Mattis dementia rating scale: Clinical utility and relationship with demographic variables

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Abstract
The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) is an instrument that is widely used to screen for dementia. The relationship of the DRS to demographic variables, however, has not been examined, and previous normative work is largely based on small or poorly described samples. In addition, there is no normative work that has been conducted with older medical patients. The present study utilized 90 cognitively intact and 105 cognitively impaired patients to examine the relationship of the DRS to demographic variables, and to test the clinical utility of the instrument. Within the intact group, age and education significantly correlated with DRS Total Score (DRS-T), but only age predicted unique DRS-T variance. Logistic regression was used to correctly classify 87% of patients overall. We concluded that the results affirmed the importance of considering demographic factors when interpreting DRS results. In addition, the DRS appears to be a useful instrument in screening for dementia among urban medical patients.