Reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of the Brief Agitation Rating Scale (BARS) in dementia

Abstract

The study indicates that the Norwegian version of BARS is a reliable and valid instrument to test agitation in dementia, but a version without the item 'complaining' would be better.

Timeslips—Comparing Agitation and Anxiety Rating Scales to Evaluate the Benefit of Non-Pharmacologic Creative Sessions in Nursing Home Patients with Dementia

“…These findings were corroborated in a study to examine the test-retest reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of the BARS [43]. The BARS actual scale is available in Appendix F.…”

“…The resulting BARS includes 10 behaviors: hitting, grabbing, pushing, pacing or aimless wandering, performing repetitious mannerisms, restlessness, screaming, repetitive sentences or questions, strange noises and complaining [42], evaluated by a healthcare professional over two (2) weeks. The 10 items are scored from 1 (never) to 7 (several times an hour) and the score ranges from 10 to 70 [43].…”

Effects on Symptoms of Agitation and Depression in Persons With Dementia Participating in Robot-Assisted Activity: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

“…39 The validated Norwegian version of BARS consists of 9 frequent behaviors in dementia to be assessed on a 7-point Likert scale according to occurrence frequency during the preceding 2 weeks (score range of 9e63). 40 BARS has been used in several studies on people with dementia. 40 Symptoms of depression in dementia were measured by the validated Norwegian version of the Cornell Scale for Symptoms of Depression in Dementia (CSDD).…”

“…40 BARS has been used in several studies on people with dementia. 40 Symptoms of depression in dementia were measured by the validated Norwegian version of the Cornell Scale for Symptoms of Depression in Dementia (CSDD). 41 This assessment scale includes 19 questions on a 3-point scale assessing symptoms during the preceding week (score range 0e38).…”

The Effect of Person-Centred Dementia Care to Prevent Agitation and Other Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Enhance Quality of Life in Nursing Home Patients: A 10-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The BARS is a subscale of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) [44]. The Norwegian version [45,46] consists of 9 items: hitting, pushing, grabbing, wandering, restlessness, repetitive sentences, repetitive mannerisms, complaining and making strange noises. The frequencies of these symptoms are rated from 1 (never) to 7 (several times per hour), resulting in a minimum score of 9 and a maximum score of 63.…”