The utility of the revised elderly persons disability scale (REPDS) in an Asian psychogeriatric patient group

Abstract

Objective: The Revised Elderly Persons Disability Scale (REPDS) was developed in Australia as a measure of disability in psychogeriatric patients. We sought to test its utility in an Asian psychiatric hospital.Method: The study involved 33 patients, 65 years or older, and admitted for the first time to an acute psychogeriatric ward at Woodbridge Hospital, SingaporeResults: The total REPDS score was significantly higher in male patients and in patients with dementia, due to there being more male patients with dementia and with dementia generating high disability Itvels. There was no significant difference in the total disability score between those referred from nursing homes and other sources. REPDS scores decreased during hospital stay, with decreases significant on several scales.Conclusions: The REPDS appeared to have utility in an Asian psychogeriatric unit in allowing disability components to be profiled, while scale score differences and changes over time indicated that the measure was sensitive to change. The measure identified the core problem areas in the disability profile of a psychogeriatric population and of sub‐groups with and without dementia, results which can assist clinical service delivery and staff training activities.