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Neuropsychological performance variability is associated with reduced treatment consent capacity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

R. Gurrera
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Brockton, MA, USA
M. Karel
Affiliation:
Psychology, VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Brockton, MA, USA
A. Azar
Affiliation:
Psychology, VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Brockton, MA, USA
J. Moye
Affiliation:
Psychology, VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Brockton, MA, USA

Abstract

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The capacity of older adults to make health care treatment decisions is often impaired in dementia and has been linked to performance on specific neuropsychological tasks. Within-person across-test neuropsychological performance variability has been shown to predict future dementia. This study examined the relationship of within-person across-test neuropsychological performance variability to treatment decision (consent) capacity in community-dwelling older individuals. Men (N = 79) and women (N = 80) with (N = 83) or without (N = 76) probable mild to moderate dementia completed a neuropsychological test battery and a standardized capacity assessment that evaluates each of the following treatment decisional abilities separately: Understanding, Reasoning, Appreciation, and Expression of Choice. Standard scores were used to compute mean neuropsychological performance and within-person across-test variability. Neuropsychological performance and within-person variability were independently associated with continuous and dichotomous measures of capacity. The results of this study provide support for the emerging view that multiple distinct cognitive abilities are required to support this function, and indicate that the sensitivity and accuracy of consent capacity assessments can be improved by evaluating each of these components separately.

Type
P02-240
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2011
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