Validity of an Internet version of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire.
BACKGROUND
Neuropsychological batteries are long and require expertise to administer. For this reason, the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) was developed as it is quick and easy to complete. The informant version of the scale has proven to be a useful screen for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS).


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to validate an Internet version of the MSNQ.


METHODS
The following psychometric data were collected at home over the Internet in 82 MS patients: (a) patient self-report version MSNQ (P-MSNQ), (b) informant version MSNQ (I-MSNQ), and (c) Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Thereafter patients underwent in-office testing with the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N). The sensitivity and specificity of the Internet MSNQ to detect cognitive impairment relative to the BRB-N was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.


RESULTS
Thirty-five percent of the sample was cognitively impaired. The P-MSNQ was correlated with depression and two tests of the BRB-N. The I-MSNQ was correlated with depression and all five tests of the BRB-N. A cut-off score of 26 on the I-MSNQ gave a sensitivity and specificity of 72% and 60% respectively. Test-retest and internal reliability analyses were strong for both the P-MSNQ and I-MSNQ.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first attempt at an Internet validation of the MSNQ. The modest sensitivity and specificity values suggest that further research is needed before either the patient or informant version of the MSNQ can be used for neuropsychological screening purposes over the Internet.
Akbar
Nadine
N
Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada. nadine.akbar@utoronto.ca
Honarmand
Kimia
K
Kou
Nancy
N
Levine
Brian
B
Rector
Neil
N
Feinstein
Anthony
A
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires