Validation of the German version of the DSQIID in adults with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: An observer-rated screening questionnaire for dementia for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), DSQIID, was developed in the UK. So far, the German version has not yet been validated in adults with ID. AIMS/METHODS: We validated a German version of DSQIID (DSQIID-G) among adults with ID attending a German clinic. PROCEDURES/OUTCOMES: DSQIID-G was completed by the caregivers of 104 adults with ID at baseline (T1), 94 at six months (T2) and 83 at 12 months (T3). A Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) was used to determine the total DSQIID-G cutoff score for the best fit between sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 104 participants at T1 (15%) received a diagnosis of dementia. At T1, the scores among the non-dementia group ranged from 0 to 33 (mean: 6.7; SD: 7.65), and the dementia group ranged from 3 to 43 (mean: 22.12; SD: 11.6). The intergroup difference was statistically significant (W: 158; p < .001) (AUC:.89). A total score of 9 provided the best fit between sensitivity (.94) and specificity (.72). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: DSQIID-G total score can discriminate between dementia and non-dementia cases in adults with ID. A lower cutoff score with a higher sensitivity is desirable for a screening instrument.

Assessment of dementia in a clinical sample of persons with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of age-associated disorders has become increasingly important. METHODS: In a clinical setting, people with intellectual disability with and without dementia were assessed retrospectively using the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) and the Dementia Questionnaire for People with Learning Disabilities (DLD) at two different times to analyse neuropsychological changes and diagnostic validity. One group (n = 44) was assessed with both instruments, while the DLD was applied in 71 patients. RESULTS: In the NTB (n = 44), only patients with dementia (n = 26) showed a decline in the NTB total score and three subscales. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a diagnostic sensitivity of .67, a specificity of .81, and an area under the curve (AUC) of .767. In the DLD group (n = 71), only those with dementia displayed a decrease in the cognitive and social scale; diagnostic sensitivity and specificity values were low (.61/.63) and the AUC was .704. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychological assessment was sensitive to detect cognitive changes over time. Sensitivity values of both instruments suggest a reassessment at a later time point.