Validation of the French version of the BACS (the brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia) among 50 French schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Schizophrenic patients demonstrate impairments in several key dimensions of cognition. These impairments are correlated with important aspects of functional outcome. While assessment of these cognition disorders is increasingly becoming a part of clinical and research practice in schizophrenia, there is no standard and easily administered test battery. The BACS (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia) has been validated in English language [Keefe RSE, Golberg TE, Harvey PD, Gold JM, Poe MP, Coughenour L. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia: reliability, sensibility, and comparison with a standard neurocognitive battery. Schizophr. Res 2004;68:283-97], and was found to be as sensitive to cognitive dysfunction as a standard battery of tests, with the advantage of requiring less than 35 min to complete. We developed a French adaptation of the BACS and this study tested its ease of administration and concurrent validity. Correlation analyses between the BACS (version A) and a standard battery were performed. A sample of 50 stable schizophrenic patients received the French Version A of the BACS in a first session, and in a second session a standard battery. All the patients completed each of the subtests of the French BACS . The mean duration of completion for the BACS French version was 36 min (S.D.=5.56). A correlation analysis between the BACS (version A) global score and the standard battery global score showed a significant result (r=0.81, p<0.0001). The correlation analysis between the BACS (version A) sub-scores and the standard battery sub-scores showed significant results for verbal memory, working memory, verbal fluency, attention and speed of information processing and executive functions (p<0.001) and for motor speed (p<0.05). The French Version of the BACS is easier to use in French schizophrenic patients compared to a standard battery (administration shorter and completion rate better) and its good psychometric properties suggest that the French Version of the BACS may be a useful tool for assessing cognition in schizophrenic patients with French as their primary language.

Validation of the Chinese version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia

“…The original version of BACS was in English and has undergone a validation study 16. The BACS has been translated into over 30 languages, and the validities of the Japanese,17 French,18 Italian,19 Spanish,20 German,21 Persian,22 and Brazilian Portuguese23 versions have been proven.…”

Cognitive impairments in psychotic disorders: common mechanisms and measurement

“…The growing research on other methods for assessing cognitive function (e.g., self-report, clinician interview) suggests that they have limited correlation with objective measures of cognitive performance (137), though they may still have utility in predicting functional status (137)(138)(139)(140)(141)(142)(143)(144). If a formal assessment of cognition is not possible, it is still important for the clinician to use the best available information to make a judgment about the individual's cognitive function, including the clinician's interactions with the patient and/or reports of family members or clinical staff.…”

Reliability and Validity of the Malay Version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS): Preliminary Results

“…This result is slightly different from those reported in the previous studies. Specifically, in the validation of the French version of the BACS (Bralet et al, 2007), Token Motor Task (Motor speed) was reported to have lower correlation between each individual measures whereas in the Japanese version of the BACS (Kaneda et al, 2007), Symbol Coding (Processing speed) was reported to have lower correlation. In the present study, the Verbal memory list learning was found to be significantly lower.…”

“…In comparison to the previous validity studies, this is considered the longest duration which can affect the subjects' practice effects. With regard to this, Bralet et al (2007) in his discussion pointed out that the long duration between test 1 and test 2 could have reduced the practice effect amongst patients.…”

“…It meets all the required criteria such as brief administration and scoring time, portability, repeatability and availability of alternate forms. The BACS has been validated in English (Keefe et al, 2004), French (Bralet et al, 2007), Ge rman (Sachs et al, 2011), Spanish (Salgado et al, 2007, Japanese (Kaneda et al, 2007) and Italian (Anselmetti et al, 2008). It was designed as a short battery for detecting cognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia and measures verbal memory, working memory, verbal fluency, attention motor speed, and problem solving.…”