[The GPcog for detecting a population with a high risk of dementia]

GPcog is a screening tool for dementia in the aged. It consists of nine cognitive items and six items assessing the daily living instrumental activities by an informal carer. This study was aimed to assess the reliability of the French version of the GPcog in a psychogeriatric population. Two hundred and eighty inpatients from a short-term psychogeriatric ward, with or without dementia, were examined. Scores on GPcog, MMSE and on a five-word memory test for screening dementia were compared to the final diagnosis of dementia. The mean age of subjects was 77.8+/-7.0 years for males (n=116), and of 80.3+/-6.6 years for females (n=164). One hundred eighty two patients had dementia, mainly of Alzheimer's type, and 98 had psychiatric disorders but were non demented. GPcog sensitivity for the diagnosis of dementia was 96%, specificity 62%, positive predictive value 83% and negative predictive value 90%. GPcog is an accurate and well-accepted instrument for dementia screening in primary care. French results were similar to those obtained with the English version. It can be easily used by non-specialized carers.