Depression, anxiety and level of memory complaint promote memory clinic help-seeking for subjective cognitive decline

Abstract

Background: Experiencing subjective decline in memory as one gets older is a common phenomenon, even when objective cognition remains within normal limits. Only a few individuals with SCD actively seek medical help, either from their general practitioner or from a specialized clinic. Others are known to seek alternative, informal types of help (e.g., speaking with friends, self-help strategies). This study aimed to characterize memory clinic help-seekers, relative to informal help-seekers. Methods: 57 subjects with SCD who sought help from a memory clinic and 87 who responded to an advertisement in a health insurance journal (informal help-seekers) were compared. All study participants (age=68.37±6.8, 76% female, MMSE=28.69±1.0) were enrolled in a psychoeducation program on SCD. Before beginning the intervention, they were administered a face-to-face interview, a neuropsychological assessment and computerized self-report questionnaires on memory complaint (McNair), depression and anxiety (HADS). Findings: No differences were observed either on objective cognition evaluation or on sociodemographic factors and family history of AD. The only distinguishing characteristics of the memory clinic group were a significantly higher level of memory complaint (p <.000) and a greater level of depressive (p <.000) and anxiety-related (p <.000) symptomatology. Discussion: Our results suggest that SCD subjects who seek help from a memory clinic have an equivalent level of cognition, but an increased psychological distress compared to informal help-seekers. Depression, anxiety and severity of memory complaint likely encourage medical help-seeking for SCD. For some patients with SCD, visiting a memory clinic may serve as the first step for subsequent mental care.