Abstract

SOUSA, Mónica; PEREIRA, Anabela  and  COSTA, Rui. Subjective memory complaints: Depressive and anxiety symptoms or cognitive impairment?. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2017, vol.18, n.3, pp.739-746. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/17psd180309.

The Subjective Memory Complaints (QSM) in the old adult creates in the scientific community many challenges. Particularly the differentiation between the QSM and depressive and anxiety symptoms and cognitive impairment. This survey was conducted with 620 participants over 54 years old (74.04 ± 10:41 years; 72.4% female). The instruments used were the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Memory Complaint Scale (EQM) the Geriatric Depression Scale (EDG) and the Anxiety Inventory Geriatrics (IAG). The SMC were present in 78.9% (n = 489), the depressed mood in 46.3% (n = 287) and anxiety in 51.1% (n = 317). The SMC participants had lower scores on the MMSE (24,57 ± 5,65 vs 25,88 ± 5,36, p < 0,01) and in the MoCA (17,63 ± 7,86 vs 20,34 ± 7,84, p < 0,01). The education [β = 0,14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0,823-0,475], the MMSE (β = -0,11, 95% CI = 0,034-0,241) and EDG (β = 0.40, 95% CI = -0,112-0,59) were significant predictors of SMC. The depression and anxiety were predictors of SMC and were associated with worse cognitive performance, suggesting that interventions targeted for these factors are assumed as an important strategy for the promotion of healthy aging.

Keywords : aging; subjective memory complaints; depression; anxiety; cognitive impairment.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )