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Psychometrics in assessing hepatic encephalopathy – a brief review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Mark G Davies ,
Michael J Rowan  and
John Feely
Mark G Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Collegeand St. James' Hospital, Dublin
Michael J Rowan*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Collegeand St. James' Hospital, Dublin
John Feely
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Collegeand St. James' Hospital, Dublin
*
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity College, Dublin 2
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Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric disorder usually associated with severe hepatic insufficiency. It may however be divided into clinical and subclinical groupings. Psychometric testing, serial EEG's, EEG spectral analysis and event related potentials are all presently being used to quantify and differentiate between the various stages of hepatic encephalopathy. We review the use of psychometrics in hepatic encephalopathy and discuss evidence that these findings are comparable with the more objective data of electrophysiological studies. An adequate, simple and inexpensive assessment may be carried out using a battery of psychometric tests which include number connection tests and five pointed star construction.

Keywords

Hepatic encephalopathypsychometricselectrophysiology
Type
Review Articles
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , September 1991 , pp. 144 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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