Braine, ME 2010, 'Apathy: A common neurobehavioural problem' , British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 6 (7) , pp. 335-441.

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Abstract

Apathy is a common behaviour in many neurological conditions, yet it lacks a consensus on its definition. Furthermore, there is a lack of validated standardized assessment tools for detecting apathy and assessing its severity. In this article, apathy will be further discussed to increase neuroscience nurses’ knowledge and understanding of this common problem, and call attention to the concept of apathy in the neuroscience setting. The definition of apathy and the assessment tools to quantify and characterize apathy will be reviewed. The evidence underlying this pathophysiology will be considered along with its relation to associated conditions such as traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Finally a consideration of the treatment options will highlight the need for future research into this important phenomenon.

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