Visuo-spatial and Constructional Ability of Patients with Schizophrenia on the Clock Drawing Test

The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a simple neuro-psychometric instrument that can be easily applied to assess several cognitive functions. It assesses visuo-spatial task and constructional abilities and therefore can be useful for identifying deficits pertaining to right parietal lobe, constructional apraxia and executive function in patients with schizophrenia. The present study is designed to assess the performance of patients with schizophrenia on the CDT. Sixty patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria were selected and screened for active psychopathology using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. The CDT was then administered and scored using the standard procedure. Sixty normal controls were selected from the nearby area and screened through the General Health Questionnaire-12, and were then also given the CDT. The results revealed poor visuo-spatial ability in patients with schizophrenia in comparison to normal controls. The frequent errors observed in the drawings of patients with schizophrenia were related to place assignment of numbers on the clock’s face and inappropriate placement of the hands. CDT is a good measure for assessment of multiple cognitive deficits in psychiatric patients, with results independent of age, education and cultural background, and can therefore be utilized as a screening tool for the psychiatric population. Extensive research is needed in this direction.