Development and validation of a screening battery for multiple sclerosis

714 Abstracts /Archives of Clinical Neuropsychologv 15 (2000) 653-850 demyelinating lesions were assigned neuroanatomic locations and volumed. Patients completed a neuropsychological screening battery which included the HAM-D, BDI, Digit Span, Symbol Digit, 724, Animal Naming, COWAT, Stroop, RAVLT, and 15Item BNT. Factor analysis of the neuropsychological battery revealed 4 factors: Attention, Visual-Spatial Memory, Verbal Memory, and Language. A third of the patients (1 l/3 1) scored at or below - 2 SD on 4 or more specific tests or subtests. Only 5 patients’ scores were above - 1.5 SD on all testskubtests. Impaired patients, who scored below - 1.5 SD (n= 12) on 4 or more tests, had significantly greater total lesion volume (x = 20.63 cc) than unimpaired patients, who scored below - 1.5 SD on 3 or fewer tests (x = 4.20 cc) (F = 23.9 1, p = 0.000). Significant correlations were found between 3 tests (Symbol Digit, 7/24 Delay, and RAVLT Delay) and lesions in specific neuroanatomic lesions in the impaired patients. Scores on Symbol Digit correlated with total lesion volume, as well as specific lesion volume in the supraventricular frontal lobes, the let? periventricular occipital and parietal areas, the deep white matter of the occipital and temporal lobes, and the right side of the internal capsule. Scores on 7/24 Delay correlated with lesion volume in the deep white matter of the lefl occipital lobe and the right side of the internal capsule. Scores on the RAVLT Delay correlated with lesion volume in the corpus callosum. The correlations with lesions in the internal capsule may be spurious, as the lesion volume in this area is quite small. Development and validation of a screening battery for multiple sclerosis Romero M, Lebby e Gandolfo R, Tanner D, Hammon C. This study examined the classification ability of the MS Screening Battery, which was compared to the classification results obtained with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Cognistat/ Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination among multiple sclerosis, neurological, and normal control subjects. Descriminant function analysis found MS Screening Battery to be most sensitive to MS-specific deficits by correctly identifying 61.7% of the MS subjects in comparison to 0% of MS subjects identified by either MMSE or NCSE. The MS Screening Battery correctly classified 71% of the original cases, while MMSE and NCSE classified 47% and 57%, respectively. It was concluded that the MS Screening Battery may be a useful measure for an initial screening of multiple sclerosis patients. Using comprehensive neuropsycbological assessment making in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis Partridge K, Lewandowski A, Cole J. to assist with pharmaceutical decision Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating neurologic illness affecting concept formation (Beatty, et al., 1995) memory, processing speed, executive functioning, and quality of life (Rao, 1993, 1996, 1997). While it is known that long-term changes in cognitive status associated with MS can be monitored through neuropsychological evaluation (Reitan, 197 I), repeated neuropsychological assessment can also be used to monitor drug efficacy over time in the treatment of this disease (Weinstein et al., 1999). A longitudinal case study of an ambulatory 46-year-old right-handed male with 18 years of education diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS was conducted over the course of 5 years during which the patient received separate treatments of interferon beta (Avonex@) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone@). Neuropsychological functioning was assessed using the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB), its allied procedures, and supplemental achievement and memory  (...truncated)