J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2006 Jun;10(1):48-53.

Usefulness of Comprehensive Neuropsychological Tests for Diagnosis of Dementia

• Lee DW
• Kang JW
• Ryu SH
• Lee KJ
• Han EJ
• Jung HY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The rapid increase of elderly people with dementia poses a strategy for effective management of dementia. The recent progress in pharmacotherapy of dementia have overcome the past therapeutic nihilism, and gives the hope that dementia can be managed by early diagnosis and early intervention. Accordingly, the use of comprehensive neuropsychological test for early diagnosis is emphasized.
METHODS
In this study, we tried to evaluate the necessity and the usefulness of comprehensive neuropsychological tests in the diagnosis of dementia, by reviewing the guidelines for dementia, the researches about comprehensive neuropsychological tests, and by asking the experts about the necessity and the usefulness of comprehensive neuropsychological tests.
RESULTS
As a result we came to know that there are many tests which comprehensively covers the cognitive domains, and can be performed in relatively short time. The guidelines recommend that the use of comprehensive neuropsychological tests should be decided by the clinician. Many experts were the same opinion.
CONCLUSION
There are many useful comprehensive neuropsychological tests, the use of which should be decided by the clinician.

Keyword

Dementia; Comprehensive neuropsychological test; Early diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Aged
Dementia*
Diagnosis*
Drug Therapy
Early Diagnosis
Early Intervention (Education)
Hope
Humans
Neuropsychological Tests*