Pruneti Carlo, Innocenti Augusto, Cammisuli Davide Maria
Laboratory of Clinical Psychology, Psychophysiology and Clinical Neuropsychology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma.
Laboratory of Clinical Psychology, Psychophysiology and Clinical Neuropsychology Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma Italy.
Acta Biomed. 2018 Mar 5;89(1):79-86. doi: 10.23750/abm.v89i1.6579.
Improving quality of life of patients with early Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a primary concern of health professionals involved in dementia treatment. The aim of this study is to reveal associations among psychiatric symptoms and wellbeing aspects, dysfunctional lifestyles and stress-related behaviors, illness perception, personality traits, and life quality satisfaction, in order to offer a comprehensive evaluation of psychological and behavioral aspects characterizing patients with early AD.
This is a cross-sectional study in which all the outpatients included were evaluated at the Dementia Clinic in Parma (Italy). 21 patients with probable AD were assessed by an overall cognitive screening (Milan Overall Dementia Assessment), the evaluation of personal and instrumental autonomy (Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), and of dementia severity (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale). After the neurocognitive assessment, a wide battery of clinical and psychological measures (Symptom Questionnaire, Pisa Stress Questionnaire, Illness Behavior Questionnaire, Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and Satisfaction Profile) was administered to the patients. Spearman's rho correlations between clinical and psychological measures were performed.
A tendency to deny anxiety, depressive and somatic symptoms might be present in patients with early AD. They also present with hypochondriasis, resulting in higher level of anxiety and depression. Reduced liveliness and self-reliance as personality traits may influence the intensity of such symptoms.
A comprehensive assessment including psychological and clinical measures should be routinely integrated in clinical practice for the evaluation of patients with early AD.
提高早期阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者的生活质量是参与痴呆症治疗的健康专业人员的首要关注点。本研究的目的是揭示精神症状与幸福感方面、功能失调的生活方式和与压力相关的行为、疾病认知、人格特质以及生活质量满意度之间的关联，以便对早期AD患者的心理和行为方面进行全面评估。
这是一项横断面研究，所有纳入的门诊患者均在意大利帕尔马的痴呆症诊所接受评估。通过全面认知筛查（米兰综合痴呆评估）、个人和工具性自主能力评估（日常生活活动和工具性日常生活活动）以及痴呆严重程度评估（临床痴呆评定量表）对21例可能患有AD的患者进行评估。在神经认知评估后，对患者进行了一系列广泛的临床和心理测量（症状问卷、比萨压力问卷、疾病行为问卷、十六种人格因素问卷和满意度概况）。对临床和心理测量结果进行了斯皮尔曼等级相关分析。
早期AD患者可能存在否认焦虑、抑郁和躯体症状的倾向。他们还表现出疑病症，导致焦虑和抑郁水平较高。作为人格特质的活力和自立性降低可能会影响这些症状的强度。
在临床实践中，应常规纳入包括心理和临床测量在内的全面评估，以评估早期AD患者。
