Psychiatria pre prax 5/2007

PSYCHOMOTOR SPEED, SPEECH RATE AND THINKING

Introduction: The aim of the study was to find a short and simple psychomotor speed test for easy use in a clinical practice. Methodology: 63 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 28.6 ± 12.5 years (range 15–71 years) were assessed. We measured the number of words during a one minute spontaneous monolog (marker of psychomotor speed), the time to generate 12 animals (short version of semantic fluency), the time to generate 12 words beginning with letter K (short version of phonetic verbal fluency), the time to say the months of the year in chronological order, the time it takes to count from 101 up 110 and other neuropsychological tests. Results: Volunteers said 105,7 ± 38,7 words per minute during spontaneous monolog. We found significant negative correlation between spontaneus speech and counting (r = -0.69; p < 0,001). Recitation of 12 months was 3 times faster than short version of semantic fluency and 7 time faster than short version of fonemic fluency. Discussion: We suppose that a counting test is a simple marker of psychomotor speed slowing. This short tests could an be objective and easy quantitative marker of psychomotor slowing. Trail making test, semantic and fonemic fluency are more complex tests.