Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT): Norms for the Greek older adult population

BACKGROUND

The Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) is an integral part of every neuropsychological assessment, measuring visuoconstructional abilities in research and clinical practice.

AIMS

Our goal was to create norms for the Greek older adults over 50 years old since there is no previous relevant study in Greece.

METHODS

The RCFT was administered to 228 cognitively intact individuals aged 50 to 87 years (M = 64.12, SD = 8.69) with education from 3 to 23 years (M = 11.5, SD = 4.45). First, regression analyses explored the impact of demographics on RCFT performance. Afterwards, we calculated normative data using raw scores and transformed to percentile scores for RCFT Copy, Immediate recall, Delayed Recall, and Recognition tasks.

RESULTS

Age and education were predictors of the Copy and Recall trials, whereas gender was not, having as the only exception the Recognition condition. Greek normative data adjusted for age and education level for the three RCFT conditions and gender for the Recognition trial are presented, as well as the relationship between the RCFT sub tasks.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study measuring the RCFT norms in cognitively intact Greek older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies should measure the psychometric properties of RCFT in this population.

The Role of Gender in Shame, Hostility, and Aggression Experienced by Caregivers for Patients With Dementia

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between male and female caregivers for patients with dementia in the way they experience various psychosocial parameters such as shame, hostility, and aggression. The sample included 55 caregivers of patients with moderate and severe dementia, whereas the average age was 51 years. Female caregivers were found to experience significantly higher levels of external shame, measured by Other As Shamer scale, than male caregivers, t (53) = 2.54, P < .01. A significant difference was also found between the female and male caregivers regarding their recorded levels of internal shame, measured by Experience of Shame Scale, with female caregivers experiencing more internal shame than their male counterparts, t (53) = 2.11, P < .01. However, no significant differences were found in hostility and aggression between males and females. These results demonstrate the existence of gender differences in the levels of shame experienced by care providers for patients with dementia.