The executive clock drawing task (CLOX) is a poor screening test for executive dysfunction in Chinese elderly patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease

Executive dysfunction (ED) is a prominent feature of subcortical ischemic vascular disease. A screening test for ED is lacking among Chinese. The objective of the study is to investigate the validity and reliability of a Chinese version of the Executive clock drawing task (CLOX) in screening ED among Chinese elderly patients with small subcortical infarct (SSI). The Chinese version of CLOX correlated with MMSE, CDRS I/P, and WCST perseverative errors. However, multivariate regression analysis showed that only education (R-2 change = 0.22, p < 0.001) and MMSE (R-2 change= 0.35, p < 0.001), but none of the standard executive function tests, significantly accounted for the variance in the CLOX. Test-retest (r = 0.84) and inter-rater reliability (r = 0.84) were high for the CLOX Conclusions. Although the CLOX is reliable, it is not valid in detecting ED in Chinese elderly patients with SSI (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.