ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS): normative values for the Italian population and clinical usability

Abstract Background Up to 50% of motor neuron disease (MND) patients show neuropsychological deficits which negatively affect prognosis and care. However, disability-related logistical issues and uneven geographical coverage of healthcare services may prevent MND patients from accessing neuropsychological evaluations. This study thus aimed to standardize for the Italian population the ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen-Phone Version (ALS-CBS™-PhV), an MND-specific, telephone-based screening for frontotemporal dysfunction. Methods The cognitive section of the ALS-CBS™-PhV, the Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE), and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) was administered to 359 healthy individuals (143 males, 216 females; age, 52.7 ± 15.8; education, 13.1 ± 4.4). Norms were derived through equivalent scores. Validity, factorial structure, reliability, diagnostic accuracy, and item difficulty and discrimination were examined. Statistical equivalence between the telephone-based and in-person versions was tested. Results ALS-CBS™-PhV measures were predicted by age and education. The ALS-CBS™-PhV reflected a mono-component structure, converged with Itel-MMSE and TICS scores (rs = .23–.51) and was equivalent to its in-person format (t = .37; p = .72). Good internal (Cronbach’s α = .61), test–retest (ICC = .69), and inter-rater (ICC = .96) reliability was detected. High accuracy was found when tested against both the Itel-MMSE and the TICS (AUC = .82–89). Backward digit span items were the most discriminative. Discussion The ALS-CBS™-PhV is a statistically solid screening test for frontotemporal disorders featuring MND. Its standardization allows for (1) improvements in tele-healthcare for MND patients, (2) epidemiological applications, and (3) effective assessments in decentralized clinical trials. The ALS-CBS™-PhV can be also suitable for assessing bedridden and visually impaired patients with motor disorders.

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The brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS): normative values with gender, age and education corrections in the Italian population

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-014-0171-6 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Benedetta Goretti ◽

Claudia Niccolai ◽

Bahia Hakiki ◽

Andrea Sturchio ◽

Monica Falautano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cognitive Assessment ◽

Normative Values ◽

Italian Population

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Longitudinal Effects of Supported Exercise on Elevated Anxiety and Depression Scores in Formerly Sedentary Adults With Severe Obesity

Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/26320770211056858 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 263207702110568

Author(s):

James J. Annesi

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Behavioral Treatment ◽

Severe Obesity ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Normative Values ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Exercise Barriers ◽

Longitudinal Effects

Persistent anxiety and depression may be particularly high in individuals with obesity. Increasing exercise reliably improves mood in the general population; however, it has rarely been tested specifically in adults with severe obesity. Volunteer participants (60% women) of a theory-based cognitive-behavioral weight-management treatment with severe obesity and elevated (highest 10% based on normative values) depression ( N = 89) or anxiety ( N = 60) were assessed at baseline and Month 6 on measures of exercise output (overall, and whether the equivalent of three moderate sessions/week [i.e., ≥ 15 METs/week] were completed), corresponding mood, and exercise barriers self-efficacy. There were significant improvements (large effect sizes) in exercise outputs and mood. Increase in exercise outputs was significantly associated with reduced depression (β = −.52) and anxiety (β = −.67) scores. At least 15 METs/week of exercise was reached by 61% and 60% of participants, respectively. Participants demonstrated significantly greater reductions in depression and anxiety scores over 6 months than those completing lower amounts. Change in exercise barriers self-efficacy significantly mediated the following: (a) the prediction of depression change by change in exercise output and (b) the prediction of change in anxiety by completion/non-completion of ≥ 15 METs/week of exercise. Findings suggest substantial benefits for depression and anxiety in adults with severe obesity under conditions of moderate exercise supported by a community-based cognitive-behavioral treatment. Because of its identified mediation properties, future behavioral treatments should seek to increase barriers self-efficacy to maximize effects on elevated depression and anxiety and possibly weight.

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The Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery and Stroop test: normative values with age, education and gender corrections in an Italian population

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458506070933 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 787-793 ◽

Cited By ~ 218

Author(s):

M P Amato ◽

E Portaccio ◽

B Goretti ◽

V Zipoli ◽

L Ricchiuti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Normative Values ◽

Italian Population ◽

Long Term Storage ◽

Selective Reminding ◽

Repeatable Battery ◽

Serial Addition ◽

And Gender ◽

Selective Reminding Test ◽

Relevant Factors

The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB) is by far the most widely used instrument to estimate cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the paucity of normative data currently limits its applicability. We administered the BRB to 200 healthy subjects to obtain normative values. Moreover, we assessed the influence of demographic factors on the test scores and calculated corrections for these relevant factors. To test executive functions not explored by the BRB, we also included the Stroop word-color task (ST). Higher educational level was associated with better performance on all the tests, except for the world list generation (WLG) and the ST, considering version A, and on Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and Selective Reminding Test-Delayed (SRT-D), considering version B. Females performed better than males on the WLG considering version A, and on the SRT-Long Term Storage (SRT-LTS) and SRT-Consistent Long Term Retrieval (SRT-CLTR) considering version B. Increasing age was associated with worse performance on the ST in version A, and on the SRT-LTS, SRT-CLTR and WLG in version B. Our data can improve the applicability of the BRB for both clinical and research purposes.

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