Construct validity of the WCST in normal elderly and persons with Parkinson's disease

Authors

Anthony M. Paolo, University of Kansas Medical Center
Alexander I. Tröster, University of Kansas Medical Center
Bradley N. Axelrod, VA Medical Center
William C. Koller, University of Kansas Medical Center

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Separate principle component analyses of the WCST were conducted on 187 normal elderly and 181 persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Adequate construct validity was found for "conceptualization/problem solving" and "failure to maintain set" factors in both groups. Perseverative and nonperseverative errors were related for the normal group, but not for the PD subjects. This may reflect the frontal systems deficit observed in PD. Additional principle component analyses were conducted with the WCST and measures of memory and attention. In neither the normal nor the PD group did the WCST significantly load with the memory and attention measures. This suggests that the WCST provides information about problem solving relatively independent of memory and attention functions for elderly persons. © 1995.

Publication Date

1-1-1995

Publication Title

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

ISSN

08876177

Volume

10

Issue

5

First Page

463

Last Page

473

PubMed ID

14588903

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/0887-6177(95)00052-6

Recommended Citation

Paolo, Anthony M.; Tröster, Alexander I.; Axelrod, Bradley N.; and Koller, William C., "Construct validity of the WCST in normal elderly and persons with Parkinson's disease" (1995). Clinical Neuropsychology. 53.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neuropsychology/53