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Differential diagnosis and classification of apathy
Marin RS.. The American journal of psychiatry, 1990-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This paper discusses the definition of apathy, reviews its differential diagnosis, and proposes a classification for the conditions that may produce it. Apathy is defined as diminished motivation not attributable to diminished level of consciousness, cognitive impairment, or emotional distress. In its differential diagnosis, abulia, akinesia and akinetic mutism, depression, dementia, delirium, despair, and demoralization must be ruled out. Classification of apathy is organized in terms of its adaptive and functional consequences, its relationship to personality or to sociocultural or environmental events, and its association with psychiatric, neurological, and medical disorders. An approach to assessment and treatment is proposed.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Marin, R. S. (1990). Differential diagnosis and classification of apathy. The American journal of psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.147.1.22
Vancouver
Marin RS. Differential diagnosis and classification of apathy. The American journal of psychiatry. 1990. doi:10.1176/ajp.147.1.22. PMID: 2403472.
BibTeX
@article{marin1990-2403472,
author = {Marin, R. S.},
title = {{Differential diagnosis and classification of apathy}},
journal = {The American journal of psychiatry},
year = {1990},
doi = {10.1176/ajp.147.1.22},
pmid = {2403472},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.147.1.22}
}
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Key findings
- This paper discusses the definition of apathy, reviews its differential diagnosis, and proposes a classification for the conditions that may produce it.
- Apathy is defined as diminished motivation not attributable to diminished level of consciousness, cognitive impairment, or emotional distress.
- In its differential diagnosis, abulia, akinesia and akinetic mutism, depression, dementia, delirium, despair, and demoralization must be ruled out.
- Classification of apathy is organized in terms of its adaptive and functional consequences, its relationship to personality or to sociocultural or environmental events, and its association with psychiatric, neurological, and medical disorders.
- An approach to assessment and treatment is proposed.
Why it matters
This paper defines apathy, reviews its differential diagnosis and proposes a classification. It is a conceptual paper and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The American journal of psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | American Journal of Psychiatry: journal h-index 549 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1990 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 625 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.4 citations a year over 38 year(s) since 1990 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 54.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 59 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Robert S. Marin: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Pittsburgh: institution h-index 1,470 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 2403472) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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