OBJECTIVE: To provide an objective way to analyze handwriting, and to test its reliability and correlation with mental deterioration. Handwriting may give clues to the cognitive status of the writer, thus its analysis might be helpful, for example, in the forensic evaluation of a controversial handwritten last will. DESIGN: We devised a semiquantitative score system taking into account verbal and lexical skills and spatial orientation. We investigated its inter-rater reliability and its correlation with validated tests of neuropsychological status, such the Milan Overall Dementia Assessment (MODA) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). SETTING: The neuropsychology service of an academic hospital. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients referred to the service for evaluation of mental deterioration. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The score system we devised has good inter-rater reliability and significantly correlates with MODA and with MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: Semiquantitative analysis of handwriting may be a useful addition to the methods available for the posthumous evaluation of testamentary capacity.
Handwriting as a gauge of cognitive status: a novel forensic tool for posthumous evaluation of testamentary capacity
COCITO, LEONARDO;BALESTRINO, MAURIZIO
2008-01-01
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To provide an objective way to analyze handwriting, and to test its reliability and correlation with mental deterioration. Handwriting may give clues to the cognitive status of the writer, thus its analysis might be helpful, for example, in the forensic evaluation of a controversial handwritten last will. DESIGN: We devised a semiquantitative score system taking into account verbal and lexical skills and spatial orientation. We investigated its inter-rater reliability and its correlation with validated tests of neuropsychological status, such the Milan Overall Dementia Assessment (MODA) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). SETTING: The neuropsychology service of an academic hospital. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients referred to the service for evaluation of mental deterioration. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The score system we devised has good inter-rater reliability and significantly correlates with MODA and with MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: Semiquantitative analysis of handwriting may be a useful addition to the methods available for the posthumous evaluation of testamentary capacity.
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