title: Reliability, validity and treatment sensitivity of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale.
abstract: Cognitive functioning can be assessed with performance-based assessments such as neuropsychological tests and with interview-based assessments. Both assessment methods have the potential to assess whether treatments for schizophrenia improve clinically relevant aspects of cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the reliability, validity and treatment responsiveness of interview-based measures, especially in the context of clinical trials. Data from two studies were utilized to assess these features of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS). One of the studies was a validation study involving 79 patients with schizophrenia assessed at 3 academic research centers in the US. The other study was a 32-site clinical trial conducted in the US and Europe comparing the effects of encenicline, an alpha-7 nicotine agonist, to placebo in 319 patients with schizophrenia. The SCoRS interviewer ratings demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability in several different circumstances, including those that did not involve treatment (ICC> 0.90), and during treatment (ICC>0.80). SCoRS interviewer ratings were related to cognitive performance as measured by the MCCB (r=-0.35), and demonstrated significant sensitivity to treatment with encenicline compared to placebo (P<.001). These data suggest that the SCoRS has potential as a clinically relevant measure in clinical trials aiming to improve cognition in schizophrenia, and may be useful for clinical practice. The weaknesses of the SCoRS include its reliance on informant information, which is not available for some patients, and reduced validity when patient's self-report is the sole information source.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, NC, USA; NeuroCog Trials, Inc., NC, USA. Electronic address: richard.keefe@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Richard S E
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.affiliation: NeuroCog Trials, Inc., NC, USA.
authors.forename: Vicki G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: NeuroCog Trials, Inc., NC, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Spagnola
authors.affiliation: FORUM Pharmaceuticals, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hilt
authors.affiliation: FORUM Pharmaceuticals, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dgetluck
authors.affiliation: NeuroCog Trials, Inc., NC, USA.
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruse
authors.affiliation: University of California San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narasimhan
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005060:Europe; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor / Q000819:agonists
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
keywords: Assessment; Cognition; Cognitive impairment; SCoRS; Schizophrenia; Treatment response