Improving the clinical diagnosis of personal neglect: A reformulated comb and razor test

Beschin and Robertson (1997) devised a simple clinical test of left persona l neglect, which characterises personal grooming behaviour according to the proportion of the total activity that is directed to the left side of the body. Although this test proved highly reliable, and more sensitive than pr ior diagnostic techniques, its formulation may yet be improved. The present paper reports a reanalysis of Beschin and Robertson's (1997) data, using a dditional control subjects, and a formula which characterises personal negl ect as a lateral bias of behaviour rather than as a lateralised deficit. It is shown that this formula greatly enhances the test's sensitivity to the behavioural abnormalities of brain damaged patients, and it is recommended that this modification be adopted for the future diagnosis of personal negl ect.