Behavioral and Psychological Assessment of Dementia™ (BPAD™)
Kara Schmidt, PhD and Jennifer L. Gallo, Ph..D.

The BPAD is a standardized informant report that assesses the changes in both behavior and mood that are associated with the onset and course of various dementia syndromes. This 78-item assessment categorizes symptoms into three clusters (i.e., Psychopathological, Behavioral, Biological) and further, into seven domains (i.e., Perceptual/Delusional, Positive Mood/Anxiety, Negative Mood/Anxiety, Aggressive, Perseverative/Rigid, Disinhibited, Biological Rhythms). The BPAD Response Booklet is large-print to simplify completion by individuals with vision difficulties.

During administration, the respondent is asked about symptoms the patient has exhibited both within the past 4 weeks and 5 years ago. To differentiate symptoms associated with long-standing psychiatric illness from symptoms associated with the onset of behavioral disturbance related to dementia, the BPAD assesses the symptoms over these two time periods and computes a change score that captures information about changes in mood and behavior specific to the onset and course of dementia. The BPAD was standardized and validated on a sample of men and women ages 30-90 years; these rated adults came from a wide range of racial/ethnic and educational backgrounds and geographic regions, and the sample was matched to U.S Census proportions.

Administration is done using the large-print Response Booklet and pencil, takes 15 minutes to complete, and should be completed by family members, paraprofessionals, or other professionals ages 18-90 who have regular contact with individuals who have suspected or diagnosed dementia. The items are written at a sixth-grade reading level. The BPAD can be employed in a wide range of settings (e.g., outpatient clinics, assisted living settings, clinical research settings) with heterogeneous groups of individuals with suspected or diagnosed dementia (e.g., patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, patients with vascular dementia, psychiatric patients with suspected dementia).

BPAD Introductory Kit Contents:

• BPAD Software Portfolio on CD-ROM with On-Screen Software Manual
• Quick Start Guide
• BPAD Professional Manual (print)
• 25 Response Booklets