title: Construct and diagnostic validities of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test in the Alzheimer's disease spectrum.
abstract: The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is a memory test that controls attention and acquisition, by providing category cues in the learning process. Because it enables an assessment of memory not confounded by normal age-related changes in cognition and a high accuracy on Alzheimer's disease (AD) evaluation, it has been suggested by the International Working Group on AD. Our aim was to assess the construct related validity of the FCSRT in the AD spectrum disorders.
  
  
  
  Patients were classified in two groups according to standard criteria: amnestic mild cognitive impairment (n = 100) and AD (n = 70). A matched control group (n = 101) of cognitively healthy subjects was included. The factorial structure of two models and respective construct and diagnostic validities were analyzed.
  
  
  
  Both models revealed adequate fit values. The appropriated convergent validity and the lack of discriminant validity support the two factors as measuring the same construct (memory ability). The recalls of the FCSRT enabled high classification accuracy and diagnostic validity for both pathological groups.
  
  
  
  This study represents a novel contribution regarding the adequacy of the FCSRT in terms of construct and diagnostic validities and shows the interest of including both immediate (learning) and delayed (retention) recalls. It gives also new possibilities regarding the use of the FCSRT in the memory assessment of AD spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.|b Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Research in Light and Image, Faculty of Medicine , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: c Psychology and Health Research Unit (UIPES) & Department of Psychological Sciences , ISPA-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marôco
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: e Faculty of Medicine , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.|f Neurology Department of the Coimbra Hospital and University Center , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Santana
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Cognitive impairment; Factor analysis; Memory; Validity