The Cognitive Performance Test (CPT) is a standardized occupational therapy assessment that examines cognitive integration with functioning in an instrumental activities of daily living context. Conventional cognitive measures provide diagnostic utility but do not fully address the functional implications. Ninety-one veterans diagnosed with cognitive impairment were evaluated. We compared the predictive value of the CPT with the Large Allen Cognitive Level Screen (LACLS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for the need to retire from driving versus ability to pass an on-road exam. Measures were also analyzed by diagnostic classification. CPT correctly classified a mild versus major neurocognitive disorder, whereas MMSE, MoCA, and LACLS did not differentiate the groups. A CPT cutoff score of <4.7/5.6 showed 89% sensitivity for failing the road exam and 75% specificity for ability to pass. CPT discriminated functional level in neurocognitive disorders and had better predictive value for fitness to drive compared with conventional cognitive measures.

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Evidence-Based Practice Project has developed a table summarizing the research opportunities for adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related major neurocognitive disorders. The table provides an overview of the state of current available evidence on interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice and is based on the systematic reviews from the AOTA Practice Guidelines Series. Researchers, clinicians, and students can use this information in developing innovative research to answer important questions within the occupational therapy field.

The rigor of occupation-based standardized assessments that rely on observational scoring procedures depends on proven reliability among test administrators. This study measured interrater reliability of the Cognitive Performance Test (CPT), a standardized, occupation-based assessment that measures cognitive–functional capacity in older adults with neurocognitive disorders. To capture a range of experience among test administrators, two sets of raters—four expert and three novice—scored video recordings of 10 patients administered the CPT. Interrater reliability results were strong among all raters (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .93), with expert raters (ICC = .97) yielding higher coefficients than novice raters (ICC = .93). Spearman’s ρ correlation coefficients were high among all raters (rs = .92–1.00). Practitioners can be confident that results of the CPT give accurate and consistent information to the health care team, family members, and patients when administered with fidelity using standardized protocols.