Assessing the validity of a computer-generated cognitive screening instrument for patients with multiple sclerosis.

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.

OBJECTIVES: 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.