title: Alteration profile of executive functions in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Executive functions (EF) in multiple sclerosis (MS) have been only partially studied, mainly trough the evaluation of subfunctions. The main objective was to analyse the EF alteration profile in a patients with MS sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study, 100 patients with MS and 30 controls were evaluated by the following tests: Comprehensive Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, picture completion, letter-number sequencing, comprehension and similarities of the WAIS-III scale, phonological and semantic fluency, zoo map test, temporal judgment and behavioural Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX-Q) of the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome. Scores below normative values were considered pathological. Factorial analysis was used to simplify the deficits, and multiple regression and ANOVA statistics were used to analyse the relationship between clinical and cognitive variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four patients had a recurrent-relapsing course, the mean degree of disability by Expanded disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 2.7 and the mean time of evolution was 9.94 years. Eighty-five per cent presented alterations in 3 or more EF tests and 71% in 5 or more. In the factorial analysis, three groups of functions were involved: (i) cognitive flexibility (ii) inhibition and (iii) abstraction ability. Patients with a progressive course and a high EDSS had a significantly worse performance (P < 0.05). The patients showed a low awareness of their deficit in the DEX-Q.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive flexibility, inhibition and abstraction ability were the three components of EF most deficient. The patients with the worst performance were those with progressive forms and a high EDSS.
authors: Multiple Sclerosis Unit of the Neurology Department, Getafe University Hospital, Getafe, Madrid, Spain; Biological and Health Psychology Department, Psychology Faculty of the Madrid Autonomous University, Cantoblanco University City, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Cerezo García
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Martín Plasencia
authors: Yolanda
authors: Y
authors: Aladro Benito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: executive function; multiple sclerosis