While clock-drawing tests are commonly used to screen for cognitive impairment in the elderly, little is known about the performance of elderly depressives.
Methods:
We compared thirty-three patients with major depression to forty-two Alzheimer's disease and thirty age-matched controls on clock-drawing, copying, and reading.
Results:
Patients with Alzheimer's disease had significantly lower scores on clock-drawing, copying, and reading than patients with depression or the controls (p < 0.05). Patients with depression did not differ significantly from controls on quantitative scores or qualitative errors.
Conclusions:
Clock tests may be useful for identifying depressed patients with underlying dementia.
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