Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: the revised memory and behavior problems checklist.
The Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC), a 24-item, caregiver-report measure of observable behavioral problems in dementia patients, provides 1 total score and 3 subscale scores for patient problems (memory-related, depression, and disruptive behaviors) and parallel scores for caregiver reaction. Data were obtained from 201 geriatric patients and their caregivers. Factor analysis confirmed 3 first-order factors, consistent with subscales just named, and 1 general factor of behavioral disturbance. Overall scale reliability was good, with alphas of .84 for patient behavior and .90 for caregiver reaction. Subscale alphas ranged from .67 to .89. Validity was confirmed through comparison of RMBPC scores with well-established indexes of depression, cognitive impairment, and caregiver burden. The RMBPC is recommended as a reliable and valid tool for the clinical and empirical assessment of behavior problems in dementia patients.
Teri
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University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Seattle 98195.
Truax
P
P
Logsdon
R
R
Uomoto
J
J
Zarit
S
S
Vitaliano
P P
PP
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology