ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which is an objective, clinician-administered test, intentionally designed to provide a brief, bedside assessment that is suitable for older people with delirium or dementia who may only be able to cooperate for short periods of time. The MMSE is traditionally regarded as the standard reference against which all newly developed cognitive screening tests are measured. Development of the MMSE was driven by the need for a brief test that was easy to use in routine practice and could be administered serially. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
