Validation of the Brazilian version of the Apathy Inventory

Abstract

We observed high internal consistency, high concurrent validity, and inter-rater reliability of the Apathy Inventory. In addition, we found that its sensitivity and specificity were high. We suggest that the Brazilian version of the Apathy Inventory would be an appropriate instrument to identify the apathy syndrome in Brazilian patients.

Caregiver report versus clinician impression: disagreements in rating neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease patients

“…However, specific clinical manifestations and neurobiological correlates suggest the occurrence of different neuropsychiatric syndromes (Robert et al ., ; Benoit et al ., ). A Brazilian study confirmed a considerable overlap between depressive and apathetic symptoms, sometimes acting as confounding factors (Stella et al ., ), as previous reported by researches from other regions (Benoit et al ., ; Mulin et al ., ). Considering that affective and emotional manifestations are important features within Brazilian families and have a strong presence in the relationship between familiar caregiver and patient, it is difficult to appropriately distinguish symptoms from apathy and depression (Stella et al ., ).…”

“…Considering that affective and emotional manifestations are important features within Brazilian families and have a strong presence in the relationship between familiar caregiver and patient, it is difficult to appropriately distinguish symptoms from apathy and depression (Stella et al ., ). A disorder of motivation related to loss of goal‐directed cognitive activity, diminished initiative, and the occurrence of emotional blunting could reflect an apathy syndrome, while depression essentially concerns emotional suffering related to sadness and significant pleasure decreasing in regular daily activities (Robert et al ., ; Benoit et al ., ; Stella et al ., ).…”

The Brazilian version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician rating scale (NPI-C): reliability and validity in dementia

“…This scale is divided into three core clinical dimensions required for apathy diagnosis: lack of goal-directed behavior, lack goal-directed cognitive activity, and lack emotional reaction (Robert et al ., 2002; Robert et al ., 2010; Benoit et al ., 2012). AI was validated in Brazil with good specificity (97.3%) and sensitivity (99.2%) (Stella et al ., 2013). …”

A review of current information and communication technologies: can they be used to assess apathy?

“…The Lille Apathy Rating Scale (Sockeel et al ., ) and the Apathy Inventory (AI) (Robert et al ., ) correspond to more specific measurement tools. The AI was developed (Robert et al ., ) as an extension to the apathy domain of the NPI in order to provide a separate assessment of the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of apathy (Leentjens et al ., , Stella et al ., ). The Lille Apathy Rating Scale, developed by Sockeel et al .…”

“…Starkstein et al adapted and shortened Marin's scale, resulting in the Apathy Scale (AS). The Lille Apathy Rating Scale (Sockeel et al, 2006) and the Apathy Inventory (AI) (Robert et al, 2002) correspond to more specific (Robert et al, 2002) as an extension to the apathy domain of the NPI in order to provide a separate assessment of the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of apathy (Leentjens et al, 2008, Stella et al, 2013. The Lille Apathy Rating Scale, developed by Sockeel et al is based on a structured interview with the patient, consisting of 33 items, divided into nine domains including reduction in everyday productivity, lack of interest, lack of initiative, extinction of novelty seeking and motivation, blunting of emotional responses, lack of concern, poor social life, and extinction of self-awareness (Sockeel et al, 2006).…”