Premium
Comment on administration and scoring of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory in clinical trials
Author(s) -
Connor Donald J.,
Sabbagh Marwan N.,
Cummings Jeffery L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2008.09.002
Subject(s) - clinical trial , clinical dementia rating , medicine , distress , psychiatry , rating scale , clinical psychology , dementia , psychology , cognition , disease , cognitive impairment , developmental psychology
Background The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is commonly used in dementia trials to quantify and qualitate changes in psychiatric symptoms. Methods A questionnaire was administered to clinical trial raters to assess whether they were being trained to administer and score the NPI differently between clinical trial protocols. Results Responses to the survey indicated that there are differences between clinical trials protocols in how the instrument is administered and scored. Discussion Clarification of administration and scoring rules are provided, including the behavioral sampling period, whether premorbid characteristics are considered, and what behaviors are considered in rating frequency, severity, and caregiver distress.