Unit:
Διακρατικό ΠΜΣ Κλινική Νευροψυχολογία-Νοητικές ΝευροεπιστήμεςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Κarampetsou Panagiota
Supervisors info:
Ζαλώνης Ιωάννης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Ευδοκιμiδης Ιωάννης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Σμυρνής Νικόλαος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
The greek version of the dimentional apathy scale: psychometric properties and clinical utility in ALS
Translated title:
The greek version of the dimentional apathy scale: psychometric properties and clinical utility in ALS
Summary:
Background. Apathy is the most common behavioral symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, previous research assessed apathy as a unidimensional construct and part of ALS behavioral changes and used scales that were not specifically designed to assess patients with motor disability.
Aim. To explore the internal consistency and construct validity of the Dimensional Apathy Scale in Greek speaking population, evaluate its clinical utility in identifying apathy and its dimensions in patients with ALS and serving as a prognostic factor in their carers’ burden.
Method. One hundred healthy participants and fourteen non-demented ALS patients and their carers were included. The Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) was used to evaluate patients’ emotional, executive and initiation dimensions of apathy rater either by the patient or the carer. Additional standardized behavioral scales were also administered. Furthermore, patients’ cognitive and mood status was also evaluated using standardized scales. Carers’ burden was assessed with the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) scale.
Results. The psychometric properties (internal consistency and construct validity) of the DAS in Greek population were found to be good. We found that 70% of ALS patients showed apathy based on the DAS total score and that compared to healthy group they showed significantly higher apathy in all examined dimensions. Assessment of apathy dimensions between patient and carer did not reveal differences. Regression analysis within carers showed that when considering ALS clinical, cognitive and mood status, as well as patients’ apathy dimensions rated by the patient and the carer, patients’ emotional apathy as rated by the carer emerged as the single significant predictor of carers’ burden.
Conclusion. The Greek version of DAS is a reliable and valid scale for measuring apathy and its subtypes in ALS. From a clinical point of view, not only we identified apathy in 70% of non-demented ALS patients but also observed that patients’ emotional apathy as rated by their carers is the single most significant prognostic factor for carers’ burden. Based on the latter and considering that apathy is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in ALS, future multidisciplinary interventions are necessary to educate both patients and their carers.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
ALS, Apathy, Carers, Burden
