Screening for Dementia
The 6 item Cognitive Impairment Test (6CIT)

The Six Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6CIT) was developed in 1983 by regression analysis of the Blessed Information Memory Concentration Scale (BIMC) by Katzman et al in the USA. Other groups have since confirmed validation on several occasions.

It consists of six questions that are simple, non-cultural, and don't require any complex interpretation. Unfortunately the original test had a complex inverse scoring system.

We have revalidated this test in the UK (Brooke, P. and Bullock, R.,(1999) Validation of the 6 item cognitive impairment test. Int.J.Geriat.Psychiatry 14, 936-940) and altered the format (6CIT - Kingshill Version 2000©) so that it is considerably more user friendly. We also have produced a computer version which is available direct from Kingshill Research Centre or Patrick Brooke.

Our results have exceeded our expectations and show the 6CIT to outperform The Mini-Mental State Examination. The 6CIT proves itself to be more sensitive and specific in mild dementia when compared to The Mini-Mental State Examination (which is clearly the most useful area for primary care), and yet it is considerably faster to perform.

The use of the 6CIT forms part of our Integrated Care Pathway for Dementia.

Summary of our validation work for the 6CIT (pdf file)

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