Overall J E, Scott J, Rhoades H M, Lesser J
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 1990 Oct-Dec;3(4):212-20. doi: 10.1177/089198879000300407.
A 30-item questionnaire concerned with signs and symptoms of cognitive decline was completed by a relative or caregiver for each of 115 elderly patients seen in the gerontology outpatient clinic of our institution. Twelve different preliminary scale values were calculated to locate each of the 30 clinical manifestations along a continuum of increasing severity. Principal components analysis was then used to combine the 12 preliminary indices into a single composite scale that more reliably represents distances between the 30 clinical manifestations. The scale scores for the clinical manifestations were observed to cluster into relatively discrete groups, suggesting naturally occurring stages or phases. Objective cluster analysis methods further suggested the presence of distinct thresholds for occurrence of new impairments along the cognitive decline continuum. Utility of the empirically derived scale values in staging the course of primary degenerative dementia is suggested.
一份包含30个项目、与认知衰退体征和症状相关的问卷，由我院老年病门诊所诊治的115位老年患者的亲属或照料者填写。计算了12种不同的初步量表值，以将30种临床表现中的每一种按照严重程度递增的连续体进行定位。然后使用主成分分析将这12个初步指标合并为一个单一的综合量表，该量表能更可靠地表示30种临床表现之间的距离。观察到临床表现的量表得分聚集成相对离散的组，提示存在自然发生的阶段或时期。客观聚类分析方法进一步表明，在认知衰退连续体中出现新损伤存在明显的阈值。这表明了根据经验得出的量表值在对原发性退行性痴呆病程进行分期中的效用。
