BioPsychoSocial Assessment Tools for the Elderly - Assessment Summary Sheet Test: Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale (PGDRS) Year: 1980 Domain: Psychological Assessment Tool Category: Mental Health Variations/Translations: N/A Setting: Clinical Method of Delivery: Assessment by clinician Description: The PGDRS was created as a method of assessment of elderly patients with mental illnesses. It examins three dimensions of mental health: orientation, behaviour, and physical capacity (Burns, Lawlor & Craig, 2004). The PGDRS has been widely used in dementia care to rate the dependency on caregivers and to guide care decisions (Rabins, Lyketsos & Steele, 2006). Scoring/Interpretation: Scoring for orientation is on 10 yes or no questions, behaviour is rated on 16 items using a three-point scale, while physical capacity consists of 7 sub-categories. Higher scores on any of the dimensions indicate higher level of mental dysfunction. Time to Administer: N/A Availability: Found in Wilkinson & Graham-White (1980). Software: N/A Website: N/A Quantitative/Qualitative: Quantitative Validity (Quantitative): Face validity assessed by comparison to nursing time commanded by patients (mean r = 0.72, P < 0.001). See Wilkinson & Graham-White (1980) for a comprehensive evaluation of the scale. Reliability (Quantitative): Inter-rater reliability was determined by Kappa weight : Pearson r scores of .86, .71, and .87 were attained for orientation, behaviour, and physical respectively. References: Burns, A., Lawlor, B. & Craig, S. (2004). Assessment scales in old age psychiatry [2nd ed.]. New York: Informa Health Care. pp. 243-245. Rabins, P.V., Lyketsos, C.G, Steele, C. (2006). Practical Dementia Care [2nd ed.]. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 36. Wilkinson, I.M. & Graham-White, J. (1980). Psychogeriatric dependency rating scales (PGDRS): a method of assessment for use by nurses. British Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 558-65. Comments: N/A.