Test-retest reliability was relatively larger for PD’s Copy score (r=.68) compared to controls (r=.11). Stability coefficients for PDs and controls ranged from small to medium on immediate (r=.631, .735) and delayed trials (r=.734, .708). Coefficients were small for the unit scores (rs < .60) for both groups. Compared to the PDs, controls were more susceptible to practice effects.
Test-Retest Reliability on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test in a
Sample of Parkinson’s
Disease
Patients
Compared
to
Normal
Controls
1
1
1
1
1
Freedland, A., Glass Umfleet, L., Schwab, N., Ward, J., Leninger, S.,
1Coronado, N., 1Tanner, J., 1Nguyen, P., 2Okun, M., 1Bowers, D., 1Price, C.
Supported by:
Affiliations: 1Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida;
2Department of Neurology, University of Florida
K23NS60660 (CP)
Objectives
It is common practice for Neuropsychologists to administer the same
•Rey –Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT):
tests on more than one occasion to document the progression of a
•Participants were administered the ROCFT presented in landscape
patient’s cognitive status. When interpreting changes, one should take
version. They were required to copy the figure on a landscape white
into consideration the stability of the measure as well as practice
piece of paper, immediately recall the figure, and then recall the figure
effects. The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT) is a
after a 30 minutes delay. To achieve inter-rater reliability 10 figures in
frequently administered test that assesses cognitive functions such as
the three conditions were scored twice according to Denman criteria
visuospatial organization and memory. Previous test-retest studies on
(72 total points for each condition ; Denman, 1984), by two different
the ROCFT have been mixed, with reliability coefficients ranging
trained research assistants, to reduce examiner scoring errors
from poor to adequate (Knight & Kaplan, 2003). To enhance the
(r=.944). The testing intervals was one year ± 1.2 months for both
generalizability of prior investigations, we examined the test-retest
PD and control groups.
•Test-retest reliability was relatively larger for PD’s Copy score (r=.70)
compared to controls (r=.29). Stability coefficients for PDs and controls
were adequate on immediate and delayed trials
•Illustrated in Figure 5 are ROCFT Copy, Immediate Recall, and Delayed
Recall mean raw scores at both testing periods for PDs and Controls.
reliability of the ROCFT in a sample of participants with Parkinson’s
•Independent samples t-tests revealed statistically significant differences
disease (PD) and normal controls.
between the PD and control group on all ROCFT variables at retest (ps
While reliable test-retest differences were not expected, we predicted
<.05). However, the controls and PDs did not differ on ROCFT means at
that normal controls, compared to PD patients, will demonstrate
time 1.
higher scores at retest across the ROCFT Copy, Immediate Recall, and
•These findings may suggest that groups were relatively comparable on
Delayed Recall tasks.
Participants
Results
Methods and Procedures
Figure 1. Copy time 1 for PD
Figure 2. Copy time 2 for PD
initial testing, but Controls improved at 1 year thereby suggesting a
practice effect.
•33 non-demented PD (7 women, 26 men) and 26 non-demented
controls (5 women, 21 men). Means for age and education are 67.06
(SD = 5.58) and 16.09 (SD = 2.99) for PD, and 67.69 (SD = 4.64) and
16.58 (SD = 2.60) for Controls.
Conclusions/Implications
•Participants were matched by age and education
• Exclusion criteria: having another medical disease likely to limit
Figure 3. Copy time 1 for control
Figure 4. Copy time 2 for control
year (Bartels, Wegrzyn, Wiedl, Ackerman, & Ehrenreich, 2010).
lifespan or confound outcome analysis
•PD patients could not have undergone Deep Brain Stimulation and
could not have evidence of secondary or atypical Parkinsonism as
suggested by the presence of any of the following: 1) history of major
stroke(s), 2) exposure to toxins or neuroleptics, 3) history of
encephalitis, 4) neurological signs of upper motor neuron disease,
cerebellar involvement, supranuclear palsy, or significant orthostatic
hypertension.
•Our findings were similar to previous studies with testing intervals ≥ 1
Cognitive/ Neuropsychological Tests Administered:
•Clinicians should cautiously proceed with interpreting changes on the
•In addition to the ROCFT, participants were administered the Wechsler
ROCFT over one year test-retest intervals, especially when examining
Test of Adult Reading (Wechsler, 2001), the Dementia Rating Scale-2
less impaired subjects.
(Jurica, Leitten, & Mattis, 2001), and the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading
reliable change metric appears appropriate.
Wechsler, 2001) to screen for dementia and match for estimated
•Using the ROCFT for individuals with Parkinson’s disease appears
premorbid intelligence. No significant differences emerged between PDs
reasonable, but clinicians are encouraged to consider symptom variability
and Controls on the WTAR, DRS-2, and WTAR scores (ps >.05).
between patients.
For non-disease individuals (e.g., controls) a