Hannah Fox

Frontal Behavioral Inventory : Diagnostic criteria for Frontal Lobe Dementia

OBJECTIVE To utilize the diagnostic criteria of frontal lobe dementia (FLD). METHODS We studied 12 patients with FLD diagnosed clinically, with radiological confirmation in 10 and autopsy confirmation in 2; sixteen patients with Alzheimers disease matched for stage and severity to FLD and 11 patients with depressive dementia were used as control groups. A 24-item Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) using the most relevant behavioral manifestations of FLD was administered in these populations. RESULTS FLD patient scores on the FBI were much higher compared with control groups (AD and DD). Item analysis showed loss of insight, indifference, distractibility, personal neglect and apathy as the most frequent negative symptoms. Perseveration, disinhibition, inappropriateness, impulsivity, and irresponsibility were the most significant positive symptoms. An operational definition of FLD included a minimum FBI score of 27. Only one false positive was shown in the depressive group and none among the AD group, indicating little overlap between patient groups, and a high discriminating value of the FBI. CONCLUSIONS The FBI appears to be a useful diagnostic instrument and a method to operate the behavioral criteria of FLD. Further prospective studies are warranted to establish validity.

A questionnaire investigation of anxiety and depression in early dementia.

We report findings on a study of anxiety and depression by questionnaire in 50 patients with mild dementia and 134 control subjects using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Thirty‐eight percent of patients and 9% of controls had a possible or probable diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Possible or probable depression was found in 28% of the patients and 3% of the controls. These rates for the patients were above those in normal populations.

Correlative studies in Alzheimer's disease

An approach is described for establishing and maintaining a correlative study of Alzheimers Disease. A sample of the findings by the University of Western Ontario (U.W.O.) Dementia Study Group is provided.