lack of initiative
Conditions
Interventions
All subjects receive a methylphenidate challenge task or a placebo condition.
All subjects will receive a dose of 10 mg methylphenidate in the challenge
condition.
Sponsors
Universiteit Maastricht
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: -Dementia diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria for dementia -Presence of a reliable informant -Presence of apathy -Capable to consent -Informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: -If living in a nursing home at the start of the study -Patients without a reliable informant -Concurrent psychiatric disease -Presence of agitation, irritability, and/or psychotic symptoms -Use of pharmacological medication -Use of vasopressors -Abuse of alcohol and drugs
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in apathy score after the methylphenidate challenge (difference between before and after the challenge) compared to the change in score after the placebo condition as measured by the patient version of the Apathy Inventory (IA) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in cognitive and other behavioural scores after the methylphenidate challenge (difference between before and after the challenge) compared to the change in score after the placebo condition * on the level of frontal related behaviour, as assessed by specific frontal related neuropsychological tests like the Verbal Fluency Test, the Stroop Colour Word Test and five tasks of the CANTAB. * on the level of novelty seeking behaviour as assessed by a 15 minute observation of the patient. | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed