RELATIVES RECALL OF A PSYCHIATRIC INTERVIEW

One hundred seventeen patients from the Burke Rehabilitation Center (White Plains, NY) with clinically diagnosed dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) were identified for a case-control study (CCS) designed to assess risk factors for DAT. A psychiatric evaluation was part of the Burke dementia workup. The study sample was composed of 96 relatives who (a) were present with the patient at the psychiatric evaluation and (b) were interviewed for the CCS. The data for this study were the relatives' responses to the question "Did your relative (patient with DAT) ever see a psychiatrist?" The recall of relatives, regardless of relationship category (spouse, adult children, and others) did not exceed the 50% recall predicted by chance. When the age of the relative and length of time between the two interviews were considered, they did not modify these results.