ReviewInternational journal of geriatric psychiatry2023
Distinguishing apathy from depression: A review differentiating the behavioral, neuroanatomic, and treatment-related aspects of apathy from depression in neurocognitive disorders.
Review in International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
43 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 74 citations in OpenAlex.
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for apathy in patients with neurodegenerative conditions, cognitive impairment, stroke, and traumatic brain injury: a systematic review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Trial
- Correlation between changes in apathy and cognition in Alzheimer's disease associated apathy: Analysis of the Apathy in Dementia Methylphenidate Trial 2 (ADMET 2).International psychogeriatrics · 2025Trial
- Neural Correlates of Apathy in Multiple System Atrophy: A Clinical and Perfusion Imaging Study.European journal of neurology · 2026Article
- Apathy in dementia with Lewy bodies: Frequency, correlates, and impact on patient and caregiver experiences.Parkinsonism & related disorders · 2026Article
- Depression and apathy in frontotemporal dementia: a short assessment of facts and outlook.Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2026Review
- A Longitudinal Analysis of Frontotemporal Dementia Patients in Spain throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Study.Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders · 2026Article
- On the relationships between apathy, depression and anhedonia.Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2026Article
- Narrative Review of Body-First Versus Brain-First Prodromal Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.Cureus · 2026Review
- Latent profiles of apathy in the general population and their associations with psychopathology and functioning.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Overactive Neuronal eEF2K/eEF2 signaling is associated with cognitive impairment and apathy-like behavior.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Bilateral DLPFC transcranial direct current stimulation for mood and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: a preliminary study.Acta neuropsychiatrica · 2026Article
- Targeting central immune signaling enhances the effects of methylphenidate in alleviating apathy-like behavior in 5xFAD mice.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The social dimension of apathy: evidence for a distinct domain from 11,243 individuals across health and neurocognitive disorders.Translational psychiatry · 2026Article
- Mood and Age Predict Cognitive Complaints in Memory Clinic Patients: A Machine-Learning and Linear Modeling Approach.European journal of neurology · 2026Article
- Unveiling discrepancies in depression detection among persons with dementia: A comparative analysis of caregiver and self-report.Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2026Article
- Depression and apathy: examining an overlooked dimension.Annals of general psychiatry · 2026Article
- Apathy and Depression Impact on Cognitive Decline: Neuropsychological Specificities across Neurodegenerative Diseases.Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists · 2026Article
- Association between dog ownership and mental health among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Targeting central immune signaling enhances the effects of methylphenidate in alleviating apathy-like behavior in 5xFAD mice.Research square · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 6 institutions in 5 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThis narrative review describes the clinical features of apathy and depression in individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), with the goal of differentiating the two syndromes on the basis of clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, neuropathological features, and contrasting responses to treatments.
methodsLiterature was identified using PubMed, with search terms to capture medical conditions of interest; additional references were also included based on our collective experience and knowledge of the literature.
resultsEvidence from current literature supports the distinction between the two disorders; apathy and depression occur with varying prevalence in individuals with NCDs, pose different risks of progression to dementia, and have distinct, if overlapping, neurobiological underpinnings. Although apathy is a distinct neuropsychiatric syndrome, distinguishing apathy from depression can be challenging, as both conditions may occur concurrently and share several overlapping features. Apathy is associated with unfavorable outcomes, especially those with neurodegenerative etiologies (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and is associated with an increased burden for both patients and caregivers. Diagnosing apathy is important not only to serve as the basis for appropriate treatment, but also for the development of novel targeted interventions for this condition. Although there are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments for apathy, the research described in this review supports apathy as a distinct neuropsychiatric condition that warrants specific treatments aimed at alleviating patient disability.
conclusionsDespite differences between these disorders, both apathy and depression pose significant challenges to patients, their families, and caregivers; better diagnostics are needed to develop more tailored treatment and support.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.