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Objectif. Évaluer le ressenti émotionnel de patients atteints de sclérose latérale amyotrophique en fonction de la présence d’une apathie et de la symptomatologie anxio-dépressive. Méthode. Cent cinquante-deux patients ont participé à une évaluation neuropsychologique et répondu aux auto-questionnaires : EPN-31 (Pélissolo et al., 2007) estimant la fréquence avec laquelle le patient a ressenti chacune des 31 émotions proposées, HADS (Razavi et al., 1989) évaluant l’intensité des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs, et l’échelle d’apathie de Marin (1991). Résultats. Les patients atteints de SLA ressentaient en moyenne davantage d’émotions négatives que positives. Les patients apathiques et anxieux (42 %) présentaient un score significativement plus élevé aux émotions négatives, et à ses composantes (tristesse, honte et colère) comparativement aux patients non apathiques et anxieux. De plus, l’apathie était corrélée négativement avec la durée de survie. Conclusion. Les patients apathiques étaient capables de nommer et ressentir des émotions positives et négatives, mais ressentaient davantage d’émotions négatives que les patients non apathiques lorsqu’ils étaient anxieux. Une meilleure compréhension du ressenti émotionnel des patients qu’ils soient apathiques ou non permettra de personnaliser au mieux leur prise en charge.

Objective. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving motor neurons of the cerebral cortex, brain stem and spinal cord. Besides the motor signs, cognitive disorders and apathy may be present and may impact the survival time. These elements are therefore to be taken into consideration for medical care because they can influence the disease evolution. The literature shows low psychopathological disorders in this population despite its poor prognosis. The main objective of this study is to explore the emotional feeling in apathetic and non-apathetic patients in relation to their anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods. We included 152 patients at the day hospital for the follow-up of their illness, with an average age of 61±12.2 years. All filled the following self-administered questionnaires: EPN-31 (emotional feeling), HADS (for anxiety and depressive symptoms) and the Marin’s apathy evaluation scale. Most of the patients (n=110) had also a cognitive assessment with the ALS-CBS scale. Results. 42% of patients could be considered as apathetic and they felt both positive and negative emotions whose frequency was related to the presence and intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The only significant differences were that apathetic and anxious patients experienced more negative emotions including sadness, shame and anger than non-apathetic and anxious patients. Apathy was negatively correlated with cognitive functioning and survival time. Conclusions. These results highlighted the negative impact that apathy seemed to have on the evolution of this disease. However, apathetic patients didn’t show emotional blunting and were able to name and feel positive and negative emotions; and even feel more negative emotions than non-apathetic patients when they were anxious. A better understanding of apathetic and no apathetic patients’ emotional feelings should lead to a more personalized care for the ALS patients.