Validity Study of the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire for the Elderly*

Abstract

The short, portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ) developed by Pfeiffer has several advantages over previous short instruments designed to assess the intellectual functioning of older adults. It is based upon data from both institutionalized and community‐dwelling elderly. Although Pfeiffer outlined a four‐group classification, he used two groups in his initial validation study: (a) intact/mildly impaired, and (b) moderately/severely impaired. The present study compared clinicians' ratings with those based upon the SPMSQ scores, and examined the validity of the four‐group classification. The sample included 181 subjects from seven intermediate care facilities and nine home‐care agencies. All were assessed by the OARS questionnaire, which includes the SPSMQ. Three discriminant analyses were performed with three different criteria, for two‐group, three‐group, and four‐group models. Results indicated that the two‐group model (intact/mildly impaired and moderately/ severely impaired) permitted significant discrimination. The four‐group model, however, gave less distinct results. In particular, patients who were mildly intellectually impaired could not be clearly distinguished from those who were intact and from those who were moderately impaired. The three‐group model (minimally, moderately, severely impaired) seemed to offer the best compromise between the gross dichotomy of the original two‐model system and the less accurate four‐category system.

Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire as a Screening Test for Dementia and Delirium Among the Elderly

“…Previously test‐retest correlations of SPMSQ at four‐week intervals have been 0.82 2 . Previous validity studies of the SPMSQ have shown a positive predictive value of 82.7% to 92.3% to detect moderate OBS 2,13,14 …”

The Emotional Burden of Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Women Seeking Treatment

“…After completing the consent process, subjects completed Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) [11] screening either in person or on the phone with the trained research assistant. Women unable to complete the informed consent process, participate in data collection, scoring <20 on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire [12], or women deemed actively suicidal by our screening protocol were excluded. All women enrolled in the parent study completed baseline visit study forms at the time of enrollment.…”

Dementia Among Medical Inpatients

“…13 More than half of all institutionalized long-stay patients suffer from severe dementia.3,4 Dementia is a burden also in general hospitals. In medical wards the occurrence of all organic brain syndromes varies from 2.6% to 37%,MO and that of dementia from 1.3% to 15%.…”