TY - JOUR
T1 - Minimal neuropsychological assessment of MS patients
T2 - A consensus approach
AU - Benedict, Ralph H.B.
AU - Fischer, Jill S.
AU - Archibald, Cate J.
AU - Arnett, Peter Andrew
AU - Beatty, William W.
AU - Bobholz, Julie
AU - Chelune, Gordon J.
AU - Fisk, John D.
AU - Langdon, Dawn W.
AU - Caruso, Lauren
AU - Foley, Fred
AU - LaRocca, Nicholas G.
AU - Vowels, Lindsey
AU - Weinstein, Amy
AU - DeLuca, John
AU - Rao, Stephen M.
AU - Munschauer, Frederick
PY - 2002/8
Y1 - 2002/8
N2 - Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet patients seen in MS clinics and neurologic practices are not routinely assessed neuropsychologically. In part, poor utilization of NP services may be attributed to a lack of consensus among neuropsychologists regarding the optimal approach for evaluating MS patients. An expert panel composed of neuropsychologists and psychologists from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia was convened by the Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) in April, 2001. Our objectives were to: (a) propose a minimal neuropsychological (NP) examination for clinical monitoring of MS patients and research, and (b) identify strategies for improving NP assessment of MS patients in the future. The panel reviewed pertinent literature on MS-related cognitive dysfunction, considered psychometric factors relevant to NP assessment, defined the purpose and optimal characteristics of a minimal NP examination in MS, and rated the psychometric and practical properties of 36 candidate NP measures based on available literature. A 90-minute NP battery, the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS), emerged from this discussion. The MACFIMS is composed of seven neuropsychological tests, covering five cognitive domains commonly impaired in MS (processing speed/working memory, learning and memory, executive function, visual-spatial processing, and word retrieval). It is supplemented by a measure of estimated premorbid cognitive ability. Recommendations for assessing other factors that may potentially confound interpretation of NP data (e.g., visual/sensory/motor impairment, fatigue, and depression) are offered, as well as strategies for improving NP assessment of MS patients in the future.
AB - Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet patients seen in MS clinics and neurologic practices are not routinely assessed neuropsychologically. In part, poor utilization of NP services may be attributed to a lack of consensus among neuropsychologists regarding the optimal approach for evaluating MS patients. An expert panel composed of neuropsychologists and psychologists from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia was convened by the Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) in April, 2001. Our objectives were to: (a) propose a minimal neuropsychological (NP) examination for clinical monitoring of MS patients and research, and (b) identify strategies for improving NP assessment of MS patients in the future. The panel reviewed pertinent literature on MS-related cognitive dysfunction, considered psychometric factors relevant to NP assessment, defined the purpose and optimal characteristics of a minimal NP examination in MS, and rated the psychometric and practical properties of 36 candidate NP measures based on available literature. A 90-minute NP battery, the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS), emerged from this discussion. The MACFIMS is composed of seven neuropsychological tests, covering five cognitive domains commonly impaired in MS (processing speed/working memory, learning and memory, executive function, visual-spatial processing, and word retrieval). It is supplemented by a measure of estimated premorbid cognitive ability. Recommendations for assessing other factors that may potentially confound interpretation of NP data (e.g., visual/sensory/motor impairment, fatigue, and depression) are offered, as well as strategies for improving NP assessment of MS patients in the future.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0344061037&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0344061037&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1076/clin.16.3.381.13859
DO - 10.1076/clin.16.3.381.13859
M3 - Article
C2 - 12607150
AN - SCOPUS:0344061037
SN - 1385-4046
VL - 16
SP - 381
EP - 397
JO - Clinical Neuropsychologist
JF - Clinical Neuropsychologist
IS - 3
ER -
