Approaches to apathy in neuropsychiatric unit

Abstract

Apathy following brain injury often leads to worse outcomes. In this article, the outcome of apathy and factorial analysis for improvement and worsening of apathy were investigated using 115 patients who were hospitalized in neuropsychiatric unit due to severe psychiatric symptoms after brain injury. Apathy was gradually improved, but at an extremely slow speed. Worsening of apathy was considered to be caused by physical illness, while improvement of apathy by unrestricted setting such as release from physical restrain as well as intensive rehabilitation. This study suggests that controlling physical illness and frame setting for rehabilitation play a critical role for approaches to apathy.