Apathy syndrome as a consequence of brain injury – a difficult problem in neurorehabilitation
Journal Title: Rehabilitacja Medyczna - Year 2005, Vol 9, Issue 2
Abstract
Primary, biological dysfunction of motivational factor in a widely understood goal-oriented behaviour is in clinical practice a wellknown consequence of brain injury, and it causes serious difficulties in neurorehabilitation. The deficit of motivation, also known as apathy syndrome, is particularly frequently observed in patients with stroke and other type of brain injury. It results in limitation of emotional expression and reacting to the environment, loss of ability to care about oneself and others, and causes passive participation in rehabilitation. All these symptoms significantly decrease the chances of physical and social recovery. Hypothetically, it is claimed that the dysfunction of fronto-subcortical neural system, overlapping medial parts of prefrontal cortex, thalamus and basal ganglia, is a pathomechanism of apathy. Damage of these structures results in dysfunction of dopaminergic system which is called a “behavioural activating system” as it modulates the level of activation, attention and emotions. Apathy can co-exist with cognitive impairment, but these two deficits are treated relatively separately. This paper aims to make a detailed description of the apathy syndrome and to draw attention of professionals working in neurorehabilitation to biological foundation of some patients’ behaviour, who are wrongly described as not dedicated and motivated to participate actively in rehabilitation. The authors – on the grounds of literature review – describe problems of differential diagnosis and treatment. They draw attention to differentiating apathy from depression, dementia and consciousness disorder. There are still no systematic studies about efficient pharmacotherapy in the organic apathy syndrome. This paper presents preliminary results of clinical studies suggesting therapeutic efficacy of dopamine agonists and other stimulants.
Authors and Affiliations
Joanna Seniów, Renata Komajda, Jacek Zaborski
Keywords
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