The use of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening tool to evaluate cognitive deficits in Lebanese in-patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a brief cognitive impairment screening tool suitable for a rapid diagnosis of cognitive functioning. The primary objective was to examine the ability of the MoCA to detect cognitive impairment and functioning (autonomy and social cognition) among Lebanese patients with schizophrenia. The secondary objective was to evaluate factors related to cognition. A cross-sectional study conducted between July 2019 and Mars 2020 that enrolled 120 in-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The MoCA tool and the BACS were used to evaluate the patients' cognitive functioning. The MoCA adjusted total score was significantly correlated with the BACS total score (r=.72, p<.001). The cut-off value of the MoCA for detecting mild cognitive impairment was 21, moderate cognitive impairment was 20.50 and severe cognitive impairment was 19.5. The multivariable analysis showed that the MoCA total score and the BACS score resulted in a non-significant association with autonomy. Also, higher cognition (higher BACS) (B =.10, p<0.001) was significantly associated with a higher MoCA total score. However, higher depression (B=-.18, p=.02) and higher psychosis (B=-.04, p = .01) were significantly associated with lower MoCA. The Arabic version of the MoCA can be a useful tool for screening cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia.