Zeitschrift für Gerontologie
-
Patients of a geriatric hospital (n = 263; 145 women, 118 men) had the task of drawing a clock and indicating a given time by the placements of hands. Errors were classified hierarchically by using a five-category-panel based on defined criteria. Its use as a "first-line" screening test for cognitive disorders in old age was evaluated. ⋯ Sudden onset of cognitive disorder (most commonly confusion) in case of acute disease was discovered by the clock drawing test. Focusing on all patients without apparent cognitive disorder and with normal AMT-result, the subgroup of patients with faultless clock drawings was significantly younger (t = 5.0); p < 0.001). It is suggested to use the clock drawing test in addition to conventional psychometric screening tests because it requires visuospatial skills and conceptual thinking in addition to mere mnestic and verbal qualities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)