Subtyping patients with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer type using cluster analysis

• Main Author: Kixmiller, Jeffrey S.
• Other Authors: Nicholas, Donlad R.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease > Diagnosis.; Alzheimer's disease > Patients > Care.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/177394; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/833474

The purpose of this study was to determine if distinct subgroups of patients with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) could be identified using seven scales of the Cognitive Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS). Ward's method of cluster analysis was used to group 104 patients with a probable diagnosis of SDAT into subtypes.The following three clusters were identified: (a) Moderately Impaired, (b) Severely Impaired, and (c) Emotionally Intact which displayed differences in symptom severity. Clusters could be partially defined by the amount of time they had been diagnosed with the disease. Differences in the cluster's configuration of scores had little/no descriptive utility. Subsequent discrimination analyses indicated that patient demographics were not as useful as the CBRS in classification of patients.This study provided evidence for the CBRS's ability to differentially portray SDAT patients' profiles. Results provide partial support for a stage model of SDAT. Implications of existing subgroups in SDAT are discussed as they pertain to patient management issues. === Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services