SPMSQ: Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire
A brief 10-item cognitive screening tool developed by Pfeiffer (1975) to detect intellectual impairment in older adults.
Administration Note: Ask each question directly to the client and record their verbal response. Mark each response as correct or incorrect based on accuracy. Scoring is adjusted for education level.
Instructions: Ask the client each question and record their response. Then indicate whether the response was correct or incorrect. For questions requiring verification (e.g., mother's maiden name), mark as correct if verifiable.
Education level is used to adjust the scoring threshold.
1. What is the date today?
Enter the client's response (month/day/year)
2. What day of the week is it?
Enter the client's response
3. What is the name of this place?
Enter the client's response (any correct description of the location)
4. What is your telephone number?
Enter the client's response (or ask for street address if no phone)
5. How old are you?
Enter the client's response
6. When were you born?
Enter the client's response (month/day/year)
7. Who is the current President of the United States?
Enter the client's response
8. Who was the President just before them?
Enter the client's response
9. What was your mother's maiden name?
Enter the client's response (mark as correct if verifiable)
10. Subtract 3 from 20 and keep subtracting 3 from each new number all the way down.
Enter the client's responses (correct sequence: 17, 14, 11, 8, 5)
Providing context helps generate more tailored recommendations. Do not include identifying information.
Please enter all 10 responses and mark each as correct or incorrect.