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A semi-structured interview to assess visual hallucinations in older people
Urs Peter Mosimann1, Daniel Collerton, Robert Dudley
1Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. u.p.mosimann@ncl.ac.uk
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|January 9, 2008
Summary
Visual hallucinations are often missed in older adults. The North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview (NEVHI) reliably identifies and assesses these hallucinations, along with associated emotions and behaviors, in patients with eye disease or cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
Background:
- Visual hallucinations are frequently under-reported and missed by healthcare professionals in older adults.
- There is a lack of a standardized, validated tool for assessing visual hallucinations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview (NEVHI).
- To create a reliable and valid semi-structured interview for identifying and assessing visual hallucinations in older individuals with visual or cognitive impairments.
Main Methods:
- The NEVHI was piloted with 80 patients (visual/cognitive impairment) and 34 controls.
- Validity (face, content, criterion), internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability were assessed.
- Factor structure of associated emotions, cognitions, and behaviors was analyzed.
Main Results:
- 68.8% of the patient group reported recurrent visual hallucinations, compared to 0% in controls.
- The NEVHI demonstrated good validity and high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.71).
- Inter-rater agreements for simple and complex hallucinations were good (Kappa = 0.72 and 0.83). Four key factors (control, pleasantness, distress, awareness) explained 73% of the variance.
Conclusions:
- The NEVHI is a comprehensive tool for identifying visual hallucinations in older adults.
- It effectively quantifies cognitions, emotions, and behaviors associated with these hallucinations.
- The interview aids in the assessment of visual hallucinations in patients with eye disease and cognitive impairment.
