The Dementia Signs and Symptoms Scale: A New Scale for Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathology in Alzheimer's Disease

David J Loreck; Frederick W Bylsma; Marshal F Folstein

doi:10.1097/00019442-199400210-00009

The Dementia Signs and Symptoms Scale: A New Scale for Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathology in Alzheimer's Disease

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1994;2(1):60-74. doi: 10.1097/00019442-199400210-00009. Epub 2013 Jan 28.

Authors

David J Loreck¹, Frederick W Bylsma¹, Marshal F Folstein¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore; and Baltimore Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

PMID: 28531074
DOI: 10.1097/00019442-199400210-00009

Abstract

The Dementia Signs and Symptoms (DSS) Scale documents non-cognitive signs and symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, mania, and behavioral disturbances) in dementia. Patients, informants, and a clinical examiner rated signs and symptoms over the preceding month. Fifty-six Alzheimer's disease patients were administered the DSS, the BEHAVE-AD, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, the Young Mania Rating Scales, the Hamilton Depression Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale. DSS subscale scores correlated with corresponding scale scores, confirming construct validity. The DSS subscales were internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha, 0.3 7-0.75) and interrater reliability was high (ICC, 0.92-0.99).