title: Assessing the validity of a computer-generated cognitive screening instrument for patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropsychological testing requires considerable time, expense, and expertise to administer. These factors can limit patient access. Computerized cognitive testing has been proposed as an alternative.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this paper is to validate a brief, simple-to-use computer-generated cognitive assessment screening battery for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients that has minimal motor involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 96 MS patients and 98 healthy controls completed a computer-generated battery that included the Stroop, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (C-SDMT), a two- and four-second visual analog of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PVSAT-2, PVSAT-4), and simple and choice reaction time tests. The Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS was used to define cognitive impairment in the MS sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each newly developed test successfully distinguished between cognitively impaired patients and healthy controls as well as cognitively intact patients. A combination of three computerized tests (C-SDMT, PVSAT-2, PVSAT-4) with a mean administration time of 10 minutes had a sensitivity of 82.5% and specificity of 87.5% in detecting cognitive impairment. Good test-retest reliability was obtained for each measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good sensitivity and specificity, brevity, ease of administration, and a limited motor component highlight the feasibility of introducing this computer-generated cognitive screening instrument in a busy MS clinic.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Lapshin
authors: Krista L
authors: KL
authors: Lanctôt
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: O'Connor
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Feinstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057190:Stroop Test; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognition; cognitive impairment; computerized cognitive testing; information processing speed; multiple sclerosis; neuropsychological tests