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Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: the revised memory and behavior problems checklist
Teri L, Truax P, Logsdon R, Uomoto J, Zarit S, Vitaliano PP.. Psychology and aging, 1992-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC), a 24-item, caregiver-report measure of observable behavioral problems in dementia patients, provides 1 total score and 3 subscale scores for patient problems (memory-related, depression, and disruptive behaviors) and parallel scores for caregiver reaction. Data were obtained from 201 geriatric patients and their caregivers. Factor analysis confirmed 3 first-order factors, consistent with subscales just named, and 1 general factor of behavioral disturbance. Overall scale reliability was good, with alphas of .84 for patient behavior and .90 for caregiver reaction. Subscale alphas ranged from .67 to .89. Validity was confirmed through comparison of RMBPC scores with well-established indexes of depression, cognitive impairment, and caregiver burden. The RMBPC is recommended as a reliable and valid tool for the clinical and empirical assessment of behavior problems in dementia patients.
Key findings
- Overall scale reliability was good, with alphas of .84 for patient behavior and .90 for caregiver reaction.
Why it matters
This 1992 paper introduced the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist, a 24-item questionnaire in which a caregiver reports observable memory problems, depression and disruptive behaviour in a person with dementia, and separately rates how much each problem upsets the caregiver. In 201 older patients and their caregivers, the overall scores were internally consistent (α = .84 for patient behaviour, .90 for caregiver reaction; subscales .67–.89), and the authors report that scores matched established measures of depression, cognitive impairment and caregiver burden. It is a measurement tool for clinics and research, not a treatment, and its reliability figures do not cover consistency over time.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Psychology and aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Psychology and Aging: journal h-index 243 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1992 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 998 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 27.7 citations a year over 36 year(s) since 1992 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 54 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 32 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author et al: h-index 11 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 1466831) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Teri, L., Truax, P., Logsdon, R., Uomoto, J., Zarit, S., & Vitaliano, P. P. (1992). Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: the revised memory and behavior problems checklist. Psychology and aging. https://doi.org/10.1037//0882-7974.7.4.622
Vancouver
Teri L, Truax P, Logsdon R, Uomoto J, Zarit S, Vitaliano PP. Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: the revised memory and behavior problems checklist. Psychology and aging. 1992. doi:10.1037//0882-7974.7.4.622. PMID: 1466831.
BibTeX
@article{teri1992-1466831,
author = {Teri, L. and Truax, P. and Logsdon, R. and Uomoto, J. and Zarit, S. and Vitaliano, P. P.},
title = {{Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: the revised memory and behavior problems checklist}},
journal = {Psychology and aging},
year = {1992},
doi = {10.1037//0882-7974.7.4.622},
pmid = {1466831},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1037//0882-7974.7.4.622}
}
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