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Most people are able to finish the questions on the ADCQ
in 5 to 10 minutes.
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We do not sell, rent, or share personal information (e.g.,
e-mail addresses).
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How secure is my credit card
information?
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This site supports 40-bit and 128-bit encryption for
the highest browser security available. Credit authorization
is provided by Am South Bank.
Your credit card information is sent to Am South Bank
for processing via a secure connection. Once your credit
card purchase is approved, you will be connected to the
report generation section of the ADCQ site. This section
is not a secure connection because your credit card information
has already been processed. If your screen displays
a message (i.e., after credit card processing) that you
are entering a nonsecure site, simply click on “Yes”
to proceed.
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Are the ADCQ results confidential?
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Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. will protect
the confidentiality of the ADCQ answers as much as possible.
We do not share your answers or the Caregiver's Report
with anyone. However, the ADCQ items and the ADCQ report
are not generated on a secure site, so it may be possible
for others to see this information. Additionally, completion
of the ADCQ via the Internet in a public location, such
as a library, university computer room, or Internet cafe,
may allow someone else to view your answers. To ensure
privacy of your ADCQ answers and the report, you should
enter only the fist name or initials of the individual
being rated; or you may enter an identifying number or
nickname instead of the individual's first or last name.
The name or identifying information you enter into the
ADCQ will appear on your report. Make sure that you are
able to correctly identify the individual rated in the
Caregiver's Report so that the report can be appropriately
referenced at a later date.
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Can the ADCQ tell me if the person
who was rated has Alzheimer’s disease?
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No. Although research has shown that certain patterns
of ADCQ results are suggestive of Alzheimer’s disease,
the diagnosis of this disorder should not be made solely
on the basis of ADCQ results. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
disease should be made only by a qualified health care
professional. The ADCQ should be used to rate only individuals
who are 40 years of age or older.
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What type of information is provided
in the ADCQ Caregiver’s Report?
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The ADCQ Caregiver’s Report contains a summary of
the cognitive and behavioral problems/changes that you
have observed in the rated individual. In addition, the
report provides some recommendations regarding whether
or not to seek further evaluation of the rated individual’s
problems. To see a sample of the ADCQ Caregiver’s
Report, please click
here.
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What should I do with the Caregiver’s
Report?
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The Caregiver’s Report contains sensitive information
about the person who was rated. Safeguard the report so
that its contents are not accidentally seen by others.
The Caregiver’s Report may be given directly to the
health care professional who is evaluating the individual
you rated. Another benefit of the report is that it may
be helpful in summarizing your observations of the rated
individual. You may choose to refer your health care professional
to the ADCQ web site (www.ADCQ.net) if he or she
has any technical questions about the instrument, its
author, or the publisher.
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The ADCQ report mentions
a “qualified health care professional.” Who
would be considered a qualified health care professional?
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A qualified health care professional is any individual
who is licensed to practice as a health care provider.
For most people, an initial consultation is made with
the family doctor or the clinic or facility where the
individual receives medical care.
The diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
is complex and it may be important to obtain an evaluation
from a health care professional with more specialized
training than a general practitioner. Examples of specialized
health care professionals who may be helpful in identifying
and treating Alzheimer’s disease include the following:
Clinical Neuropsychologist.
A clinical neuropsychologist is a psychologist who has
specialized training in understanding and assessing the
relationships between the brain and an individual’s
behavior. These individuals have advanced training in
administering tests to individuals with neurological and
cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Like a psychologist, a clinical neuropsychologist will
interview the individual and may administer various tests
that can identify cognitive and intellectual problems
that may be related to Alzheimer’s disease. Family
members or companions of the individual may also be interviewed.
Neurologist.
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in
the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous
system (including the brain and the spinal cord). Because
Alzheimer's disease affects the brain, a neurologist can
diagnose the condition and can determine whether other
neurological or psychiatric disorders are present in the
individual. A neurologist can prescribe medications that
can be helpful in treating the symptoms of Alzheimer's
disease.
Clinical Psychologist.
A clinical psychologist is a psychologist (an individual
with a PhD or PsyD) who specializes in the diagnosis and
treatment of psychological disorders and other adjustment
problems. Psychologists can interview a person and administer
psychological tests that may be helpful in identifying
an individual’s memory or intellectual problems.
Family members or companions of the individual may also
be interviewed.
Psychiatrist. A
psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis
and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders
include behavioral and emotional problems such as depression,
anxiety, and substance abuse. These disorders also include
brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. A psychiatrist
can evaluate an individual for Alzheimer's disease and
can evaluate the potential impact of other psychiatric
conditions, such as depression, or other medical conditions
on the individual's functional abilities. A psychiatrist
can prescribe medications that can help treat the symptoms
of Alzheimer's disease. Psychiatrists may prescribe medications
to treat another psychiatric disorder, if one is present.
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How can I find a qualified health
care professional?
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The best option may be to consult with the individual’s
family doctor or with the doctor who provides your own
health care. Hospitals or other health care facilities
in your area can provide referral information, too, and
you may wish to contact these facilities if the individual
you are concerned about is not currently under the care
of a physician. Medical insurance providers or health
maintenance organizations (HMOs) can also provide referral
information.
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Is there anything I can do to
prepare for an evaluation with a health care professional?
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Any health care professional that evaluates the individual
will need to obtain a detailed medical history. You can
facilitate the history taking by bringing information
and observations about the individual to the evaluation.
Useful information to bring to the evaluation would include
the following: the names and dosages of any medications
the individual has been taking recently, and medical records
from previous hospitalizations or treatment, including
results or reports based on medical or psychological testing
that the individual has previously received.
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Where can I get more information
about Alzheimer’s disease?
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You can consult with a qualified health care professional
who has experience in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease. Additional information can be accessed through
the Internet from the following organizations.
Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR)
Center:
http://www.alzheimers.org
ADEAR is a service of the National Institute
on Aging. Provides information about Alzheimer’s
disease research, diagnosis, treatment, drugs, clinical
trials, and Federal Government programs and resources.
Alzheimer’s Association:
http://www.alz.org
The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest voluntary
health organization supporting Alzheimer’s disease
research and care.
MEDLINE plus Health Information: Alzheimer’s disease:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alzheimersdisease.html
National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of
Health featuring information on a variety of Alzheimer’s
disease topics, from general information to the latest
news and treatment and clinical trials.
Administration on Aging: Alzheimer’s disease:
http://www.aoa.gov/alz.
Provides general information about Alzheimer’s disease
from the Administration on Aging.
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What do I do if I experience any
technical problems with the site?
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In the unlikely event that you have any technical problems
with this site, please
click
here to e-mail for assistance. You will receive
a response by the next business day.
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What does it cost to take the
ADCQ?
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The cost of an individual administration is $9.95 when
paying by credit card.
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