Are existing psychiatric and cognitive assessment scales adequate for use in clinical trials of PD treatments? Do better PD-specific scales need to be developed, and how can they be validated?

Clinical Scales, Clinical & Biological Features, Investigative Tools

Numerous scales are in use to assess psychiatric and cognitive status, though the vast majority of these scales have not been validated for use in Parkinson's disease populations. Lack of appropriate scales could have substantial negative influence on the outcomes of clinical research.

Responses:
Assessing cognitive function in the clinic and in research: needs of the PD field
Connie Marras, TWH
30 Apr 2009 09:41 AM EST
Within the past several years a number of reports have highlighted the high frequency of cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease. This has been accompanied by the realization that instruments for ... 
Do we need to develop PD specific psychiatric and cognitive assessment instruments?
Albert FG Leentjens, Maastricht
1 May 2009 03:42 PM EST
No. And perhaps in some instances: yes. The development of PD specific assessment instruments should not be an aim in itself, but serve clear clinical and/or research purposes. In the most common ... 
Clinical Scales: validation - not specification - is key
Kirsten Carlson, MJFF
5 Jun 2009 06:05 PM EST
From the previously posted responses by Dr. Leentjens and Dr. Marras, it seems that what is needed isn't a collection of scales developed specifically for PD, but scales that have been ... 
MDS 13th International Congress, live report 6/7/09: Assessing cognitive abilities
Alison Urkowitz, MJFF
7 Jun 2009 12:36 PM EST
At today's "Management of neuropsychiatric non-motor aspects" session at MDS, chaired by Paolo Barone and Marcelo Merello, discussions touched on the scales to use when measuring cognitive abilities ... 
How do we define mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
Holli Kawadler, MJFF
8 Oct 2009 10:01 AM EST
An interesting discussion arose at a recent MJFF Awardee Meeting regarding assessing mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD-MCI). Cognition decribes a very complex set of functions, but ...