Multidimensional Apathy in Psychiatric Pathologies.
ConditionApathy
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-60
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Strasbourg, France
About this trial
Apathy is defined by quantitative decrease in goal-directed activity in comparison to the person's previous level of functioning. Apathy is a transnosographic symptom, prevalent in many neurological and psychiatric pathologies (specifically in schizophrenia and depression), and almost half of patients suffer from it. It is an important source of burden, affecting both personal and occupational life. Despite its high prevalence and negative consequences, no pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments exist, the underlying mechanisms of apathy being poorly understood. The main aim of the present study is to advance in our knowledge of cognitive and neural mechanisms of apathy by using a multidimensional model of apathy, distinguishing three forms: executive, emotional and auto-activation/initiative.
the investigators hypothesize, independently of the pathology (schizophrenia and depression), the existence of different cognitive deficits underlying each of the 3 subforms of apathy. Indeed, according to the predictions of Levy and Dubois' model (2006), executive disorders underlie the cognitive form of apathy. It may be related to lesions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the cognitive territory of the basal ganglia. Emotional apathy could be due to motivational disorder. Dysfunctions or lesions in the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex and limbic territories of the basal ganglia may underlie this. Finally, the initiative form, may be a mixed form, with both motivational and executive difficulties. Lesions or dysfunctions may affect both the cognitive and limbic territories of the basal ganglia or the anterior cingulate cortex.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
age between 18 and 60 years
men or women volunteers, hospitalized or not
subject affiliated to an health insurance
subject having signed an informed consent
Disqualifiers
a major or non stabilized somatic disorder
medical history likely to affect cerebral anatomy or linked to an abnormality (neonatal distress, neurochirurgical intervention, neurological disorders, stroke attack)
any disorders involved in the use of a psycho-active substance (as defined by the DSM-IV)
sensory disabling impairments, and specifically visual acuity < 8
Trial design
Design model
Factorial
Treatments tested in this trial
Cognitive tasks with EEG recording
Other interventionquestionnaires and cognitives tasks
Treatment groups
144 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Patients with schizophreniaExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Patients with depressionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Healthy controlsActive comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Assessment of the motivational form of apathy
The severity of the forms of apathy (Executive, Emotive and Initiation apathy) will be measured by using The Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) (Radakovic and Abrahams, 2014) and the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (LARS) (Sockeel et al., 2006) Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale based on the frequency of occurrence of the apathetic symptoms in the previous month. 3 scores will be obtained, one for each form of apathy. A high score (maximum, 24) indicates a severe form of apathy.
Time frame
first baseline visit2
Assessment of the cognitive form of apathy
The severity of the forms of apathy (Executive, Emotive and Initiation apathy) will be measured by using The Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) (Radakovic and Abrahams, 2014) and the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (LARS) (Sockeel et al., 2006) Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale based on the frequency of occurrence of the apathetic symptoms in the previous month. 3 scores will be obtained, one for each form of apathy. A high score (maximum, 24) indicates a severe form of apathy.
Time frame
first baseline visit3
Assessment of the behavioural form of apathy
The severity of the forms of apathy (Executive, Emotive and Initiation apathy) will be measured by using The Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) (Radakovic and Abrahams, 2014) and the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (LARS) (Sockeel et al., 2006) Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale based on the frequency of occurrence of the apathetic symptoms in the previous month. 3 scores will be obtained, one for each form of apathy. A high score (maximum, 24) indicates a severe form of apathy.
Time frame
first baseline visitSponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov