Table 1

Distribution and WCST performance under standard or modified administration (verbalization) of the studied sample.


WCST Performance


WCST indexes
Total sample (n = 63)
Good (n = 40)
Poor (n = 16)
Remediable (n = 7)

Categories Achieved




     Standard adm.
3.9 ± 2.4#
5.6 ± 0.9
0.6 ± 0.9*
2.0 ± 1.4§
     Verbalization
4.6 ± 2.0
5.8 ± 0.4
1.3 ± 0.9
5.4 ± 0.7
Perseverative Errors




     Standard adm.
17.4 ± 11.9*
14.4 ± 11.2#
23.8 ± 11.6**
20.0 ± 12.0
     Verbalization
13.0 ± 17.6
4.8 ± 9.2
34.2 ± 19.0
11.0 ± 9.5
Total Errors




     Standard adm.
30.9 ± 15.8§
23.7 ± 13.8#
43.6 ± 10.8§
42.8 ± 11.1*
     Verbalization
23.6 ± 23.6
11.6 ± 15.6
53.4 ± 16.0
23.9 ± 15.1
Unique Errors




     Standard adm.
1.9 ± 4.4*
1.1 ± 2.2*
1.8 ± 3.1
6.7 ± 10.6
     Verbalization
0.8 ± 3.0
0.1 ± 0.4
1.6 ± 5.0
2.8 ± 4.5

Paired t-tests Standard adm vs Verbalization: * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; § P < 0.005; # P < 0.0005

Rossi et al. BMC Psychiatry 2006 6:3   doi:10.1186/1471-244X-6-3