Assessment of depression in dementia patients: association of caregiver mood with depression ratings.

Caregivers typically provide critical diagnostic information on patients with dementia and possible depression. Yet, their accuracy and the potential influence of their own mood on assessment is unknown. In this study, caregivers rated a standardized stimulus of depression and their actual patient. They were able to correctly identify depression in both. Further, their mood was unassociated with video ratings and only moderately associated with patient ratings. Thus, reliance on caregiver input is supported.