This study is the first one to test the diagnostic criteria for apathy in clinical practice. Results make the diagnostic criteria useful for clinical practice and research.

Apathy is defined as a disorder of motivation. There is wide acknowledgement that apathy is an important behavioral syndrome in Alzheimer's disease and in various neuropsychiatric disorders. In light of recent research and the renewed interest in the correlates and impacts of apathy and in its treatments, it is important to develop criteria for apathy that will be widely accepted, have clear operational steps, and be easy to apply in clinical practice and in research settings. Meeting these needs was the focus for a task force that included members of the European Psychiatric Association, the European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium and experts from Europe, Australia and North America.

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