Abstract
Objective
Behavioral manifestations of executive dysfunction (e.g., apathy) include internal experiences subject to informant misinterpretation. Self-reports of these functions, however, may be influenced by subjective cognitive concerns (SCC). The purpose of this study was to assess emotional distress and SCC as predictors of self-reported frontal behavior disruption.
Method
Twenty-one women and 18 men aged 55 to 83 (M = 66), completed measures of emotional functioning and SCC. The Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) measured frontal behavior concerns, which provided three subscales (Apathy, Disinhibition, Executive Function) and a total score. Emotional functioning was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 7-item (GAD-7), and the Dementia Worry Scale (DWS). SCCs were measured using the Cognitive Function- Short-Form 6a (CFSF).
Results
FrSBe scores were regressed on PHQ-9, GAD-7, CFSF, and DWS. Apathy was predicted by PHQ (B = 1.02, CI: .49 to 1.55, sr2 = .151), CFSF (B = -.42, CI: -.75 to -.10, sr2 = .071), and DWS (B = .14, CI: .02 to .26, sr2 = .052). Disinhibition was predicted by CFSF (B = -.61, CI: -1.06 to -.15, sr2 = .134). Executive dysfunction was predicted by DWS (B = .22, CI: .02 to .41, sr2 = .080). Trends were found for PHQ and CFSF to predict Executive Dysfunction.
Conclusions
Depression, dementia worry, and SCC predicted aspects of perceived frontal behavior disruption, particularly apathy. Subjective cognitive concern predicted perceived apathy ad disinhibition; dementia worry predicted perceived apathy and executive dysfunction. Depression was only predictive of perceived apathy. These findings support the relationship between depression, dementia worry, SCC, and self-reported behavioral disruption emphasizing the importance of emotions and SCC in self-reported behavioral functioning.