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Updated: Jan 30, 2026
11:35
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
58.8K
A clinical screening tool for objective and subjective cognitive disorders in multiple sclerosis
Laurent Guilloton1, Jean-Philippe Camdessanche2, Dominique Latombe1
1Rhône-Alpes MS network, GHE, hôpital Neurologique, 69500 Bron, France.
Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
|February 1, 2019
Summary
Cognitive dysfunction is common in multiple sclerosis (MS). A brief assessment tool effectively evaluates subjective and objective cognitive issues in MS patients, aiding treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS), impacting attention, memory, and planning.
- Cognitive complaints in MS are often confounded by fatigue, anxiety, depression, or treatment side effects.
- Assessing cognitive deficits in MS is challenging due to subjective patient experiences and coexisting factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and relevance of a rapid, comprehensive assessment for both objective and subjective cognitive dysfunction in MS patients.
- To develop a practical tool for identifying and quantifying cognitive issues in a clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- A brief cognitive assessment was administered to MS patients, including visual analogue scales (VASs) for subjective discomfort, the Barbizet's lion story memory test, and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) for processing speed.
- Self-reporting questionnaires for fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]) and mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) were also included.
- Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze relationships between different assessment scores.
Main Results:
- The assessment, completed in under 20 minutes, identified cognitive symptoms and quantified patient discomfort.
- Fatigue and anxiety frequently coexisted with cognitive complaints, showing modest correlations with respective scales (VAS fatigue/FSS, VAS mood/HADS).
- While most patients showed similar SDMT and recall performance, a subset exhibited dissociation, validating the use of both tests.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive dysfunction in MS is multifactorial, necessitating patient-reported experiences and cognitive complaints in follow-up.
- The proposed simple assessment tool is user-friendly for clinical settings.
- This tool provides essential information to guide decisions regarding further comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.
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