PSYCHOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF DEMENTIA IN CLINICAL-PRACTICE

An extensive battery of cognitive tests is conducted to detect dementi a in geriatric patients. Based on the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for d ementia the diagnosis includes cognitive deficits such as memory impai rment and other cognitive disturbances in various stages. To establish a profile of cognitive deficits and to detect early stages of dementi a a combination of psychometric tests has proven to be effective and v alid (MMSE, SKT, SIDAM, GDS/BCRS, clock drawing). To evaluate interrel ations between these tests, correlations of total scores among 40 rand omly chosen geriatric patients were calculated for all tests using the Spearman rank-order correlation. The cognitive test battery appears t o be a reliable instrument for diagnosing people with dementia. Due to advantages and shortcomings of each test in evaluating various stages of dementia adequately, a combination of tests should be used.