title: Alternate-form reliability of the Dementia Rating Scale-2.
abstract: The Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2) is a frequently used assessment of cognitive status among older adults in both research and clinical practice. Despite its well-established psychometric properties, its use in serial assessments has posed limitations with regard to practice effects. The primary purpose of the present study is to provide preliminary evidence of alternate-form reliability for the DRS-2. A heterogeneous sample of 52 community-dwelling adults over age 60 with no reported diagnosis of dementia were administered the DRS-2 as well as a newly developed alternate form [DRS-2: AF; Schmidt, K. S. (2004). Dementia Rating Scale-2 Alternate Form: Manual supplement. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources]. Our results reveal strong correlations between the two forms; further, no significant differences were found between total scale and subscale scores obtained from the two forms. Therefore, the DRS-2: AF may be a valuable assessment tool in both research and clinical arenas.
authors.affiliation: Center for Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 1800, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA. schmidka@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Kara S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mattis
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nestor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index