Further support for using the Dementia Rating Scale in the assessment of neuro-cognitive functions of individuals with mental retardation

Citation
Wf. Mcdaniel et T. Mclaughlin, Further support for using the Dementia Rating Scale in the assessment of neuro-cognitive functions of individuals with mental retardation, CLIN NEURPS, 14(1), 2000, pp. 72-75
Citations number
7
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST
ISSN journal
13854046 → ACNP
Volume
14
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
72 - 75
Database
ISI
SICI code
1385-4046(2000)14:1<72:FSFUTD>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
The utility of the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) when administered to individ uals with mental retardation (MR) was examined. Our sample was comprised of individuals residing in an intermediate care facility in the southeastern United States, included individuals diagnosed with mild, moderate, or sever e MR, and consisted of both Caucasians (50%) and individuals of African-Ame rican descent (50%). Descriptive statistics for the DRS Total Score and fiv e subtests (e.g., Attention, Initiation/Perseveration, Construction, Concep tualization, and Memory) obtained from our sample of individuals with mild MR compared favorably with previously published values. The group with mild MR performed significantly better than the group with moderate MR on the T otal Score and all subtests except Construction, and the group with moderat e MR performed significantly better than individuals with severe MR on all measures. These results show that the DRS can provide information about the cognitive strengths and weaknesses of individuals with mental retardation, and they show that the DRS can be administered to a wide range of individu als diagnosed with MR.