A new rating scale for dementia syndromes.

A new scale, the GBS-scale, is constructed for rating dementia syndromes. The scale is divided into four subscales measuring motor, intellectual and emotional functions and different symptoms characteristic for dementia. The scale can be used by physicians, psychologists and registered nurses. The reliability of the scale is tested by rating 100 patients in somatic and psychogeriatric long-term care. The raters worked independently of each other and were recommended to confer with the staff about the status of the patient. The agreement between the raters was good. The validity of the scale was tested by comparing it with another geriatric rating scale. High correlations between the two scales were seen and indicated that the new scale measures dementia syndromes. The new scale measures degree of dementia and profiles of dementia syndromes. It is constructed in such a way that it can measure changes in dementia symptoms over a certain amount of time. Thus, it can be used in evaluating effect of treatment. It is not, however, meant to be a diagnostic scale.