Screening for cognitive impairment among inpatients.

Screening hospital patients for cognitive impairment is often required for effective treatment planning. Awareness of cognitive deficit is particularly important in working with patients who have drinking problems because of the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment. Trail-Making Test is examined as an economic, quick, and accurate indicator of cognitive impairment in non-neurological sample of patients in a Veterans Administration Hospital. Results show that performance discriminates between normal and deficient cognitive function as assessed by established IQ and neuropsychological tests--the Wechsler Bellevue Intelligence Scale and the Halstead Reitan Battery. Nonsignificant correlations with personality variables suggest discriminant validity for the Trail-Making Test as an indicator of cognitive impairment.