The relation of the Halstead-Reitan neuropsychological battery to functional daily living skills in geriatric patients

This study investigated the nature of the relationship between neuropsychological tests, the Halstead-Reitan Battery, and a measure of everyday living ability, the Community Competence Scale. The sample consisted of 40 geriatric patients referred for suspected dementia. The results indicated that neuropsychological tests were moderately predictive of measures of functional daily living skills. Although some specific neuropsychological measures, or combination of measures, were more predictive of particular functional daily living skills, their relationship did not necessarily follow logical or theoretical expectations. Thus, while it may be safe for neuropsychologists to make predictions about a patient's global capacity to function independently, predictions regarding specific functional daily living skills may be unwarranted.