Detection of Brain Damage: Neuropsychological Assessment in a Spanish Speaking Population

Abstract

We developed a neuropsychological battery for assessment of cognitive processes that was standarized in 150 neurologically intact subjects from different socioeducational levels in Mexico City (Ostrosky et al., 1985, 1986). The present study was designed to explore the capacity of this neuropsychological battery to discriminate a brain-injured population from a normal one. Thirty-four patients attending the neurological service of two hospitals institutions in Mexico City were studied. The reasons for going to the hospital included both neurologica and neuropsychological symptoms. The group was divided into two subgroups: twenty-four'patients who showed brain damage confirmed by brain scans, and ten patients with a normal brain scan. A control group of 19 normal subjects was also studied and paired with the other groups by sex, age and sociocultural level.

Key Words:

• Neuropsychological assessment
• brain damage
• Spanish speaking population
• brain scan
• diagnosis