A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD)

P. Proitsi, G. Hamilton, M. Tsolaki, M. Lupton, M. Daniilidou, P. Hollingworth, N. Archer, C. Foy, F. Stylios, B. McGuinness, S. Todd, B. Lawlor, M. Gill, C. Brayne, D. C. Rubinsztein, M. Owen, J. Williams, D. Craig, P. Passmore, S. LovestoneJ. F. Powell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Although there is evidence for distinct behavioural sub-phenotypes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), their inter-relationships and the effect of clinical variables on their expression have been little investigated. METHODS: We have analysed a sample of 1850 probable AD patients from the UK and Greece with 10 item Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) data. We applied a Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) approach to investigate the effect of MMSE, disease duration, gender, age and age of onset on the structure of a four-factor model consisting of "psychosis", "moods", "agitation" and "behavioural dyscontrol". RESULTS: Specific clinical variables predicted the expression of individual factors. When the inter-relationship of factors is modelled, some previously significant associations are lost. For example, lower MMSE scores predict psychosis, agitation and behavioural dyscontrol factors, but psychosis and mood predict the agitation factor. Taking these associations into account MMSE scores did not predict agitation. CONCLUSIONS: The complexity of the inter-relations between symptoms, factors and clinical variables is efficiently captured by this MIMIC model.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)434-442
Number of pages9
JournalNeurobiology of Aging
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2011

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • BPSD
  • behavioural sub-phentotaypes
  • structural equation modeling
  • SEM
  • conformatory factor analysis
  • CFA
  • multiple indicators multiple causes model
  • MIMIC
  • factors
  • latent variables
  • differential item functioning
  • DIF
  • neuropsychiatric inventory
  • NPI
  • covariates
  • MMSE
  • disease duration
  • age
  • age onset

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this