1. (5 pts) What is today? (Detail as needed. Score 1 point for year, month, date, day-of-week, season.)You can download a printable version here. Recently, someone claimed a copyright on this test, so an alternate test, The Sweet 16 was developed and shown to give similar results. But now that has also been shut down by copyrights.
2. (5 pts) Where are we? (Detail as needed. Score 1 point for building, floor, city, county, state.)
3. (3 pts) Repeat 3 objects. (After being give 3 names, such as apple-table-penny or ball-flag-tree.)
4. (5 pts) Count backwards from 100 by sevens. (Stop after 93-86-79-72-65.)
Alternately, spell WORLD backwards.
5. (3 pts) Recall the 3 objects named earlier. (1 point for each.)
6. (1 pt) Identify the given object (after being shown a watch).
7. (1 pt) Identify the given object (after being shown a pencil).
8. (1 pt) Repeat "No ifs, ands, or buts".
9. (3 pts) Take the given paper, fold it, and place it on the table. (1 point for each task.)
10. (1 pt) Read "close your eyes" and do what it says. (1 point for closing eyes.)
11. (1 pt) Write a sentence. (1 point for any intelligible sentence. Ignore grammar and spelling.)
12. (1 pt) Copy a diagram of intersecting pentagons.
I post this because I object to this commonly-used test being censored from the web. The concern is not cheating by patients. If a patient is smart enough to study a similar test, then he is smart enough to pass the test anyway. No, the purpose is to put the diagnosis of dementia under the control of psychologists so that they will have authority to decide who goes free in our society.
If your kid gets an injury to the head, you might want to use some of these questions in order to test for a concussion. You do not need a psychology degree or permission from lawyers. Nobody owns counting down by sevens.
6 comments:
You could very well be right. What makes you think that it's not just the money from the copyright that's at stake, like most people conclude ?
Sure, the folks claiming the copyright are in it for the money, and maybe also some status or prestige. But why does the rest of the profession going along with it?
I don't think they do go along with it more than attaiing other copyrighted material from the net. I looked into acquiring it for free, and noticed that a lot of doctors are looking for sites and such to get it for free.
George, your theory -- that PAR is seeking to protect its copyright in order to "put the diagnosis of dementia under the control of psychologists so that they will have authority to decide who goes free in our society" -- doesn't hold water.
A diagnosis of dementia is not based on just a MMSE score. More importantly, a diagnosis of dementia certainly does not mean that one is automatically deemed subject to an involuntary/civil commitment order.
"If your kid gets an injury to the head, you might want to use some of these questions in order to test for a concussion."
I sure hope other parents don't share your belief that it's OK for them to screen for a concussion by asking their child some (or even all) of the MMSE questions.
Portia, the MMSE is commonly used as a screening test, and there is no reason why parents cannot use it also, if they are not intimidated by copyrights. Yes, other tests will also be used for civil commitment, but those tests are subject to licensing also.
I guess I didn't make myself clear, George: my last comment was not driven by copyright issues but rather concern that a kid would not receive appropriate medical attention because the parent was satisfied with the child's response to some of the MMSE questions.
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