A comparative study of the MATRICS and IntegNeuro cognitive assessment batteries.
Cognitive impairment is prevalent in schizophrenia and is related to poorer functional and treatment outcomes. Cognitive assessment is therefore now a routine component of clinical trials of new treatments for schizophrenia. The current gold-standard for cognitive assessment in clinical trials for schizophrenia is the MATRICS (Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), which was developed based on expert consensus and incorporates paper-and-pencil tests (and one computerized measure) with an established history in the field of neuropsychology. Recently, however, interest has increased in using computerized batteries for clinical trials. In this study, we tested 155 people with schizophrenia and 75 healthy control participants on both the MCCB and IntegNeuro, a touch-screen-based computerized battery with previously demonstrated high levels of reliability and validity, to determine comparability between test scores. In addition, we assessed test-retest reliability and practice effects over a one-month interval for both batteries and determined correlations between cognitive test scores and scores on functional outcome measures. High levels of agreement were observed between total battery composite scores (r > .80) and, in a canonical correlation analysis, between all critical single test scores from each battery (r(c) > .90). The batteries demonstrated essentially equivalent sensitivity in discriminating between patients and controls and equivalent levels of test-retest reliability and practice effects. Correlations between cognitive test scores and functional outcome measures were equivalent between the two batteries and low in nearly all cases. The number of missing data points was greater with IntegNeuro, highlighting the requirements for test administrator involvement even with computerized batteries.
Silverstein
Steven M
SM
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-University Behavioral HealthCare, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. silvers1@umdnj.edu
Jaeger
Judith
J
Donovan-Lepore
Anne-Marie
AM
Wilkniss
Sandra M
SM
Savitz
Adam
A
Malinovsky
Igor
I
Hawthorne
Danielle
D
Raines
Shane
S
Carson
Sarah
S
Marcello
Stephanie
S
Zukin
Stephen R
SR
Furlong
Stephen
S
Dent
Gersham
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol