Psychometric tests in the doctor's office

It takes just a few minutes to get an indication of possible dementia or confirm suspected disease by carrying out psychometric tests in the doctor's office.

Suitable tests

• Clock test
  The clock test only takes one or two minutes and is well accepted by patients.
• MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination)
  The MMSE tests orientation, attentiveness, concentration and memory in about ten minutes.

Preparing the patient

When carrying out global testing, it should be explained to the patient that in order to get a clearer picture of how their memory performs, ideally one or two tests should be carried out.

It is important to perform the test at a time of day when the patient's attentiveness and vigilance are at their highest. The patient should not have to wait long to take the test.

Who gives the test?

It is very important that there is a good relationship between the tester and the patient. In many cases a trained medical assistant can give the test. It is important that he/she is accepted by the patient. It can be helpful for the test to be carried out by the patient's doctor, particularly the first test, since giving the test can provide much information about the patient's abilities and behavior that is not documented in the actual test results.

What are the prerequisites?

• A quiet room
• No interruptions (e.g. telephone calls put through, etc.)
• The patient should bring any hearing aid or glasses they use
• The patient must be able to concentrate fully on the situation. Disruptions can occur, for example, if the patient needs to go to the toilet or is hungry or thirsty.

What to remember while the test is being carried out

• Before the test is given, it must be explained to the patient what the test involves.
• If the test is made up of subsections, the patient must be kept motivated between them, e.g. with comments such as "you did that well", "correct", "keep it up", etc.
• If a test is not understood correctly, it must be stopped and the explanation given again.
• If the tester notices that the patient's concentration is deteriorating, a short break must be taken.