CAMDEX-DS Published by Cambridge University Press

The CAMDEX-DS has been developed by the Learning Disabilities Research Group at the University of Cambridge as part of a programme of research on Down’s syndrome and dementia. It is designed to facilitate the diagnosis of dementia in people with Down’s syndrome or in others with pre-existing intellectual disabilities for reasons other than that of Down’s syndrome. It is a modification of the Cambridge Assessment for Mental Disorders in The Elderly and comprises of four sections.

• First, a structured informant interview that asks about function in those domains that are known to deteriorate with the development of dementia (memory, general mental functional, skills, personality etc) and where problems are noted specifically asks whether such dysfunction is long-standing or of more recent onset. This allows a reliable judgement to be made about the presence or not of functional decline sufficient to meet criteria for dementia.
• Secondly, it includes the CAMCOG-DS, a neuropsychological assessment, to enable a profile of neuropsychological function to be established that can be monitored over time and can inform both diagnosis and support.
• Thirdly, the CAMDEX-DS includes a summary of the various criteria for the diagnosis of dementia and other mental disorders and guidance on investigations.
• Finally, it includes summary advice about strategies that might be used to support people with dementia.

Diagnoses made using the CAMDEX-DS have been found to be both valid and reliable (Ball, S.L., Holland, A.J., Huppert, F.A., Treppner, P., Watson, P., Hon, J. (2004) The modified CAMDEX informant interview is a valid and reliable tool for use in the diagnosis of dementia in adults with Down’s syndrome.  JIDR, 48(6):611-620). For further information please go to the website.