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Apathy refers to a symptom that is commonly found in depressed people. The term apathy depression refers to a condition in which a person no longer has strong emotions toward any life events.
DSM
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual does not mention apathy specifically, but does include lost of interest in activities a person used to find pleasurable.
Literature
Most of the literature refers to depression as representing an abundance of emotion, usually of grief and sadness, but pays little attention to the issue of apathy, which is a complete lack of emotion, including grief and sadness.
Loss of Emotion
John McManamy, author of Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You That You Need to Know, refers to apathy in depression as more than simply a lost of interest in once pleasurable activities, but as an inability to feel strong emotions for anything.
Debate
There is currently debate within the psychological community whether or not depression, which is marked by emotional pain, can include a symptom such as apathy, according to McManamy.
Medication
Recent research has shown that medications that activate dopamine receptors can be effective in reversing the negative effects of apathy, according to McManamy.
Source:
Neuro Psychiatry Reviews: Apathy
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