USE OF GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING TO MEASURE TREATMENT EFFECTS IN AN ANTIDEMENTIA DRUG TRIAL

We report data on the validity and responsiveness (i.e. sensitivity to change) of assessment instruments including Goal Attainment Scaling ( GAS), at a single site in a multicentre trial of the experimental ther apeutic agent linopirdine. Fifteen people (11 women) were evaluated. G AS yielded a mean 3.7 goals per patient (range 2-6). The mean gain in the GAS scores, 2.7 +/- 16.4, was compared to changes in the Alzheimer 's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Section, the Global Deterioratio n Scale, Clinical Global Impression and the Mini-Mental State Exam. GA S had the largest relative efficiency (0.47) when compared to the stan dard. GAS also had the largest effect size (0.61). The data suggest th at an individualized approach may have merit as an outcome measure and as a means to better understanding treatment effects. Qualitative ana lysis revealed consistent goal setting in self-care, behaviour, cognit ion and leisure, suggesting that these areas should routinely be evalu ated.