Instructions For Administration Of Mini Mental State Examination (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

ORIENTATION

1. Ask for the date. Then ask specifically for parts omitted, e.g. “Can you also tell me what season it is?” The

season is defined by the calendar, not the weather. One point for each correct. Maximum score of 5. Note:

there are no half points given in the MMSE.

2. Ask in turn, “Can you tell me the name of this hospital?”, or home, if at home. (Town, country, etc). One

point for each correct. Maximum score of 5.

REGISTRATION

Ask the patient if you may test his memory. Then say the names of three unrelated objects, clearly and

slowly, about one second for each. After you have said all three, ask the patient to repeat them. This first

repetition determines the patient’s score (out of 3) but keep saying them until the patient can repeat all three

(up to six trials). If he/she does not eventually learn all three, it is unlikely that recall can be meaningfully

tested. Nevertheless, it should be attempted (see below).

ATTENTION AND CALCULATION

Ask the patient to begin with 100 and count backward by 7. Stop after 5 subtractions (93,86,79,72,65).

Score the total number of correct answers. If the patient cannot or will not perform this task, ask him/her to

spell the word “world” backwards. The score is the number of letters in correct order, e.g. dlrow = 5; dlorw =3.

RECALL

Ask the patient if he/she can recall the three words you previously asked him/her to remember. Score one

for each correct answer.

LANGUAGE

: Show the patient a wristwatch and ask him/her what it is. Repeat for pencil. Score one for each

AMING

correct answer.

: Ask the patient to repeat the sentence after you. Allow only one trial. Score one if the repetition

EPETITION

is completely correct and zero if it is not.

3-S

: State the command first and then give the patient a piece of plain blank paper. Score 1

TAGE

OMMAND

point for each part correctly executed.

On a blank piece of paper print the sentence “Close your eyes”, in letters large enough for the

EADING

patient to see clearly. Ask him/her to read it and do what is says. Score 1 point only if he actually closes

his/her eyes.

Give the patient a blank piece of paper and ask him/her to write a sentence for you. Do not

RITING

dictate a sentence, it is to be written spontaneously. It must contain a subject and verb and be sensible.

Correct grammar and punctuation are not necessary.

On a clean piece of paper, draw intersecting pentagons, each side about 1 inch and ask him/her

OPYING

to copy it exactly as it is. All 10 angles must be present and two must intersect to score 1 point. Tremor and

rotation are ignored.

Instructions For Administration Of Mini Mental State Examination Page 2