Identification and measurement of productive behaviors in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Caregivers of 106 individuals with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) were administered the Functional Behavior Profile (FBP) as part of a caregiver assessment battery. Three factors--task performance, problem solving, and social interaction--accounted for 70.6% of the variance. Analysis yielded a reliable and valid assessment that documents the observable productive behaviors of a person with SDAT. Significant differences across the stages of the disease were observed. The FBP can serve as a guide for individualized caregiving strategies by helping the caregiver focus on the presence of productive behaviors useful in managing the impaired person.