Table 4 Overview of studies that defined study participants with dementia based on a recorded diagnosis and additional cognitive screenings

[48]

Residents with dementia were identified using a mixed stepwise approach:

1st step: Multiple combined inclusion criteria:

▪ Presence of dementia diagnosis in the nursing and medical records and

▪ MMSE ≤ 24

2^nd step: In case of incongruity of diagnosis and MMSE result, dementia diagnostics were performed, diagnostics were also performed for residents with a suspected dementia but no diagnosis

▪ Exclusion criteria: Presence of other neurological/psychiatric diseases that could explain patients’ decline in cognitive function (schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, mental retardation)

▪ Existing dementia diagnosis performed in 70 % by GPs and 30 % by medical specialists and according to ICD-10 criteria

▪ An ICD-10/DSM-IV conform study diagnosis was assessed based on clinical investigation and MMSE

▪ Dementia severity stages: MMSE: 0-9 severe/very severe; 10-18 moderate; 19-24 = mild dementia

MMSE, FAST, AES, NPI

Diagnosis: Physician from the research team who was experienced in geriatric psychiatry

Screening instruments: Specifically trained raters, including medical students with an advanced academic degree and physicians experienced in geriatric psychiatry

[49]

[50]^a

[51]

[81]^b

[76]

Residents with dementia were identified using two combined inclusion criteria:

▪ Confirmed presence of primary degenerative dementia and

▪ MMSE < 24

▪ Exclusion criteria: presence of other neurological/psychiatric diseases that could explain patients’ decline in cognitive function (such as addiction, major depression, or schizophrenia), high nursing care needs, blindness, deafness

▪ Dementia diagnosis confirmed according to ICD-10 (F00, F03, or G30), exclusion of vascular (F01) and secondary (F02) dementia

▪ Dementia severity stages: MMSE: 0-9 severe; 10-17 moderate; 18-23 mild dementia

MMSE, ADAS (cognitive subscale), NOSGER (subscale mood), E-ADL

Diagnosis: confirmed by the attending physician

Screening instruments: Psychology students in their final year who had received training

[77]

[78]

[79]

[80]

Residents with dementia were identified using two combined inclusion criteria:

▪ Presence of a dementia diagnosis; and

▪ MMSE < 24, GDS stadium 4, 5 or 6

▪ Exclusion criteria: presence of other neurological/psychiatric diseases that could explain patients’ decline in cognitive function (such as addiction, major depression, or schizophrenia)

Dementia diagnosis according to ICD-10 in the doctoral records

MMSE, GDS, ADAS (cognitive subscale), NOSGER (subscale mood), E-ADL

Not specified

[82]

Residents with dementia were identified using 2 combined inclusion criteria:

▪ Existing diagnosis of dementia and

▪ MMSE ≤ 24

▪ Exclusion criteria: Korsakoff’s syndrome or CI caused by diseases other than dementia

No specified information given on the diagnostic procedure of the existing diagnosis

MMSE, CDR, AES

Not specified

[83]

Residents with dementia were identified using 2 combined inclusion criteria:

▪ Admission criteria to the living unit were used as inclusion criteria (presence of a dementia diagnosis) and

▪ MMSE < 18

No specified information given on the diagnostic procedure of the existing diagnosis

MMSE, NOSGER, GDS

Not specified

[84]

Residents with dementia were identified using two combined criteria:

▪ Presence of a dementia diagnosis; and

▪ MMSE ≤ 27 and DemTect (scores of 6-8) for residents with a MMSE score between 24-27

▪ No specified information given on the diagnostic procedure of the existing diagnosis

▪ Dementia severity stages: MMSE: ≤ 10 severely demented; 11-19 moderately demented, 20-27 mild dementia

MMSE, DemTect

Not specified

[85]

Residents with dementia were identified using 2 combined criteria:

▪ S-MMSE-Score ≤ 24

▪ Exclusion criteria: primary psychiatric diagnosis or Korsakov’s syndrome

▪ No specified information given on the diagnostic procedure of the existing diagnosis

▪ Different dementia severity stages were used

MMSE, NPI, Katz-Index

Formal diagnosis of dementia as determined by a healthcare professional (physician, psychiatrist, neurologist, geriatrician, general practitioner)

[86]

[87]

[88]

[89]

[90]

[47]

(Study Protocol)

Residents with dementia were identified using 2 combined criteria.

▪ Medical diagnosis of dementia

▪ FAST > 1

▪ No specified information given on the diagnostic procedure of the existing Diagnosis

FAST, NPI, PSMS

▪ Data were assessed by trained study assistants who interview two caregivers simultaneously

▪ Study assistants (mainly students) undergo a 2-day training on the use of the questionnaires and receive a manual

▪ The first data collection was assisted by senior and junior researchers