Understanding How to Care about Indifference: A Multistep Approach to Apathy in Parkinson’s Disease
Date
2018-06-08
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Abstract
Background: Apathy is a complex and heterogeneous symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is present in 17 – 70% of persons with PD. Limited information is available on how to define, diagnose, and subsequently manage apathy in PD. Objectives: To firstly synthesize all available knowledge on apathy in PD to assess what is currently known and where gaps exist. Secondly, we aimed to assess barriers and facilitators to the use of this knowledge clinically. Methods: A scoping review based on literature from six databases and extensive grey literature search was completed, examining the diagnosis, treatment, and management of apathy in PD. In focus groups and interviews with stakeholders, we assessed barriers and facilitators to the use of this knowledge. Results: A large body of literature exists on apathy in PD, however key gaps limit the use of knowledge. Gaps include the lack of an accepted apathy definition and limited treatment options. Health care practitioners feel limited in their ability to diagnose apathy without validated screening–tools. Patients and caregivers identified awareness of apathy and planning their days as key facilitators to diagnosis and management. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of developing a broad understanding of available literature and the associated gaps, and the key role that stakeholders play in identifying where further research is required most. Our findings will aid in future research directed at the development of an apathy definition and management focused on non-pharmacological interventions.
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Keywords
Parkinson's Disease, Apathy, Diagnosis, Treatment
Citation
Mele, B. (2018). Understanding How to Care about Indifference: A Multistep Approach to Apathy in Parkinson’s Disease (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/31975