[Optimised neuro-psychological tests on different stages of dementia diagnostics].
OBJECTIVE
We postulated three level of dementia diagnostics: the general practitioner, the neuro-psychiatrist and the memory clinic. For each level, definite diagnostic questions were defined as the main diagnostic focus. The aim was to establish a staged process in dementia diagnostics, proposing for each diagnostic level a specific test battery suitable for the respective diagnostic focus. On each level, the test battery can be supplemented by other tests proposed on the subsequent diagnostic level.


METHODS
159 patients were examined clinically, neuropsychologically, and neuroradiologically. Discriminant analyses were computed to find out which tests out of a comprehensive test battery are most suitable in differentiating between several diagnostic groups.


RESULTS
The diagnostic accuracy of the test batteries proposed for general practitioners and neuro-psychiatrists were maximally 3 % below that of the complete test battery which we suggest for memory clinics.


CONCLUSIONS
Depending on the diagnostic level, a definite short form of a comprehensive test battery can be implemented without unacceptably reducing diagnostic accuracy.
Abteilung Neuroradiologie und Gedächtnisambulanz, Zentralinstitut für seelische Gesundheit, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg. damian@zi-mannheim.de
Marinella
M
Damian
Markus
M
Kreis
Bertram
B
Krumm
Frank
F
Hentschel
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic