Evidence of criterion validity for the Benton Visual Retention Test: comparison between older adults with and without a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

• Autor(a) principal: Zanini,Adriana M.
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Wagner,Gabriela P., Zortea,Maxciel, Segabinazi,Joice D., Salles,Jerusa F., Bandeira,Denise R., Trentini,Clarissa M.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Psychology & Neuroscience (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1983-32882014000200009
• topic: Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT); memory; visuoconstructive abilities; criterion validity; Alzheimer's disease

The present study sought to provide evidence of criterion validity for the Benton Visual Retention Test by making comparisons between older adults with and without a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The control group was composed of 50 older adults, and the clinical group was composed by 16 subjects. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, including χ² test, F and Wald statistics, t-test, analyses of covariance with α = .05, and effect size calculations. We used a sociodemographic data form, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and Mini Mental State Examination. Despite the small clinical sample size, the results pointed to evidence of validity for the Benton Visual Retention Test for Administration A (Memory) and Administration C (Copy). The clinical group had significantly poorer performance on most scores. These results also indicate important deficits in other neuropsychological functions in Alzheimer's disease.