Neuropsychiatric problems in Parkinson's disease: comparisons between self and caregiver report.

INTRODUCTION

This study examined the level of agreement between caregiver and Parkinson's disease (PD) patient reports of neuropsychiatric problems.

METHOD

Forty-three patients and 43 informants who knew the patient well (caregivers) participated in the study. Caregivers rated patients' behaviour, as well as their own stress, using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Information from patients was obtained using commonly used scales (Beck Depression Inventory, Apathy Scale, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Depression Scale). Both the patients and the caregivers also completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale, which assesses behaviours associated with apathy, disinhibition and executive dysfunction.

RESULTS

The level of agreement between these self and caregiver reports was low, with only 45.8% agreement for depression, 45.0% for apathy, 28.6% for hallucinations, 26.9% for sleep problems and 6.7% for anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Given this low level of agreement between self and other report, these two methods of assessment cannot be considered interchangeable.