Citation

Hazan E, Zhang J, Brenkel M, Shulman K, Feinstein A. Brain Inj. 2017; 31(11): 1501-1506.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2017.1376763

PMID

28956651

Abstract

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Undetected cognitive impairment resulting from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), particularly the 75-95% classified as mild (mTBI), poses a significant public health challenge as untreated symptoms, can persist and cause lasting disability. These cognitive deficits are often missed by standard screening tests, creating a need for alternative cognitive screening tools. The Clock Drawing Test (CDT), a popular, brief cognitive screening instrument, was used to evaluate cognition in persons with TBI.

DESIGN: The effectiveness of the CDT was assessed on its own and in tandem with a validated computerised screening battery, including the Stroop Test, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and Paced Visual Serial Addition Test 2-second trials (PVSAT-2).

METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The clock drawing component of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) of 223 subjects attending an outpatient TBI clinic was scored using two different methods. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The CDT screened for cognitive impairment most effectively when scored using the Clock Drawing Interpretation Scale (CDIS). Cognitive impairment was detected in 19.4% of the elusive cohort of persons with mTBI.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the CDT is effective at screening for cognitive impairment in persons with TBI. The CDT could be a valuable supplementary tool in TBI clinics as well as an effective cognitive screening instrument in busy primary care settings.

Language: en

Keywords

CDT; Primary care; mTBI; supplement