CERAD-NP und flexible battery approach in der neuropsychologischen differenzialdiagnostik demenz versus depression

The neuropsychological battery suggested by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-NP) has become widely used for the cognitive assessment of dementia. We investigated the differential diagnostic properties of this instrument in outpatients with mild Alzheimer's dementia (N = 70) or depression (N = 43) and compared them to those of a more extensive neuropsychological assessment procedure following the Flexible Battery Approach. Nearly all variables of both psychometric batteries showed significant (p < .0005) group differences, and discriminant function analyses allowed for correct classification rates between 88% and 96%. In addition, effect sizes and classification statistics showed that besides the Mini Mental State Examination as part of the CERAD-NP, performance measures for verbal learning and memory, for visuospatial abilities, and for verbal fluency are particularly important for the neuropsychological differential diagnosis of depression versus dementia. Compared with the CERAD-NP, the more extensive neuropsychological assessment procedure was superior in correctly identifying patients with depression.