DEMENTIA-CLOCK DRAWING TEST

SUMMARY

1. The CDT provides a quick assessment of visuospatial and praxis abilities and may detect deficits in both attention and executive dysfunction (Adunsky et al. 2002; Suhr et al. 1998; McDowell & Newell 1996).
2. The CDT involves having the patient draw a clock, place the numbers on the clock in their proper positioning and then place the arms of the clock at a requested time.
3. The task itself is viewed as being highly complex, involving a number of neuropsychological abilities (Suhr et al. 1998).
4. Effective as a supplement to other cognitive assessments.

DISADVANTAGES
5. The CDT is negatively influenced by increasing age, reduced education and the presence of depression (Ruchinskas & Curyto 2003; Lorentz et al. 2002).
6. The CDT may also be affected by visual neglect, hemiparesis and motor incoordination (Ruchinskas & Curyto 2003).

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].