Spanish validation of the Syndrom Kurztest (SKT)

There is an urgent need in multinational studies for efficient and sensitiv e tests for the evaluation of dementias. These tests are used to investigat e the regional characteristics of dementias, providing possible insight int o the different etiologies of the disorders. These tests are also utilized to assess the outcome of treatment interventions at multinational levels. W e validated and standardized the Syndrom Kurztest, a brief European neurops ychological test, in a population of elderly Chileans, possessing high leve ls of illiteracy. In our sample, the SKT was found to be an effective instr ument for the diagnosis of dementias, and for differentiating mild-moderate from severe degrees of the disease. There was a good correlation between t he scores on the SKT and the age of the participants, but the gender and th e years of schooling had no effect. The test is a useful contribution to th e study of dementias, found in the aging developing world, particularly bec ause it can be used in illiterate populations.