Spatial Neglect and Delirium After Stroke

This test is used for delirium assessment. The CAM consists of a series of questions, measuring attention (digits forward and backwards, days of the week and months of the year backwards), orientation (person, place, time), memory (immediate and delayed recall of 3 concrete nouns); and probing for any sleep, perceptual, or thinking disturbances. It was designed to incorporate DSM-III criteria for delirium.

This test is used for neglect assessment. The BIT consists of 6 tasks: figure and shape copying; line, star, and letter cancellation, and representational drawing. Such tasks were shown to be appropriate in patients within 48 hours of stroke onset. Scoring of each test will include proportion of error responses on each test or deviation from midpoint on line bisection. Figure and shape copying and representational drawing will be scored based on each item completed.

Structural, functional and diffusion weighted scans will be obtained or acquired, depending on the cohort. Subacute sample participants will undergo a research MRI scan, whereas acute sample participants will allow the release of their clinical MRI scans.

This test is used for mental status assessment, and it will be conducted in our subacute sample only. The FMSE tests memory, attention, language, visuospatial processing, and executive function. It will help to establish patients' mental status profile, including any deficits.

MoCA is a brief cognitive screening tool for individuals with mild cognitive impairment and will be used in the acute sample.

Because depression has been previously associated with delirium, patients will be evaluated for depression with the GDS. The GDS is a self-report measure consisting of 30 yes/no questions to measure depression in the elderly. It will be used as a covariate in data analysis.

This is a 10-category scale for spatial neglect based on observation of activities of daily living (e.g., eating, dressing, grooming, gaze orientation). Thee test is based on the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) and administered via the standardized KF-Neglect Assessment Process developed within our program.