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neuoropsychiatric inventory (NPI)
Indications:
1) characterizing the psychopathology of dementia syndromes
2) investigating the neurobiology of brain disorders with neuropsychiatric manifestations
3) distinguishing among different dementia syndromes
4) assessing the therapy for neuropsychiatric symptoms
Procedure:
Evaluates 12 neuropsychiatric symptoms common in dementia:
1) delusions
2) hallucinations
3) agitation
4) dysphoria
5) anxiety
6) apathy
7) irritability
8) euphoria
9) disinhibition
10) aberrant motor behavior
11) night-time behavior disturbances
12) appetite & eating abnormalities
Severity & frequency of each neuropsychiatric symptom are rated on the basis of scripted questions administered to the patient's caregiver. (0-3 points each)
0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe)
Also evaluates caregiver stress inflicted by each of the neuropsychiatric symptoms. (0-5 points each)
0 = not distressing, 5 = extremely distressing
Scores:
1) scores for the individual symptom domains (0-3)
2) total NPI score (0-36)
3) total caregiver distress score (0-60)
Related
psychosis, agitation & difficult behavior in the elderly
General
psychiatric examination
numerical rating scale (NRS)
References
- Cummings JL.
The Neuropsychiatric Inventory: assessing psychopathology in
dementia patients.
Neurology. 1997 May;48(5 Suppl 6):S10-6.
PMID: 9153155
- Cummings JL, Frank JC, Cherry D, Kohatsu ND, Kemp B, Hewett L,
Mittman B.
Guidelines for managing Alzheimer's disease: part I.
Assessment.
Am Fam Physician. 2002 Jun 1;65(11):2263-72. Review.
PMID: 12074525
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020601/contents.html