Correction for a Potentially Biased Item on the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale

The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) is a multidimensional cognitive measure popular with clinicians for its brevity, diagnostic validity, and utility in monitoring impairment severity. In spite of the test’s significant value, one task can cause discomfort because the patient is asked to name it...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias 2013-12, Vol.28 (8), p.734-737
Main Authors: Dean, Pamela M., Cerhan, Jane H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cultural Competency
Current Topics in Care
Dementia - diagnosis
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychometrics - instrumentation
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) is a multidimensional cognitive measure popular with clinicians for its brevity, diagnostic validity, and utility in monitoring impairment severity. In spite of the test’s significant value, one task can cause discomfort because the patient is asked to name items the examiner is wearing. This task also creates possible cultural bias and standardization issues. We studied 102 MDRS profiles that included this item. Adjusted scores were calculated by giving all patients full credit for the apparel-naming item. The average adjustment was just one point, and the resulting dementia-severity ratings remained unchanged in 97% of the patients. These results show that administration of the item can be defensibly skipped if there is concern about its appropriateness with an individual patient. The adjusted scores provide a viable and fair alternative that preserves the psychometric properties of this useful instrument.
ISSN:1533-3175
1938-2731
DOI:10.1177/1533317513504610