Christopher Crockford1,2, Judith Newton1,3, Katie Lonergan4,5, Caoifa Madden4,5, Iain Mays4,5, Meabhdh O'Sullivan4, Emmet Costello4,5, Marta Pinto-Grau4,5, Alice Vajda4, Mark Heverin4, Niall Pender5, Ammar Al-Chalabi6, Orla Hardiman4,7, Sharon Abrahams1,2,3. 1. a Department of Psychology, Human Cognitive Neuroscience , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK. 2. b Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK. 3. c Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic , Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK. 4. d Academic Unit of Neurology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland. 5. e Department of Psychology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland. 6. f Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience , Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London , London , UK , and. 7. g Department of Neurology , Beaumont Hospital , Dublin , Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment affects approximately 50% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Research has indicated that impairment may worsen with disease progression. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was designed to measure neuropsychological functioning in ALS, with its alternate forms (ECAS-A, B, and C) allowing for serial assessment over time. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to establish reliable change scores for the alternate forms of the ECAS, and to explore practice effects and test-retest reliability of the ECAS's alternate forms. METHOD: Eighty healthy participants were recruited, with 57 completing two and 51 completing three assessments. Participants were administered alternate versions of the ECAS serially (A-B-C) at four-month intervals. Intra-class correlation analysis was employed to explore test-retest reliability, while analysis of variance was used to examine the presence of practice effects. Reliable change indices (RCI) and regression-based methods were utilized to establish change scores for the ECAS alternate forms. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was excellent for ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total scores of the combined ECAS A, B, and C (all > .90). No significant practice effects were observed over the three testing sessions. RCI and regression-based methods produced similar change scores. CONCLUSION: The alternate forms of the ECAS possess excellent test-retest reliability in a healthy control sample, with no significant practice effects. The use of conservative RCI scores is recommended. Therefore, a change of ≥8, ≥4, and ≥9 for ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total score is required for reliable change.
BACKGROUND:Cognitive impairment affects approximately 50% of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Research has indicated that impairment may worsen with disease progression. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was designed to measure neuropsychological functioning in ALS, with its alternate forms (ECAS-A, B, and C) allowing for serial assessment over time. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to establish reliable change scores for the alternate forms of the ECAS, and to explore practice effects and test-retest reliability of the ECAS's alternate forms. METHOD: Eighty healthy participants were recruited, with 57 completing two and 51 completing three assessments. Participants were administered alternate versions of the ECAS serially (A-B-C) at four-month intervals. Intra-class correlation analysis was employed to explore test-retest reliability, while analysis of variance was used to examine the presence of practice effects. Reliable change indices (RCI) and regression-based methods were utilized to establish change scores for the ECAS alternate forms. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was excellent for ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total scores of the combined ECAS A, B, and C (all > .90). No significant practice effects were observed over the three testing sessions. RCI and regression-based methods produced similar change scores. CONCLUSION: The alternate forms of the ECAS possess excellent test-retest reliability in a healthy control sample, with no significant practice effects. The use of conservative RCI scores is recommended. Therefore, a change of ≥8, ≥4, and ≥9 for ALS Specific, ALS Non-Specific, and ECAS Total score is required for reliable change.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cognition; ECAS; alternate forms; practice; test reliability
Authors: R K Olney; J Murphy; D Forshew; E Garwood; B L Miller; S Langmore; M A Kohn; C Lomen-Hoerth Journal: Neurology Date: 2005-12-13 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: A Chiò; A Vignola; E Mastro; A Dei Giudici; B Iazzolino; A Calvo; C Moglia; A Montuschi Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 6.089
Authors: Dustin B Hammers; Kayla R Suhrie; Ava Dixon; Sariah Porter; Kevin Duff Journal: Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn Date: 2020-07-02
Authors: Susan L Hartmaier; Thomas Rhodes; Suzanne F Cook; Courtney Schlusser; Chao Chen; Steve Han; Neta Zach; Venkatesha Murthy; Shreya Davé Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2022-01-21 Impact factor: 3.186