Validation of the NPI-Q, a Brief Clinical Form of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory

TLDR

The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is a validated clinical instrument for evaluating psychopathology in dementia. The authors developed a brief questionnaire form of the NPI (NPI‑Q) for routine clinical practice. They cross‑validated the NPI‑Q with the full NPI in 60 Alzheimer's patients. Test‑retest reliability was acceptable, symptom prevalence differences between the NPI and NPI‑Q averaged 5%, and moderate or severe ratings differed by less than 2%, indicating that the NPI‑Q is a brief, reliable, informant‑based assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver distress suitable for general clinical practice.

Abstract

The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is a validated clinical instrument for evaluating psychopathology in dementia. The authors developed a brief questionnaire form of the NPI (NPI-Q), intended for use in routine clinical practice, and cross-validated it with the NPI in 60 Alzheimer's patients. Test-retest reliability of the NPI-Q was acceptable. The prevalence of analogous symptoms reported on the NPI and NPI-Q differed on average by 5%; moderate or severe symptom ratings differed by less than 2%. The NPI-Q provides a brief, reliable, informant-based assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms and associated caregiver distress that may be suitable for use in general clinical practice.