This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Onor, M. L. Articles by Aguglia, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Onor, M. L. Articles by Aguglia, E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Different Perception of Cognitive Impairment, Behavioral Disturbances, and Functional Disabilities Between Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Caregivers

Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, U.C.O. of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Trieste, Italy, marialuisa.onor{at}libero.it

M. Trevisiol

Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, U.C.O. of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Trieste, Italy

C. Negro

Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, U.C.O. of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Trieste, Italy

E. Aguglia, MD

Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, U.C.O. of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Trieste, Italy

Insight in dementia is a multifaceted concept and ability, which includes the persons’ perception of their behavioral and cognitive symptoms and functional disability. This ability seems to deteriorate as dementia progresses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of insight in the cognitive, behavioral, and functional disorders in a group of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD (Alzheimer’s disease) and to compare their perception of their illness with that of their caregivers. The study involved a group of 121 persons with MCI and mild AD and their caregivers. The persons with MCI and mild AD were administered the tests Mini-Mental State Examination, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Activities of Daily Living, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Schedule for the Assessment of Insight, Clinical Insight Rating Scale, and a short interview. Major differences were identified between how the persons with MCI or mild AD and their caregivers perceived the persons’ cognitive and behavioral disorders. The group with MCI or mild AD underestimated their deficits, which were considered serious and disabling by their caregivers.

Key Words: insight • dementia • mild cognitive impairment • awareness of illness

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 21, No. 5, 333-338 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1533317506292454


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S A M Sikkes, E S M de Lange-de Klerk, Y A L Pijnenburg, P Scheltens, and B M J Uitdehaag A systematic review of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scales in dementia: room for improvement J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2009; 80(1): 7 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]