title: Recommended measures for the assessment of behavioral disturbances associated with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study reviewed all the published instruments used for the assessment, diagnosis, screening, and outcomes monitoring/evaluation of behavioral disturbances associated with dementia (BDAD) to recommend a set of psychometrically valid measures for clinicians and researchers to use, across a range of different practice settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved a broad scoping search, followed by a series of in-depth literature reviews on 29 instruments using scientific literature databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library) and various national, international government, and government agency websites and professional organization websites. External consultations from measurement, clinical and research experts in dementia care, consumer representatives, and policy/decision makers, were sought in selecting the best instruments and in making the final recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key attributes and psychometric properties of a short list of five instruments were measured against prespecified criteria. The Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI) and the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD) were rated as the best measures for assessment of behavioral disturbances, followed by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease-Behavior Rating Scale for Dementia (CERAD-BRSD), the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale, and the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of valid and standardized outcome measures for the assessment of BDAD is critical for epidemiological studies, prevention, early intervention and treatment of dementia conditions, and funding for relevant healthcare services. The review recommends the NPI and BEHAVE-AD as the most appropriate measures for both clinical and research, whereas the CERAD-BRSD is suited better for research. The review was designed for the Australian context; however, the findings are applicable in other developed countries.
authors.affiliation: From the Sydney Nursing School, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, yun-hee.jeon@sydney.edu.au
authors.forename: Yun-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sansoni
authors.forename: Lee-Fay
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chenoweth
authors.forename: Siggi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zapart
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sansoni
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marosszeky
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001519:Behavior / Q000145:classification; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires