ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), which is a clinician rating scale based on interview with an informant. It aims to provide a quick assessment of a wide range of commonly occurring behaviours in different types of dementias, measuring both their severity and their frequency. The NPI is administered in the context of an interview to an informant who has detailed knowledge of the client; that is, contact on at least a daily basis. The NPI is a well-respected instrument and is widely accepted as eminently suitable for examining personality and behavioural changes associated with progressive brain disorders. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
