Test-retest stability of the California verbal learning test in older persons.

One hundred fifty-one healthy older persons were administered the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) on 2 occasions, an average of 1.30 years apart. Means for age and education were 69.63 years (SD = 6.46) and 14.91 years (SD = 2.54), respectively. Stability coefficients ranged from .24 on number of perseverations to .76 for both List A total recall and long-delay free recall. Only 5 CVLT scores demonstrated a significant change on retest, and the overall magnitude of improvement was small. To assist clinicians in the process of detecting significant change on retest, the authors provide standard error of difference values and 90% confidence intervals for 22 CVLT scores.