The Diagnostic Apathia Scale predicts the ability to return to work following depression or anxiety

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a new apathy rating scale in predicting the ability to return to work (RTW) in patients with depression or anxiety a year after discharge from a psychiatric hospital. We evaluated 56 patients with depression or anxiety, who participated in an on-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta neuropsychiatrica 2014-12, Vol.26 (6), p.364-371
Main Authors: Hellström, LC, Eplov, LF, Nordentoft, M, Østergaard, SD, Bech, P
Format: Article
Language:eng ; dut
Subjects:
Adult
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis
Anxiety Disorders - psychology
Apathy
Clinical significance
Decision making
Denmark
Depression - diagnosis
Depression - psychology
Employment
Female
Humans
Male
Memory
Mental depression
Original Articles
Predictive Value of Tests
Psychometrics
Remission (Medicine)
Return to Work
Sleep
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Summary:The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a new apathy rating scale in predicting the ability to return to work (RTW) in patients with depression or anxiety a year after discharge from a psychiatric hospital. We evaluated 56 patients with depression or anxiety, who participated in an on-going randomised clinical trial using RTW as primary outcome. The degree of apathy was measured by the Diagnostic Apathia Scale, which contains six items covering the following neuropsychological symptoms: concentration/memory problems, difficulties in decision making, lassitude, tiredness/fatigue, insomnia, and reduced ability to work and engage in personal interests. The scale was analysed for psychometric validity (scalability) and for its ability to predict RTW. Finally, the predictive validity of the Diagnostic Apathia Scale regarding RTW was compared with scales measuring severity of depression/anxiety symptoms, disability, and psychological well-being. The Diagnostic Apathia Scale displayed sufficient scalability, that is, the total score was a psychometrically valid measure of apathy. Only the Diagnostic Apathia Scale, and not the scales measuring severity of symptoms, disability, or psychological well-being, had predictive validity regarding RTW. Thus, 76% with 'clinically significant apathy' at baseline were unable to RTW versus 50% of the patients without apathy (p
ISSN:0924-2708
1601-5215
DOI:10.1017/neu.2014.23