competence, in AD. Furthermore, reducing BPSD may lead to better clinical competence in patients with AD, as well as to improvements in patients and caregivers' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Bertrand
- Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica - Rio (PUC-Rio)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eelco van Duinkerken
- Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica - Rio (PUC-Rio)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands.,Diabetes Center/Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical CenterAmsterdam, Netherlands
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica - Rio (PUC-Rio)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcia C N Dourado
- Institute of Psychiatry-Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel L Santos
- Institute of Psychiatry-Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jerson Laks
- Institute of Psychiatry-Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Post Graduation Program on Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Grande Rio (Unigranrio)Caxias, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Mograbi
- Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica - Rio (PUC-Rio)Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondon, United Kingdom
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Yoon B, Shim YS, Hong YJ, Choi SH, Park HK, Park SA, Jeong JH, Yoon SJ, Yang DW. Anosognosia and Its Relation to Psychiatric Symptoms in Early-Onset Alzheimer Disease. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2017; 30:170-177. [PMID: 28421896 DOI: 10.1177/0891988717700508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated differences in the prevalence of anosognosia and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) characteristics according to disease severity in patients with early-onset Alzheimer disease (EOAD). METHODS We recruited 616 patients with EOAD. We subdivided participants into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of anosognosia and then again by Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. We compared the differences in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) scores according to anosognosia and disease severity. RESULTS The percentage of patients with anosognosia in each CDR group steadily increased as the CDR rating increased (CDR 0.5 8.6% vs CDR 1 13.6% vs CDR 2 26.2%). The NPI total score was significantly higher in patients with anosognosia in the CDR 0.5 and 1 groups; by contrast, it had no association in the CDR 2 group. Frontal lobe functions were associated with anosognosia only in the CDR 0.5 and 1 groups. After stratification by CDR, in the CDR 0.5 group, the prevalence of agitation ( P = .040) and appetite ( P = .013) was significantly higher in patients with anosognosia. In the CDR 1 group, patients with anosognosia had a significantly higher prevalence of delusions ( P = .032), hallucinations ( P = .048), and sleep disturbances ( P = .047). In the CDR 2 group, we found no statistical difference in the frequency of symptoms between patients with and without anosognosia. CONCLUSION These results confirm that the prevalence of anosognosia as well as the individual NPS and cognitive functions associated with it differ according to EOAD severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Yoon
- 1 Department of Neurology, Konyang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong S Shim
- 2 Department of Neurology, Bucheon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Jeong Hong
- 3 Department of Neurology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Hye Choi
- 4 Department of Neurology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Kyung Park
- 5 Department of Neurology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Ah Park
- 6 Department of Neurology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Hyang Jeong
- 7 Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Jin Yoon
- 8 Department of Neurology, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Won Yang
- 9 Department of Neurology, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Lacerda IB, Sousa MFB, Santos RL, Nogueira MML, Dourado MCN. Concepts and objects of awareness in Alzheimer’s disease: an updated systematic review. JORNAL BRASILEIRO DE PSIQUIATRIA 2016. [DOI: 10.1590/0047-2085000000110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Objectives To compare and discuss the objects of awareness in Alzheimer’s disease (AD): awareness of cognitive deficits, of functional activities, of social-emotional functioning and behavioral impairment. Methods A search in the PsycINFo, Pilots, PubMed/Medline and ISI electronic databases according to Prisma methodology was performed. We included studies about awareness in people with AD published between 2010 and 2015, with the combination of keywords: “Alzheimer AND awareness of deficits”, “Alzheimer AND anosognosia”, “Alzheimer AND insight”, “dementia AND awareness of deficits”, “dementia AND anosognosia”, “dementia AND insight”. The articles were categorized according to the specific object of awareness. Results Seven hundred and ten records were identified and, after application of the exclusion criteria, 191 studies were retrieved for potential use. After excluding the duplicates, 46 studies were included. Most studies assessed the cognitive domain of awareness, followed by the functional, social-emotional, and behavioral impairment domains. Memory deficits were not sufficient to explain impaired awareness in AD. Longitudinal studies did not find discrepancies between patients and caregivers’ reports, indicating that awareness is not related to cognition. Conflicting findings were observed, including the relation between awareness, mood, severity of disease, and personal characteristics. Conclusions The studies show lack of conceptual consensus and significant methodological differences. The inclusion of samples without differentiation of dementia etiology is associated to symptomatic differences, which affect awareness domains. Awareness in AD is a complex and multidimensional construct. Different objects elicit different levels of awareness.
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