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Prevalence and correlates of Capgras syndrome in Alzheimer's Disease
Author(s) -
Harwood Dylan G.,
Barker Warren W.,
Ownby Raymond L.,
Duara Ranjan
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199906)14:6<415::aid-gps929>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - dementia , alzheimer's disease , disease , clinical dementia rating , memory clinic , rating scale , psychiatry , psychology , degenerative disease , outpatient clinic , cognitive impairment , cognition , medicine , developmental psychology
Objectives This study examined the prevalence and clinical correlates of Capgras syndrome (CS) in Alzheimer's disease. Design Cross‐sectional study of elderly patients evaluated at an outpatient memory disorders clinic classified according to the presence or absence of CS. Subjects One hundred and fifty‐one consecutive patients diagnosed with probable ( N =110) or possible ( N =48) Alzheimer's disease (AD) utilizing NINCDS–ADRDA diagnostic criteria. Materials The Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE‐AD), Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS). Results CS was observed in 10% of the sample ( N =16). Associated factors included other delusions, lower MMSE scores and higher BDS scores. The relation between CS and both cognitive and functional status remained significant after controlling for other delusions. Conclusion CS was prevalent in approximately 10% of our community‐dwelling AD sample. This syndrome was more common at the later stages of the illness and showed relations with increased functional impairment and other psychotic symptomatology. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.