Reliability and Factor Structure of the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination

Abstract

Objectives: Compared to its alternatives (e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] and Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), little is known about the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination. The purpose of the current study is to describe the internal consistency, factor structure, and temporal stability of the SLUMS, a widely used cognitive screening measure. Methods: We examined the SLUMS of 108 mostly White male Veterans seen for home-based primary care services, 101 of whom had complete data and 28 who completed retesting approximately one year later. Results: At time one, Veterans averaged 76.44 (SD = 9.88) years of age and 13.07 (SD = 2.26) years of formal education. Results indicated that the SLUMS had acceptable internal consistency (α = .709) and temporal stability (ρ =.723), with strongest evidence for a one-factor structure. Conclusions: The SLUMS appears to have adequate reliability and clear one-factor structure in this sample. Additional research with diverse samples is needed to characterize the psychometrics of the SLUMS more comprehensively. Clinical Implications: The SLUMS appears to be an efficient method for approximating global cognitive functioning among medically complex older adults.