Bender Gestalt: Screening for Brain Dysfunction

"This is the first major manual on Bender Gestalt testing in over 30 years, and includes detailed administration and scoring instructions, and data on validity and reliability." —Epilepsia.

"This book will provide both psychologists and psychiatrists [with] a comprehensive yet easy-to-use manual for screening brain dysfunction." —Contemporary Psychiatry.

"Dr. Lacks should be complimented for her treatment of the use of the BGT in screening for organic brain dysfunction." —Book Reviews in Neurosciences.

Utilized for over 60 years by clinicians worldwide, the Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) today continues to be a widely used assessment tool to measure the cognitive domain of visuoconstructive abilities and to screen for brain dysfunction. Much of the BGT's popularity rests on its brevity, simplicity, and proven effectiveness with individuals from age 4 to 100. The test is often employed in inpatient psychiatric settings because of its ability to discriminate between brain impairment and serious mental disorders like schizophrenia. More recently, the BGT has also been used to identify older adults at high risk for cognitive decline.

This Second Edition is fully revised and includes an up-to-date review of the relevant scientific literature on the test's reliability, validity, and diagnostic accuracy. The book also contains additional normative data, a discussion of malingering, and almost all new examples and practice case materials. Five new chapters address issues in neuropsychological screening, eight steps to interpretation of test results, and use of the Bender Gestalt Test with children, adolescents, and older adults.

The book serves as a comprehensive manual for the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the Bender Gestalt Test. The diagnostic significance of general and specific behavioral observations is stressed and a format for recording them is included. For scoring, there are descriptions and multiple examples within the author's adaptation of the 12 errors of the Hutt and Briskin scoring system. The reader can use the 12 varied clinical case examples with explication of the scoring and 10 additional practice cases to gain rapid scoring facility and accuracy. Norms are provided for adult non-patients and psychiatric inpatients, nonpatient and demented older adults, and adolescents.

Designed for practical use and adhering to APA standards for test manuals, Bender Gestalt Screening for Brain Dysfunction is a comprehensive and easy-to-use manual that will enable psychology clinicians, psychometricians, and graduate students to increase their level of diagnostic accuracy in screening for brain damage.

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

Utilized for over 60 years by clinicians worldwide, the Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) today continues to be a widely used assessment tool to measure the cognitive domain of visuoconstructive abilities and to screen for brain dysfunction. Much of the BGT’s popularity rests on its brevity, simplicity, and proven effectiveness with individuals from age 4 to 100. The test is often employed in inpatient psychiatric settings because of its ability to discriminate between brain impairment and serious mental disorders like schizophrenia. More recently, the BGT has also been used to identify older adults at high risk for cognitive decline. This Second Edition is fully revised and includes an up-to-date review of the relevant scientific literature on the test’s reliability, validity, and diagnostic accuracy. The book also contains additional normative data, a discussion of malingering, and almost all new examples and practice case materials. Five new chapters address issues in neuropsychological screening, eight steps to interpretation of test results, and use of the Bender Gestalt Test with children, adolescents, and older adults. The book serves as a comprehensive manual for the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the Bender Gestalt Test. The diagnostic significance of general and specific behavioral observations is stressed and a format for recording them is included. For scoring, there are descriptions and multiple examples within the author’s adaptation of the 12 errors of the Hutt and Briskin scoring system. The reader can use the 12 varied clinical case examples with explication of the scoring and 10 additional practice cases to gain rapid scoring facility and accuracy. Norms are provided for adult nonpatients and psychiatric inpatients, nonpatient and demented older adults, and adolescents. Designed for practical use and adhering to APA standards for test manuals, Bender Gestalt Screening for Brain Dysfunction is a comprehensive and easy-to-use manual that will enable psychology clinicians, psychometricians, and graduate students to increase their level of diagnostic accuracy in screening for brain damage.

Tony A. Fletcher

This is the second edition of a text that addresses the use and clinical utility of the Bender Gestalt as a neuropsychological screening instrument for cognitive dysfunction. This update to the 1984 edition offers a process approach to administering, scoring, and interpreting this archaic instrument in the domain of visuoconstructive/perceptual-motor functioning. The purpose is to instruct the reader in the proper administration and scoring of the Bender Gestalt in a standardized fashion; to give value to behavioral observations in interpretation; to interpret the instrument in a step-by-step fashion; to provide a comprehensive text for the use of the Bender Gestalt as a neuropsychological instrument for screening cognitive impairment; and to add depth to a comprehensive evaluation. This is an interesting revision to a book on an outmoded screening instrument. It is well-suited for mental health students and professionals who continue to use this instrument in research and clinical applications. Those who have been searching for an improved scoring system for the Bender Gestalt will find it useful. This edition is largely revised from the previous one, with twice as many research oriented references and relevant neuropsychological topics with five new chapters. Key points are delineated for each chapter. The references are sufficient and give merit to the author's longstanding understanding of this screening instrument. Overall this is a book for professionals and students in the mental health and social service professionals who find some benefit from using the Bender Gestalt as a cognitive screening device. It attempts to unite theory and empirical evidence and connect them torelevant neuropsychological issues to give merit and respect to this once important instrument.

PATRICIA LACKS, PhD, has been a faculty member of the Psychology Department at Washington University in St. Louis for 20 years and has published numerous journal articles and chapters in the area of psychological assessment and treatment evaluation. Since retiring in 1991, Dr. Lacks has taught at several local universities in Santa Barbara, California, and currently provides clinical services at the Sleep Disorders Center of Santa Barbara.