The NUCOG: Validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screening tool in neuropsychiatric patients

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screen instrument, the Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Assessment Tool (NUCOG), in patients with dementia, major psychiatric disorders and neurological disorders, and to compare its performance with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Method: The NUCOG was undertaken with the MMSE on a total of 347 individuals, with 82 subjects in the control group and 265 in the patient group. The patient group consisted of patients with dementia (n=65), non-dementing neurological disorders (n=44) and psychiatric illness (n=156). The patient group was further broken into subgroups of dementing and psychiatric disorders for further..