Literature Review of the Clock Drawing Test as a Tool for Cognitive Screening
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
Pinto, E., & Peters, R. (2009).
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 27(3), 201-213.
This systematic review investigates the scoring methods, administration, and utility of the Clock Drawing Test for screening cognitive function in individuals, 65 years and older, with or at risk for dementia. Although speech-language pathologists do not diagnose dementia, findings from this review may be useful for identifying tools for detection of cognitive impairments in this population.
Not stated
Through June 2008
Studies with a well-defined control group (not further specified)
41
"All studies presented in this review showed that the [Clock Drawing Test] can be used to screen for moderate and severe dementia. However, studies that have used patients specifically with mild or questionable dementia have found that the sensitivity is considerably lower than for patients with a moderate dementia. Although the [Clock Drawing Test] may be a useful test, further issues that may need to be considered include the fact that a screening test is most useful when it is directed at the early stages of the disease before any moderate or severe symptoms can be observed" (p. 211).
