Table 2.

Cognitive function assessment using Pfeiffer’s Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (number of errors) [17.

Questions
1. What is the date today? Correct only when the month, date, and year are all correct.
2. What day of the week is it? Correct only when the day is correct.
3. What is the name of this place? Correct if any of the descriptions of the location is given. “My home,” the correct city/town, or the correct name of the hospital/institution are all acceptable.
4. What is your telephone number? Correct when the number can be verified or the subject can repeat the same number at a later time in the interview.
4a. What is your street address? Ask only if the subject does not have a telephone.
5. How old are you? Correct when the stated age corresponds to the date of birth.
6. When were you born? Correct only when the month, date, and year are correct.
7. Who is the president of your country now? Requires only the correct last name.
8. Who was president just before him? Requires only the correct last name.
9. What was your mother’s maiden name? Needs no verification; it only requires a female first name plus a last name other than the subjects.
10. Subtract 3 from 20 and keep subtracting 3 from each new number, all the way down. The entire series must be performed correctly to be scored as correct. Any error in the series—or an unwillingness to attempt the series—is scored as incorrect.