How important is adaptive functioning in the diagnosis of dementia? A survey of practicing clinical psychologists

This study surveyed practicing clinical psychologists for their perceptions of the import of the formal evaluation of adaptive functioning in the diagnosis of dementia. In a survey of 500 psychologists, all of whom reported offering neuropsychological services, adaptive functioning received a mean ranking as the fourth most important of 12 areas of functioning. Impairment of adaptive functioning is one criterion to be met in the diagnosis of dementia according to DSM-III-R (APA, 1987), and a majority of respondents reported using these criteria. However, relatively few clinicians reported formally assessing adaptive functioning. It is suggested that adequate assessment of adaptive functioning is missing in many clinicians' evaluation batteries, and is deserving of renewed research interest.