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Updated: May 20, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Validation and interpretation of the Dutch version of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Screening
Judith M Sonder1, Lidwine B Mokkink, Femke A H van der Linden
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands. judith.sonder@vumc.nl
Background:
The Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ) was developed for screening of MS patients at risk for cognitive impairment with a patient self-report (MSNQ-P) and an informant version (MSNQ-I). The objective of this study was to validate the Dutch versions and determine their interpretability.
Methods:
The MSNQ was completed by 121 MS patients and their partners (informants). We investigated the factor structure, internal consistency and construct validity. Interrater reliability between MNSQ-P and MSNQ-I was investigated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cohen's kappa. For interpretability of both MSNQ versions we calculated sensitivity, specificity and cut-off scores. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with related area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the added value of combining both versions.
Results:
We found a unidimensional factor structure. Cronbach's alphas were 0.93 and 0.94 for MSNQ-P and MSNQ-I, respectively. The ICC was 0.59 and kappas were ≤0.50. No cut-off score could be defined for the MSNQ-P because of low sensitivity. For the MSNQ-I, sensitivity was 0.75 and specificity 0.71 (AUC 0.80). The cut-off score was 21. ROC curve analyses showed no added value of the MSNQ-P when used in combination with the MSNQ-I.
Conclusions:
The MSNQ-I is preferred over the MSNQ-P to screen MS patients for cognitive impairment.
