The Test for Severe Impairment: an instrument for the assessment of patients with severe cognitive dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a reliable and valid test of cognitive function suitable for patients with severe cognitive impairment.


METHODS
Administration of a test; test-retest reliability; comparison to traditional test.


METHODS
Chronic long-term-care facility.


METHODS
The participants were 40 elderly residents with severe cognitive impairment.


METHODS
Results of the Test for Severe Impairment (TSI) and its subsections (language, memory, executive function, and motor performance); correlation of test and retest scores; correlation of TSI with Mini-Mental State Exam.


RESULTS
The TSI was significantly correlated with the Mini-Mental State Exam (r = 0.83, P less than or equal to 0.0001). Test-retest reliability was high (r = 0.96, P less than 0.0001). The internal reliability of the test was also good (alpha = 0.90). Preliminary result of a factor-analysis suggests that factor scores may be derived that relate to memory, language production, and knowledge of body parts.


CONCLUSIONS
The TSI is a valid and reliable test of cognitive function in patients with severe cognitive impairment. It is appropriate to use it as a unified scale.
Albert
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
Cohen
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results