Generalized and symptom-specific insight in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009 Summer;21(3):299-306. doi: 10.1176/jnp.2009.21.3.299.

Abstract

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA) are related dementias with different presenting symptoms but with increasing symptom overlap as they progress. Loss of insight is associated with early behavioral variant FTD, but not PPA. This study used the Frontal Behavioral Inventory to compare patient and caregiver concepts of symptom presence and severity. Patients with behavioral variant FTD were found to have worse insight overall than PPA patients. However, the PPA group showed reduced insight into behavioral symptoms, and the behavioral variant FTD groups had intact insight into some language symptoms. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Aphasia, Primary Progressive / psychology*
  • Caregivers
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology*
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Self Concept
  • Severity of Illness Index