Early cognitive impairment: Role of clock drawing test

Background: Folstein's Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) often fails to identify executive dysfunction even if quite severe. Detailed neuropsychological tests and extensive bedside tests are available to evaluate executive function, but most of them are time consuming. This study was done to determine the value of a Clock Drawing Test (CDT) as a simple tool to identify cognitive dysfunction in various neurological disorders and to assess its utility as an adjunct to MMSE in identifying executive dysfunction in a a busy out patient department (OPD).