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Brief cognitive screening of the elderly: a comparison of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

D. M. MacKenzie ,
P. Copp ,
R. J. Shaw  and
G. M. Goodwin
D. M. MacKenzie*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and MRC Brain Metabolism Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Stockbridge Health Centre, Edinburgh; and Dalkeith Medical Centre, Dalkeith
P. Copp
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and MRC Brain Metabolism Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Stockbridge Health Centre, Edinburgh; and Dalkeith Medical Centre, Dalkeith
R. J. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and MRC Brain Metabolism Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Stockbridge Health Centre, Edinburgh; and Dalkeith Medical Centre, Dalkeith
G. M. Goodwin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and MRC Brain Metabolism Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Stockbridge Health Centre, Edinburgh; and Dalkeith Medical Centre, Dalkeith
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr D. M. MacKenzie, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF.
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Synopsis

One hundred and fifty unselected elderly community subjects were assessed by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) and Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ). The effects on cognitive test scores of potential confounding (non-cognitive) variables were evaluated. Sensitivities and specificities were: MMSE 80% and 98%; AMT 77% and 90%; and MSQ 70% and 89%. The MMSE identified significantly fewer false positives than the AMT and MSQ. The major effect of intelligence on cognitive test scores has previously been underestimated. Age, social class, sensitivity of hearing and history of stroke were also significantly correlated with cognitive test scores. Years of full time education and depression only affected the longer MMSE and CAMCOG. The MMSE (cut-off 20/21) can be recommended for routine screening. However, as scores are affected by variables other than cognitive function, particularly intelligence, further assessment of identified cases may fail to reveal significant functional impairment.

Type
Brief Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , March 1996 , pp. 427 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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