Psychometric properties of the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination

ABSTRACT

The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination is a brief screening measure for mild neurocognitive disorder developed for use with veterans. To date, there has been a paucity of research on its psychometric properties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SLUMS in a referred sample to a specialty clinic. Using a sample of 148 male veterans referred to a Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Clinic for evaluation, the ability of the SLUMS to discriminate between MCI versus Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or no diagnosis was compared to results from a more comprehensive neuropsychological battery. The SLUMS was significantly correlated with every neuropsychological measure (r = .25 to .46), except for Trails B (r = .14). Diagnostic discriminability was comparable to a typical, longer, neuropsychological battery for discriminating between MCI and no diagnosis, and between MCI and MDD. The study provides additional psychometric support for the SLUMS as a viable brief cognitive screening measure in veteran populations, particularly when discriminating between MCI and MDD.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive screening measure
• discriminability
• mild cognitive impairment
• psychometrics
• veterans

Acknowledgement

Research was conducted at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.