Informant questionnaires as screening measures to detect dementia. A pilot study in the South African context.

OBJECTIVES

There is currently no appropriate cognitive screening test available to diagnose dementia cross-culturally in South Africa. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy of an informant questionnaire in detecting cognitive decline in the elderly.

DESIGN

The Deterioration Cognitive Observee (DECO), an informant questionnaire previously used abroad, was administered to relatives of elderly patients. Relatives were also asked a series of open-ended questions about the patient's cognitive abilities and behaviour. The DECO results were compared with patients' scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the cognitive measure currently used to assess a patient's level of cognitive decline, as well as with the clinicians' diagnosis.

SETTING

The interviews were completed at the Groote Schuur Hospital Geriatric Clinic during the months of May and June 1994.

SUBJECTS

The subjects were patients (N = 20) and their relatives (N = 20) attending the Geriatric Clinic.

RESULTS

DECO scores correctly predicted normal functioning in 7 patients and dementia. In 8. The DECO scores correlated with the MMSE scores (r = 0.625; P < 0.01) and MMSE scores correlated with the clinicians' diagnosis (chi 2 = 0.114; df = 1; P = 0.73). Open-ended questions confirmed the clinicians' diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The DECO was found to predict dementia correctly in all but the severely demented patients. As the DECO appears to be a suitable alternative to cognitive testing, it should be considered as a possible screening measure for dementia in elderly people in South Africa.