Related Experiment Videos
[Five-word test: insufficiently sensitive but very specific for organic memory disorders]
Jean-Pierre Jacus1, Brigitte Hamon-Vilcot, Marie-France Basset-Berges
1Centre Hospitalier du Val d'Ariège, Foix (09). jp.jacus@worldonline.fr
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|June 20, 2006
Summary
The five-word test is a quick tool to assess memory. While not highly sensitive for detecting dementia, its high specificity confirms organic memory disorders when results are abnormal.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Assessment
Context:
- Distinguishing organic memory encoding deficits from retrieval strategy issues is crucial in elderly cognitive assessment.
- The five-word test, adapted from Grober and Buschke, offers a simple method for this evaluation.
- Understanding its psychometric properties is essential for accurate clinical application.
Purpose:
- To specify the metrological characteristics of the five-word test.
- To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the five-word test in identifying dementia and organic memory disorders.
- To assess its utility in clinical practice for cognitive screening in the elderly.
Summary:
- A study involving 142 patients (81 with dementia, 61 without) assessed the five-word test's performance.
- The test demonstrated excellent specificity (100% for scores <9/10) but limited sensitivity (80.2% for 10/10, 60.49% for 9/10).
- The test effectively identified "intrusion" errors indicative of organic memory impairment.
Impact:
- Despite moderate sensitivity, the five-word test is valuable due to its simplicity and speed.
- A pathologic score strongly supports diagnoses of dementia or organic memory disorders.
- It serves as an essential tool for geriatricians and general practitioners evaluating cognitive function in older adults.