[A differential description of the SDAT (senile dementia Alzheimer type) patient using 2 behavior observation scales: the BOP (Older Patients Rating Scale) and the GOS-G (Behavior Observation Scale-Geriatrics)].

In this article the BOP (Dutch version of the Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale) and the GOS-G (an adapted version of the BOP) were compared in their capacity to differentiate between a group of SDAT-patients (Senile Dementia Alzheimer Type) and a group of elderly patients with other psycho-organic symptoms. Both scales differentiated between the two groups. A second goal in this study was to test our assumption that the GOS-G would do better than the BOP in describing the SDAT-patient in his differences with the other psycho-organic patients. The reason for our assumption was the fact that the GOS-G was constructed with the intention to overcome some shortcomings of the BOP. The results showed that our assumption was correct. The picture of the differences between both groups given by the BOP was incomplete. Especially the underestimation of the dysfunctioning in activities of daily living and the neglect of disturbing behavior in the picture were seen as a disadvantage of the BOP.