Table 4.
Description of different cognitive scales used in MS (based on Sumowskyet al 2018) [22]
| Test | Type of test | Cognitive domain assessed | Advantages | Disadvantages | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYMBOL DIGIT MODALITY TEST (SDMT) | Screening | IPSVisual work memory | Fast (90’’)Sensitive testWell toleratedAdditional versions available for follow-up testingNo learning or language bias | Results can be influenced by other cognitive functionsDoes not assess other cognitive domains | Useful for screening and follow-upUseful in clinical trialsComputerizable |
| PACED AUDITORY SERIAL ADDITION TASK (PASAT 3”) | Screening | IPSComplex attention processesWorking memoryExecutive function | Fast (5-10’)Applied by auditory stimuliModerate sensitivityIt is a well-known test in MS | Ceiling effectEducation level, stress and practice effects can influence results.It may generate frustration on the patient | Not recommended for clinical trialsUseful in screening and follow-upUseful if there is any visual or motor impairmentStandardize a way to quantify and interpret qualitative measures |
| SELECTIVE REMINGINGTEST (SRT) | Part of a battery | Verbal memory | High sensitivity(Unvalidated) versions available for follow-upIt affects the recovery of long-term memory instead of short-term recall | Normative data is missingOnly measure selective remindingIt neither measures ejective functions nor other cognitive domains | Useful in clinical trials for a follow-up evaluation of verbal memoryIt should be administered by a neuropsychologist |
| CALIFORNIA LEARNING VERBAL TEST(CVLT-II) | Part of a battery | Verbal memory | High sensitivityAvailable in Spanish (TAVEC)Good test-retest reliability | Only one retest versionIt needs 20’ for the long-delay recall assessmentNot computerizable | It should be administered by a neuropsychologistUseful to assesses verbal memory in clinical trials |
| BRIEF VISUAL MEMORY TEST REVISED (BVMT-R) | Part of a battery | Visual-spatial processing | High sensitivityFast to be administeredRetest versions availableWell toleratedIncludes recognition task | High inter-rater variabilityIt has no normative data in SpainRequires normal motor skills | Useful in assessment of visual memoryCan be used in trials.It should be administered by a neuropsychologist |
| SPATIAL RECALL TEST(10/36 SPART) | Part of a battery | Visual Memory | It doesn’t require normal motor skillsFree of semantic contentEasy to rate | Low sensitivityNo normative dataNo recognition task | Not as monitoring measure in Clinical trials.More useful than BVMT-R if motor skills are impairedIt should be administered by a neuropsychologist |
| CONTROL ORAL WORD ASSOCIATIONTEST(COWAT) | Part of a battery | Verbal fluencyExecutive function | Fast (3’)Moderate sensitivityWell tolerated | Can be influenced by education level and language bias.Results correlated with IPS and executive functionOnly phonetic fluencyErrors and strategies not analysed | Not in clinical trials or clinical monitoringIt should be administered by a neuropsychologistStandardize a way to quantify and interpret qualitative measures (executive function) |
| BENTON JUDGMENT OF LINE ORIENTATION(JLO) | Part of a battery | Visuospatial skills | Fast (3’)ReliableWell tolerated | Low sensitivity | Not in clinical trials or clinical monitoringIt should be administered by a neuropsychologistStandardize a way to quantify and interpret qualitative measures (executive function) |
| STROOP TEST | Independent Test | Inhibitory controlExecutive function | Fast (90”x3)Offers a measure of IPS (reading test) and interference resistanceIt is a verbal test; it does not require fine motor skills. | Requires normal visionIPS can influence the results. | Not in clinical trials or clinical monitoringIt should be administered by a neuropsychologist |
| MS QUALITY OF LIFE(MSQoL-54) | Self-administered questionnaire | Quality of life | Validated in SpanishMental and physical scalesIt includes functional, emotional, sexual and cognitive aspects. | Without normative dataIt is a long testQuestionable sensitivity for retesting | Measurement of impact on quality of lifeOutcome in clinical trials and monitoring |
| MODIFIED FATIGUE IMPACT SCALE (MFIS) | Self-administered questionnaire | Impact of fatigue | Distinguishes fatigue related to MSShort versionReliableIncludes physical, cognitive and social subscales | Without normative scales in Spanish | Part of evaluation batteryNot in clinical trials or clinical monitoring |
BRB: Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests; IPS: Information processing speed; MACFIMS: Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis