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CAMDEX, the cambridge examination for mental disorders of the elderly
Journal of the NeurologicalSciences, 1989, 91:353-354
353
Elsevier
Book reviews
CAMDEX, The Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly, b y M . R o t h , F . A . H u p p e r t , E. T y m a n d C . Q . M o u n t j o y , C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , C a m b r i d g e , 1988 I S B N 0 521 35161 8, p r i c e n o t s t a t e d . The Camdex is the first instrument that attempts to incorporate in a single comprehensive interview schedule all the ingredients needed for the diagnosis and measurement of the most common forms of dementia in the elderly, with particular reference to its mild forms. Items related to delirium, depression and other psychiatric disorders are also included. The Camdex consists of score sheets, a booklet (for the cognitive examination) and a manual. A structured interview with both the patient and a relative concerning present state, past history and family history and a short neuropsychological battery - the Camcog - form the core of the schedule. The Hachinski Ischemic Score, the Mini Mental State Examination and the Information Memory Concentration test, part of the Blessed Dementia Scale, are included in it. The final "Camdex diagnosis" is a clinical diagnosis and is not based on scale scores. It is also possible to arrive at alternative operational diagnosis making use of DMS-II-R or ICD-10 criteria. A study in the U.K. showed a high interrater reliability of the Camdex and a high sensitivity and specificity of the cognitive section. It has been confirmed by a replication study in the U.S.A. The Camdex is relatively easy to administer and to score but much calculating is needed to arrive at the different subscales. The sections on physical examination and investigation are rather restricted. The Camcog is not directed at the differentation between cortical and subcortical features of dementia. The Camdex is a valuable instrument for the diagnosis and measurement of dementia. In translating the Camdex into Dutch, only a few items of the Camcog had to be changed and we added items to the rather restricted sections on physical examination and investigation. Software for the scoring system is also being developed. M. M.A. DERIX G. J. M. WALSTRA
Neuropeptides: a Methodology, IBRO Handbook Series: Methods in Neurosciences, Vol. 11, b y G . F i n k a n d A . J . H a r m a r ( e d i t o r s ) , 1989, Wiley, N e w Y o r k About two decades ago it became apparent that neuropeptides are an important class of neurotransmitters or neuromodulators. Ever since, an increasing number of techniques have been applied to the study of neuropeptides. The techniques tended to be specialised to such a degree that special topics have been worked out (e.g., Immunocytochemistry,IBRO Handbook Series, Vol. 3, 1983, Cuello (Ed.), Wiley and Sons; Molecular Neuroanatomy, Techniques in the Behavioral and Neural Sciences, Vol. 3, 1988, Van Leeuwen et al. (Eds.), Elsevier). In the present book, chapters of many disciplines have been brought together, which on the one hand does, and on the other hand does not make it attractive. A disadvantage is that only one chapter is devoted to each of a few specialised topics, such as in situ hybridisation. Its attractive side is that nearly every chapter can serve as an introduction to the field. There is a certain overlap with the book by Boulton et al. (Neuromethods, Vol. 6, Peptides, Humana Press, 1987), but it gives the reader some more practical information. FRED VAN LEEUWEN
353
Elsevier
Book reviews
CAMDEX, The Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly, b y M . R o t h , F . A . H u p p e r t , E. T y m a n d C . Q . M o u n t j o y , C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , C a m b r i d g e , 1988 I S B N 0 521 35161 8, p r i c e n o t s t a t e d . The Camdex is the first instrument that attempts to incorporate in a single comprehensive interview schedule all the ingredients needed for the diagnosis and measurement of the most common forms of dementia in the elderly, with particular reference to its mild forms. Items related to delirium, depression and other psychiatric disorders are also included. The Camdex consists of score sheets, a booklet (for the cognitive examination) and a manual. A structured interview with both the patient and a relative concerning present state, past history and family history and a short neuropsychological battery - the Camcog - form the core of the schedule. The Hachinski Ischemic Score, the Mini Mental State Examination and the Information Memory Concentration test, part of the Blessed Dementia Scale, are included in it. The final "Camdex diagnosis" is a clinical diagnosis and is not based on scale scores. It is also possible to arrive at alternative operational diagnosis making use of DMS-II-R or ICD-10 criteria. A study in the U.K. showed a high interrater reliability of the Camdex and a high sensitivity and specificity of the cognitive section. It has been confirmed by a replication study in the U.S.A. The Camdex is relatively easy to administer and to score but much calculating is needed to arrive at the different subscales. The sections on physical examination and investigation are rather restricted. The Camcog is not directed at the differentation between cortical and subcortical features of dementia. The Camdex is a valuable instrument for the diagnosis and measurement of dementia. In translating the Camdex into Dutch, only a few items of the Camcog had to be changed and we added items to the rather restricted sections on physical examination and investigation. Software for the scoring system is also being developed. M. M.A. DERIX G. J. M. WALSTRA
Neuropeptides: a Methodology, IBRO Handbook Series: Methods in Neurosciences, Vol. 11, b y G . F i n k a n d A . J . H a r m a r ( e d i t o r s ) , 1989, Wiley, N e w Y o r k About two decades ago it became apparent that neuropeptides are an important class of neurotransmitters or neuromodulators. Ever since, an increasing number of techniques have been applied to the study of neuropeptides. The techniques tended to be specialised to such a degree that special topics have been worked out (e.g., Immunocytochemistry,IBRO Handbook Series, Vol. 3, 1983, Cuello (Ed.), Wiley and Sons; Molecular Neuroanatomy, Techniques in the Behavioral and Neural Sciences, Vol. 3, 1988, Van Leeuwen et al. (Eds.), Elsevier). In the present book, chapters of many disciplines have been brought together, which on the one hand does, and on the other hand does not make it attractive. A disadvantage is that only one chapter is devoted to each of a few specialised topics, such as in situ hybridisation. Its attractive side is that nearly every chapter can serve as an introduction to the field. There is a certain overlap with the book by Boulton et al. (Neuromethods, Vol. 6, Peptides, Humana Press, 1987), but it gives the reader some more practical information. FRED VAN LEEUWEN