The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Long-term prognosis of unilateral spatial neglect and Mini-Mental State examination score
Language	J
AuthorList	Akiko Morita¹⁾, and Sumio Ishiai²⁾
Affiliation	1) Department of Rehabilitation, Jiseikai Tokumaru Hospital 2) Department of Rehabilitation, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 18 (4), 212-218, 2002
Received	Feb 18, 2002
Accepted	Apr 24, 2002
Abstract	Long-term prognosis of unilateral spatial neglect was investigated in 27 patients with cerebrovascular disease. All patients showed typical neglect in the line bisection, line cancellation, and copying tests when they were admitted to hospital for rehabilitation. Their neglect in each test was rated as absent (0), mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3), and followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after onset. The score of the Mini-Mental State examination (MMS) was also recorded at the same periods. The patients participated in rehabilitation by therapists who were well acquainted with neglect. The total severity of neglect, which was calculated by summing up the three test scores, showed a negative correlation to the MMS score at each time of observation. The patients with normal MMS scores at the time of hospitalization and those who reached the normal range of MMS within 3 months after onset showed the same degree of improvement in the total neglect severity. However, most patients who showed depressed MMS scores throughout the observation period continued to exhibit severe neglect. The results indicate that the level of mental status may affect the prognosis of neglect measured with the typical tests. Although neglect observed at the beginning of rehabilitation hardly disappears, it may change into a milder form when the mental status of patients is preserved or improved in the course of rehabilitation. The approach to improve general mental function should be involved in the rehabilitation program for patients with neglect.
Keywords	unilateral spatial neglect, Mini-Mental State examination, long-term prognosis, rehabilitation