Greater Experience of Negative Non-Target Emotions by Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases Is Related to Lower Emotional Well-Being in Caregivers

• DOI: 10.1159/000481132
• Publication Date: 2017-12-07T22:02:05Z
• Authors: Kuan-Hua Chen; Jenna L. Wells; Marcela C. Otero; Sandy J. Lwi; Claudia M. Haase; Robert W. Levenson
• Keywords: Sadness; Disgust; Amusement; Apathy

Behavioral symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative diseases can be particularly challenging for caregivers. Previously, we reported that frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) experienced emotions were atypical or incongruent a given situation (i.e., non-target emotions).We tested the hypothesis greater experience of by is associated lower caregiver emotional well-being.178 FTD, AD, other 35 healthy individuals watched 3 films designed to induce amusement, sadness, disgust, then their during films. Caregivers own well-being on Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey.In response amusement sadness (but not disgust) films, was related well-being. These effects specific patients' negative found positive target emotions).The findings reveal previously unstudied patient behavior worse Future research clinical assessment may benefit from evaluating patients.