Year: 2003
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Problem.Dementia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in aging societies like Montana.Primary care providers under-recognize dementia, especially in the early stages.There is a lack of "user-friendly" tests that could be employed for routine screening.Purpose.To evaluate the validity of the Animal Naming Test (ANT) by comparing it to the Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale (BDS) and the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE).Specific aims: Is there a relationship between an individual's score on the ANT, MMSE, and BDS?Is there a significant difference in test performance between community dwelling and extended care facility residing older persons?Does cognitive status and semantic recall ability predict executive function performance?Methods.Different statistical tests were utilized to examine instrument validity.Sixty individuals over age 65 with no significant impairment of mental status completed all three tests in a single session.To assess relationship between the tests a correlation matrix was used.A t-test and frequency analysis was utilized to compare performance differences between groups.A regression analysis was used to assess the ability of the MMSE and ANT to predict BDS score.Results.Relationships between the tests were discovered.The tests all had significant relationships.Little difference existed between the two groups in test score, except for the ANT.Community dwellers scored a higher mean score.Regression analysis revealed that the MMSE and ANT are able to predict about 57% of the variance on the BDS.The MMSE was much more important in predicting BDS score.The ANT is a very weak contributor to predictive ability despite the significant correlation with BDS scores.Conclusions.Several significant relationships were discovered.The MMSE and BDS had a strong positive correlating relationship.It was expected that the ANT and BDS would possess a strong correlation and perhaps a predictive relationship.This relationship did not occur.
Author: Don James Benton
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W253855893