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The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Screening for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis using the Symbol digit Modalities Test
B A Parmenter1, B Weinstock-Guttman, N Garg
1Department of Neurology, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Neurosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|February 14, 2007
Summary
The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) effectively screens for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). This brief test identifies patients needing further evaluation for MS-related cognitive dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS), often undetected in standard neurological exams.
- There is a need for rapid screening tools to identify MS patients requiring cognitive assessment or intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) as a brief screening tool for cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.
- To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the SDMT in identifying cognitive impairment within the MS population.
Main Methods:
- The study included 100 MS patients and 50 healthy controls, matched demographically.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS) battery.
- Impairment was defined as performing 1.5 standard deviations below controls on two or more MACFIMS tests, excluding the SDMT.
Main Results:
- A total SDMT score of 55 or lower demonstrated 72% accuracy in categorizing MS patients.
- The SDMT achieved a sensitivity of 0.82, specificity of 0.60, positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.71, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.73.
- These metrics indicate the SDMT's utility in identifying cognitive impairment in MS.
Conclusions:
- The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is an effective and efficient tool for screening cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.
- Its performance as a screening instrument is comparable to existing psychometric and questionnaire-based methods.
- The SDMT can aid clinicians in identifying MS patients who may benefit from comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.
