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The NUCOG: validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screening tool in neuropsychiatric patients
Walterfang M, Siu R, Velakoulis D.. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2006-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives To examine the validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screen instrument, the Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Assessment Tool (NUCOG), in patients with dementia, major psychiatric disorders and neurological disorders, and to compare its performance with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Method The NUCOG was undertaken with the MMSE on a total of 347 individuals, with 82 subjects in the control group and 265 in the patient group. The patient group consisted of patients with dementia (n=65), non-dementing neurological disorders (n=44) and psychiatric illness (n=156).
Key findings
- Method The NUCOG was undertaken with the MMSE on a total of 347 individuals, with 82 subjects in the control group and 265 in the patient group.
- The patient group consisted of patients with dementia (n=65), non-dementing neurological disorders (n=44) and psychiatric illness (n=156).
- The patient group was further broken into subgroups of dementing and psychiatric disorders for further analysis.
- A subgroup of patients (n=22) underwent detailed neuropsychological testing.
Why it matters
This study examined the validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screen, the NUCOG, in 347 people including patients with dementia, psychiatric illness and neurological disorders, and compared it with the MMSE. It is about a screening tool, not a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Participants65
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry: journal h-index 180 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 65 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 117 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.3 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Dennis Velakoulis: h-index 79 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The Royal Melbourne Hospital: institution h-index 744 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17054568) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Walterfang, M., Siu, R., & Velakoulis, D. (2006). The NUCOG: validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screening tool in neuropsychiatric patients. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01923.x
Vancouver
Walterfang M, Siu R, Velakoulis D. The NUCOG: validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screening tool in neuropsychiatric patients. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. 2006. doi:10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01923.x. PMID: 17054568.
BibTeX
@article{walterfang2006-17054568,
author = {Walterfang, M. and Siu, R. and Velakoulis, D.},
title = {{The NUCOG: validity and reliability of a brief cognitive screening tool in neuropsychiatric patients}},
journal = {The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01923.x},
pmid = {17054568},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01923.x}
}
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