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Is the Clock Drawing Test a screening tool for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment? A systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2009

Lena Ehreke ,
Melanie Luppa ,
Hans-Helmut König  and
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Lena Ehreke*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Public Mental Health Research Unit, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Melanie Luppa
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Public Mental Health Research Unit, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Hans-Helmut König
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Health Economics Research Unit, University of Leipzig, Germany
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Public Mental Health Research Unit, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany Department of Social Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Lena Ehreke, University of Leipzig, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic, Public Mental Health Research Unit, Semmelweisstraße 10, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. Phone +49–341-9724591; Fax +49–341-9724539. Email: Lena.Ehreke@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
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Abstract

Background: The clock drawing test (CDT) is a common and widely used cognitive screening instrument for the diagnosis of dementia. However, it has remained unclear whether it is a suitable method to identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of this paper is to review systematically the studies concerning the utility of the CDT in diagnosing MCI.

Method: A systematic literature search was conducted. All studies dealing with utility of CDT in diagnosing MCI regardless of the applied CDT scoring system and MCI concept were selected.

Results: Nine relevant studies were identified. The majority of the studies compared average CDT scores of cognitively healthy and mildly impaired subjects, and four of them identified significant mean differences. If reported, sensitivity and specificity have been mostly unsatisfactory.

Conclusion: CDT should not be used for MCI-screening.

Keywords

mild cognitive impairment (MCI)Clock Drawing Testsystematic review
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 56 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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