Validation of the Finnish version of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) and evaluation of the applicability of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) and the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC).

Päivi Hämäläinen,Sebastian Therman,Vera Leo,Juhani Ruutiainen

doi:10.1002/brb3.2087

Abstract

ObjectivesCognitive impairment is frequent in multiple sclerosis (MS) as approximately half of the patients manifest some degree of cognitive impairment. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) has been designed for brief cognitive evaluation. The purpose of the study was to validate the BICAMS along with the Finnish versions of one self‐rating questionnaire each for cognition and fatigue.MethodsA total of 65 MS patients and 45 healthy controls (HC) were assessed with the BICAMS, the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ), and the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) twice, approximately within nine days.ResultsMS patients scored markedly lower than the HCs on each of the three tests of the BICAMS. Of the patients, 60% scored at least 1.5 SD below the mean of the HCs on at least one test; 49% on the SDMT, 26% on the CVLT‐II, and 28% on the BVMT‐R. Correlation coefficients for the repeated measurement were between 0.75 and 0.89 for the three tests in the whole study sample. MS patients reported more cognitive symptoms and more fatigue than the HCs. Cronbach's alpha was 0.94 for the MSNQ and 0.98 for the FSMC. Correlation coefficient for the repeated measurement was 0.91 for the MSNQ and between 0.92 and 0.94 for the FSMC scores for the whole study sample.ConclusionsThe present study supports the validity of the Finnish version of the BICAMS. The SDMT was the most sensitive of the three BICAMS tests and showed cognitive impairment in half of the patients. The Finnish versions of the MSNQ and the FSMC proved useful tools in approaching concerns related to cognition and fatigue.

Highlights

Cognitive deficits are a common manifestation in multiple sclerosis (MS) occurring in about 50%–60% of patients (Sumowski et al, (2018))
The aim of the present study was to validate the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) in a Finnish population with MS by employing the validation procedure suggested by Benedict et al (2012)
The secondary aim of the study was to evaluate the applicability of the Finnish version of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ)

Summary

Introduction

Cognitive deficits are a common manifestation in multiple sclerosis (MS) occurring in about 50%–60% of patients (Sumowski et al, (2018)). Slowed information processing as well as memory and learning dysfunction are regarded as the most frequent cognitive deficits (Benedict et al, 2020; Sumowski et al, 2018). Slowed information processing speed in particular is thought to be the core feature of cognitive decline in MS. Cognitive deficits may have effects on physical independence, quality of life, employment, social and recreational activities, driving skills, and rehabilitation outcome, as well as on caregiver strain (Benedict et al, 2020). Since cognitive deficits can have a multidimensional impact on patients' activities of daily living, these symptoms should be considered in the diagnostics and treatment

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