Age, gender and IQ effects on the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test

Objectives. The aims of the present study were (a) to examine the effects of age, gender and IQ on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT), (b) to identify the best scores to use in interpreting test performance and (c) to compare the results with available normative data. Design. Participants were 117 normal volunteers, 60 males and 57 females, with an age range of 16-69 years and a mean age of 39.84 years (SD = 16.26). Methods. Participants completed copy, 30-second immediate recall and delayed recall trials of the ROCFT Data consisted of raw scores from the three trials and percent-retained scores for the memory trials. Results. Significant effects of age, gender and IQ were found on the copy trial and on the raw scores for the memory trials. Expressing the memory scores as a proportion of the copy score reduced these effects, but did not eliminate them. Only a 'pure' measure of delayed retention was found to be independent of age, gender and IQ. Conclusion. Results are discussed in relation to the adequacy of available norms, and the ideal scores to use for the ROUT are identified. Caution is urged in interpreting scores on the ROCFT due to the danger of misclassification if currently available norms are used.