Relationship of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) to functional, emotional, and neuropsychological outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychology Questionnaire (MSNQ; [Benedict, R. H. B., Cox, D., Thompson, L. L., Foley, F., Weinstock-Guttman, B., & Munschauer, F. (2004). Reliable screening for neuropsychological impairment in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis, 10, 675-678; Benedict, R. H. B., Munschauer, F., Linn, R., Miller, C., Murphy, E., Foley, F., et al. (2003). Screening for multiple sclerosis cognitive impairment using a self-administered 15-item questionnaire. Multiple Sclerosis, 9, 95-101]), a self-report screening measure of neuropsychological functioning in multiple sclerosis (MS), with everyday life functioning, neuropsychological functioning, and mood in MS. Additionally, to investigate the validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the MSNQ to predict cognitive impairment in persons with MS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, correlational analyses; analyses of sensitivity and specificity.


METHODS
Neuropsychology lab-based study with adults from the community including persons with MS (n=48) and healthy adults (n=40).


METHODS
Subjective and objective measures of everyday life functioning, neuropsychological functioning, and mood; ROC curve of MSNQ-Self report and MSNQ-Informant report, sensitivity and specificity of MSNQ-S and MSNQ-I.


RESULTS
Correlational analyses indicate the MSNQ-S is significantly correlated with mood and self-reports of functioning, but not with objectively measures daily functioning and to only few neuropsychological tests. The MSNQ-I was not significantly correlated to mood, self-report of daily functioning or objectively measured daily functioning, but was significantly correlated with several measures of neuropsychological functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
The MSNQ-S was not supported as a sensitive screen for neuropsychological impairment in MS. However, the MSNQ-I was supported as a valid and sensitive screen of cognitive impairment in persons with MS, although further research is needed to determine an optimal cutoff score for this measure.
O'Brien
Amanda
A
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Center, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA.
Gaudino-Goering
Elizabeth
E
Shawaryn
Marla
M
Komaroff
Eugene
E
Moore
Nancy B
NB
DeLuca
John
J
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires