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Assessment of apathy independent of physical disability: validation of the Dimensional Apathy Scale in Italian healthy sample

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Abstract

Apathy is well described in neurodegenerative diseases characterized by motor disability; therefore, assessment of apathy avoiding possible confounding effects of motor impairments is necessary in neurological diseases. Recently, the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) was developed to assess apathy as multifaceted construct, independent of physical disability. We developed the Italian version of the Dimensional Apathy Scale (I-DAS) and explored its psychometric properties in a sample of 309 healthy individuals. Participants also completed Apathy Evaluation Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised. The I-DAS showed high internal consistency, good convergent and divergent validity. The I-DAS had a three-factor structure, such as the original scale. The I-DAS scored was significantly correlated with individuals’ education, but not with age or gender. We, therefore, computed correction factor for education and provided percentile distribution of the adjusted scores to identify individuals with high levels of apathy. The I-DAS showed good psychometric properties and can be a valid and reliable tool to assess multidimensional apathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico, 31, Caserta, Italy

    Gabriella Santangelo, Simona Raimo, Mattia Siciliano, Alfonsina D’Iorio, Fausta Piscopo, Sofia Cuoco, Marianna Bottone, Dario Grossi & Luigi Trojano

  2. IDC-Hermitage-Capodimonte, Naples, Italy

    Gabriella Santangelo

  3. Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Mattia Siciliano & Francesca Trojsi

  4. Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neurodegenerative Diseases Center, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy

    Sofia Cuoco

  5. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center of the Second University of Naples-Italian Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Francesca Trojsi

  6. Scientific Institute of Telese, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Telese Terme, BN, Italy

    Luigi Trojano

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  1. Gabriella Santangelo
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  2. Simona Raimo
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  3. Mattia Siciliano
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  4. Alfonsina D’Iorio
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Correspondence to Gabriella Santangelo.

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All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the local research committee and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Santangelo, G., Raimo, S., Siciliano, M. et al. Assessment of apathy independent of physical disability: validation of the Dimensional Apathy Scale in Italian healthy sample. Neurol Sci 38, 303–309 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2766-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2766-8

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