The Polish version of the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) – methodology issues
Wojciech Romanik1, Magdalena Łazarewicz2

The Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) is a tool designed for the assessment of cognitive functions, such as episodic memory, semantic memory and working memory, to screen for potential problems in elderly age. It was originally developed in English in 1972 for hospitalised patients, and has since been modified by numerous authors for use in various populations. AMTS is a 10-item questionnaire comprising questions and simple tasks for the patient. It can be used as a bedside test, hence its usefulness in a clinical setting, as it merely requires verbal contact between the interviewer and the interviewee, takes only several minutes to perform, is simple, and no professional knowledge or equipment are needed. Also, as opposed to the commercially available scales, it is free. AMTS allows the identification of cognitive function disorders and their severity. If the patient’s result is unsatisfying, a further, more detailed diagnosis is pursued under specialist geriatric or psychiatric care. The test’s Polish modified version has been included as an element of the overall geriatric assessment taught as part of continued training for medical staff, and in geriatric care standards in Poland. Certain discrepancies, however, exist between the English and Polish language versions, potentially leading to an erroneous evaluation of the patient’s cognitive function. Moreover, the Polish-language version has not yet been validated. This study is aimed at a comparative analysis of the items in the Polish and the original, English-language, versions of the test. The problematic items have been elaborated on, with recommendations made as to how the test’s reliability may be increased.