Validity of the minimal assessment of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MACFIMS)

Abstract

To preserve semantic equivalence in the remaining tests (BVMT-R, DKEFS sorting test, CVLT-II), first a bilingual translator translated the tests into Italian; then, back translation into English was performed by an independent translator. Original and back-translated versions were compared to assure their equivalence. For DKEFS sorting test and CVLT-II an iterative process of modification, including cultural adaptation of some words, was undertaken as these tests emphasize verbal stimuli. Tests were administered in a standardized manner in accordance with consensus panel recommendations (2-3).

Whole‐brain atrophy assessed by proportional‐ versus registration‐based pipelines from 3TMRIin multiple sclerosis

“…In brief, this was based on the previously validated Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS) battery (Benedict et al., 2006), which was administered by a clinical psychologist and her supervised research fellow. MACFIMS scores were corrected for depression (CES‐D) baseline scores, and compared to regression‐based norms from a NC sample (Parmenter, Testa, Schretlen, Weinstock‐Guttman, & Benedict, 2010).…”

Influence of recruitment and participation bias in neuropsychological research among MS patients

“…The data from Benedict et al (2006), including 291 patients diagnosed with clinically definite MS and 56 normal controls, were reanalyzed. Exclusionary criteria were (a) medical disorder other than MS affecting cognitive function, (b) psychiatric disorder (American Psychiatric Association, APA, 2000) other than mood, personality, or behavioral change following the onset of MS, (c) drug or alcohol dependence or current abuse, (d) motor or sensory impairment that could compromise testing, or (e) relapse or corticosteroid treatment within four weeks of assessment.…”

“…The MACFIMS (Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS) neuropsychological test battery was employed, as recommended by a consensus panel (Benedict et al, 2002b) and recently validated in MS (Benedict et al, 2006). The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) (Benton & Hamsher, 1989) and the Judgment of Line Orientation Test (JLO) (Benton et al, 1994) were used to assess language and spatial processing abilities, respectively.…”

“…As in our previous work (Benedict et al, 2006), patients were classified into two groups based on their employment0 disability status. Working patients were employed at least 20 hours per week.…”

“…During the course of a recent cross-sectional study of 291 MS patients (Benedict et al, 2006), we found that seven NP tests discriminated MS patients from healthy controls, and relapsing-remitting (RR) from secondary-progressive (SP) patients. Tests that emphasized episodic memory and processing speed were most sensitive and logistic regression models revealed that tests emphasizing processing speed, verbal memory, and executive function were predictive of vocational status.…”