Neuropsychiatric Inventory–Questionnaire
Cummings et al. 1994‚ 1997
Adapted from the NPI (Cummings et al‚ 1994)
Circle “Yes” only if the symptom(s) has been present in the last month.
Otherwise‚ circle “No”. For each item marked “Yes”:
a) Rate the SEVERITY of the symptom (how it affects the patient):
1. Mild (noticeable‚ but not a significant change)
2. Moderate (significant‚ but not a dramatic change)
3. Severe (very marked or prominent‚ a dramatic change)
b) Rate the DISTRESS you experience due to that symptom (how it affects you):
1. Not distressing at all
2. Minimal (slightly distressing‚ not a problem to cope with)
3. Mild (not very distressing‚ generally easy to cope with)
4. Moderate (fairly distressing‚ not always easy to cope with)
5. Severe (very distressing‚ difficult to cope with)
6. Extreme or Very Severe (extremely distressing‚ unable to cope with)
Please answer each question carefully. Ask for assistance if you have any questions.
Delusions
Does the patient have false beliefs‚ such as thinking that others are stealing from him/her or planning to harm him/herin some way?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Hallucinations
Does the patient have hallucinations such as false visions or voices? Does he or she seem to hear or see things that are not present?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Agitation/Aggression
Is the patient resistive to help from others at times‚ or hard to handle?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Depression/Dysphoria
Does the patient seem sad or say that he /she is depressed?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Anxiety
Does the patient become upset when separated from you?
Does he/she have any other signs of nervousness such as shortness of breath‚ sighing‚ being unable to relax‚ or feeling excessively tense?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Elation/Euphoria
Does the patient appear to feel too good or act excessively happy?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Apathy/Indifference
Does the patient seem less interested in his/her usual activities or in the activities and plans of others?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Disinhibition
Does the patient seem to act impulsively‚ for example‚ talking to strangers as if he/she knows them‚ or saying things that may hurt people’s feelings?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Irritability/Lability
Is the patient impatient and cranky? Does he/she have difficulty coping with delays or waiting for planned activities?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Motor Disturbance
Does the patient engage in repetitive activities such as pacing around the house‚ handling buttons‚ wrapping string‚ or doing other things repeatedly?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Night-time Behaviors
Does the patient awaken you during the night‚ rise too early in the morning‚ or take excessive naps during the day?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
Appetite/Eating
Has the patient lost or gained weight‚ or had a change in the type of food he/she likes?
Yes‚ No‚ SEVERITY: 1 2 3 DISTRESS: 0 1 2 3 4 5
NPI Ten and Twelve Item Versions (the latter has had sleep/night time behavior changes and appetite/eating changes added)
NPI – Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH)
NPI – Questionnaire (NPI-Q)
NPI – Clinician (NPI-C)
Frequency of Behavior:
1. Occasionally‚ less than once a week
2. Often‚ about once a week
3. Frequently‚ several times per week‚ but less than every day
4. Very frequently‚ once or more per day
Severity of Behavior:
1. Mild (noticeable‚ but not a significant change)
2. Moderate (significant‚ but not a dramatic change)
3. Severe (very marked‚ a dramatic change)
Caregiver Disruption Assessment:
0. Points No distress
1. Point Minimal(slightly distressing)
2. Points Mild (not very distressing‚ generally easy to cope with)
3. Points Moderate (fairly distressing‚ difficult to cope with)
4. Points Severe (very distressing‚ difficult to cope with)
5. Points Extreme (extremely distressing‚ unable to cope with)
Cummings‚ J.‚ Mega‚ M.‚ Gray‚ K.‚ Rosenberg-Thompson‚ S.‚ Carusi‚ D. A.‚ & Gornbein‚ J. (1994). The Neuropsychiatric Inventory: Comprehensive assessment of psychopathology in dementia. Neurology‚ 44‚ 2308-2314.
Cummings‚ J. L. (1997). The Neuropsychiatric Inventory: Assessing psychopathology in dementia patients. Neurology‚ 48‚ S10-S16.
Kaufer‚ Daniel I.‚ Cummings‚ Jeffrey L.‚ Ketchel‚ Patrick.‚ et al. (2000). Validation of the NPI-Q‚ a Brief Clinical Form of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 12(2):233-239.