Behavioural observations during performance of the WAIS block design test related to abnormalities of regional cerebral blood flow in organic dementia

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with symptoms of organic dementia were studied concerning the relationship between the behaviour when solving the Wechsler Block Design Test and the localization of cerebral dysfunction as indicated by the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Eleven patients with decreases of rCBF in frontal regions (Group A) were compared with 10 patients with postcentral decreases (Group B). Conventional Block Design scores were about equal in the two groups. Group A patients showed significantly less anxiety and self-criticism, were less systematic and made fewer attempts at completion. Rotations were displayed more often in Group B. The results illustrate the significance of information obtained by behaviour observation in the test situation.