Overview of the Complex Figure Test and Its Clinical Application in Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Including Copying and Recall

Abstract

The Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test is a commonly used neuropsychological assessment tool. It is widely used to assess the visuo-constructional ability and visual memory of neuropsychiatric disorders, including copying and recall tests. By drawing the complex figure, the functional decline of a patient in multiple cognitive dimensions can be assessed, including attention and concentration, fine-motor coordination, visuospatial perception, non-verbal memory, planning and organization, and spatial orientation. This review first describes the different versions and scoring methods of ROCF. It then reviews the application of ROCF in the assessment of visuo-constructional ability in patients with dementia, other brain diseases, and psychiatric disorders. Finally, based on the scoring method of the digital system, future research hopes to develop a new digital ROCF scoring method combined with machine learning algorithms to standardize clinical practice and explore the characteristic neuropsychological structure information of different disorders.

Mindful schools: Neuropsychological performance after the implementation of a mindfulness-based structured program in the school setting

“…• RAVLT (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) (Rey, 1964): assessment of verbal learning and memory, including proactive inhibition, retroactive inhibition, retention, encoding versus retrieval and subjective organization (Schmidt, 1996) (Thurstone & Thurstone, 1941;Thurstone & Yela, 2012): is a valid and reliable instrument validated in the Spanish population that evaluates focused and sustained attention and the ability to perceive similarities, differences and patterns. • ROCF (Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test) (Osterrieth, 1944): is a valid, reliable and widely-used neuropsychological assessment tool for the evaluation of visuospatial constructional ability, visual memory and executive function mediated by the prefrontal lobe (Shin et al, 2006;Zhang et al, 2021). • IECI (Children's Daily Stress Inventory) (Trianes et al, 2012): assessment of stressor stimuli and related psychophysiological, emotional, cognitive or behavioural responses with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.81 and a testretest reliability of 0.80.…”

Verbal and Nonverbal Memory in Neurodegenerative and Stroke Aphasia: Evidence From the Turkish Version of the Three Words Three Shapes Test

“…The majority of memory assessments rely on the ability to process verbal stimuli such as auditory-based word lists, including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Rey, 1970) and the California Verbal Learning Test (Delis et al, 1987). On the other hand, some memory assessments rely on the ability to process nonverbal stimuli such as objects, faces, and spatial locations, including the Cambridge Face Memory Test (Duchaine and Nakayama, 2006) and the Complex Figure Test (Zhang et al, 2021). Still, few memory assessments contain both domain-specific stimuli, thus preventing the memory processing of verbal and nonverbal material to be compared.…”

Comparison of RCF Scoring System to Clinical Decision for the Rey Complex Figure Using Machine-Learning Algorithm

“… 7 It has been reported that RCF is one of neuropsychological tests with adequate sensitivity and specificity for discriminating patients with different neuropsychological conditions such as dementia, MCI, depression, and mild head injury. 8 Many clinicians have used RCF for diagnosing MCI and dementia to improve their clinical decisions.…”

“…The RCF scoring system for participants can be performed in 2 ways: the standard RCF scoring system and clinical decision based on clinical dementia rating (CDR). 8 9 The CDR is evaluated using the Korean Screening Questionnaire (KDSQ) on a scale of 0–3 ( Table 1 ). 10 11 The KDSQ is a dementia screening questionnaire that identifies early dementia patients.…”

“… 11 In the 36-point version of the RCF scoring system, the figure is split into eighteen identifiable areas. 6 8 Each line category is considered separately and marked on the accuracy of its position and the exhibited distortion with scales shown in Appendix 1 . The clinical decision was a major criterion for differentiating MCI and mild dementia subjects.…”