Citation

Hopkins RW, David MM, Kilik LA. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2014; 46(3): 456-463.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/a0035527

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

While depression is known to be a disturbance of mood, it is also a disturbance of behaviour. From clinical evidence, it is suggested that this behavioural disturbance may be more profound than previously reported. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of behavioural disturbance in a moderately to severely depressed group of community living individuals aged 21 to 65 (N = 30). Behaviour was assessed by the Kingston Standardized Behavioural Assessment, and cognition was assessed by the Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment-Revised and the Mini-Mental State Examination. This depressed group was indeed more behaviourally impaired than one would expect from the traditional descriptions of depression. In fact, the level of behavioural disturbance found was equal to that in community-dwelling Alzheimer's disease patients. The depressed group was then compared to an equally behaviourally disturbed group of probable Alzheimer's disease patients also living in the community. The depressed group was both significantly better oriented, and had better overall cognition. Behavioural patterns were compared between groups. The findings of this study suggest that individuals with depression are more significantly impaired than traditionally thought. Not only was a broader range of behaviour change seen in patients, but there was a greater number of changes seen per patient than previously described. This also suggests that a greater number of targets for clinical intervention are available. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

Alzheimer's Disease; Behavior Disorders; Behavioral Assessment; Major Depression; Suffering