EBP Compendium: Summary of Systematic Review
Verbal Fluency Deficits in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Henry, J. D., & Crawford, J. R.
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 10(4), 608-622.
Indicators of Review Quality:
The review addresses a clearly focused question
Criteria for inclusion of studies are provided
Search strategy is described in sufficient detail for replication
Included studies are assessed for study quality
Quality assessments are reproducible
Description: This is a meta-analysis of studies investigating the sensitivity of tests of verbal fluency in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Question not specifically stated.
Population: Adults with Parkinson's disease.
National Adult Reading Test (NART)
Reading subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT)
WAIS Verbal and Vocabulary Scales (VIQ)
WAIS Digit Symbol Test
Boston Naming Test (BNT)
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST CC and WCST PE)
Number of Studies Included: 68
Years Included: Through October 2002
- Assessment Areas
- The authors conclude that individuals with Parkinson's disease present with semantic and phonemic fluency impairments with patients “significantly more impaired on semantic relative to phonemic fluency” (p. 618).
- The authors conclude that Parkinson's disease is associated with a particular deficit in semantic memory. Additionally, there is some evidence that this patient population exhibits a specific deficit in cognitive shifting.
Keywords: Parkinson's Disease
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Added to Compendium: March 2012