PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE FRENCH VER SION OF THE 3MS (MODIFIED MINI-MENTAL STATE) WITH ELDERLY PATIENTS IN GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY

Objective: This research evaluates the psychometric properties of the French version of the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS), an instrument for the screening of dementia, in a sample of patients seen in geriatr ic psychiatry. Methods: Subjects (N = 94, 63 to 93 years of age) were outpatients of a service in geriatric psychiatry. In addition to the 3 MS, a battery of tests evaluating the cognitive functioning and depres sive symptomatology was administered. Results: Test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.87 for a subsample of 35 subjects. An exploratory f actor analysis revealed 4 factors accounting for 63.2% of the variance . Cut-off scores of 79 to 80 (with years of education greater than or equal to 8) and 71 to 72 (with years of education less than or equal t o 7) presented the best combination sensitivity/specificity, respectiv ely 0.80 and 0.96. Conclusions: This study documents the psychometric properties of the French version of the 3MS for use in patients seen i n geriatric psychiatry, in suggesting cut-off scores which take into a ccount the level of education. This study underlines the influence of sociodemographic variables on test performance.