[Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version (NPI-NH): Spanish validation].
BACKGROUND
The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version (NPI-NH) is a screening instrument to be used by the nursing staff to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients in the nursing home setting. The aim of the present study was to validate the NPI-NH in Spanish.


METHODS
We assessed the validity of the NPI-NH in 80 patients who were also nursing home residents, comparing the responses of nursing home staff on the NPI-NH with that filled out by the external observer. We developed a crossed validated form between the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q) and both NPI-NH. We determined the concurrent validity of the domains "depression" and "agitation/aggression" of the NPI-NH with the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (IAACM, Spanish version) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).


RESULTS
Among the totals of the NPI-NH of the nursing staff and the NPI-Q, the convergent validity was r = 0.536 and r = 0.669 for the occupational disruptiveness scale (distress in NPI-Q). The Pearson correlation index between the NPI-Q and NPI-NH of the observations was r = 0.342. The convergent validity between the NPINH of the nursing home staff and NPI-NH of the observers with the Pearson correlation index was r = 0.274.


CONCLUSIONS
The NPI-NH Spanish version offers the possibility to use a screening tool for detecting neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients in the nursing home setting. It should be administered by adequately trained staff to avoid limitations in the evolutive control of behavioral changes.
Boada
M
M
Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona. mboada@fundacioace.com
Tárraga
L
L
Modinos
G
G
López
O L
OL
Cummings
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires