Correlation of MMSE, SKT and clock test scores in patients with mild and moderate dementia.

The objective of our study was to assess the correlation of routine neuropsychological test results in elderly patients referred to a gerontopsychiatric ward. MMSEs, Clocktests (CT) and SKTs were performed in 94 patients (Age: Median = 74 ys, Range = 54-89 ys; 64 f, 30 m; MMSE < 25:45 and MMSE > 25:37) with mild to moderate dementia and evaluated retrospectively. Linear and multiple regression was used. The scores of all 3 tests used were reciprocally correlated (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed a maximum correlation of 0.87 and marked standardized beta values, if SKT was chosen as dependent variable. In conclusion, results of SKT, CT or MMSE in patients with dementia showed marked pairwise or multiple correlations and therefore it is not necessary to include more than two reliable tests in clinical psychogeriatric studies.