Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery Research Articles

Neurocognitive Functioning in Adolescents at Risk for Mental Health Problems.

The main goal of the study was to assess the neurocognitive performance in adolescents at high psychometric risk for mental health problems. A sample of 48 participants at high risk for mental disorders and an age-gender matched healthy comparison group of 48 adolescents were identified from a community-derived sample of 1,509 adolescents. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire problems and the University of Pennsylvania Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery for children (included 14 tasks assessing five neurobehavioral domains: executive functions, episodic memory, complex cognition, social cognition, and sensorimotor speed) were used. Relative to healthy comparison participants, individuals at high risk showed significant impairments across almost all neurocognitive domains (executive functions, episodic memory, complex cognition, social cognition, and sensorimotor speed). These findings demonstrate that neurocognitive impairments can be shown in adolescents at high psychometric risk for mental health problems before the onset of more severe psychological problems.

Pilot Randomized Controlled Study of a Histamine Receptor Inverse Agonist in the Symptomatic Treatment of AD

We performed a clinical trial to evaluate the effects of the histamine subtype-3 receptor inverse agonist MK- 0249 on cognition in AD patients. Mild-to-moderate AD patients were randomized 1:1 to 4 weeks of double-blind daily treatment with oral MK-0249 5-mg or placebo. Pharmacokinetic and PET data suggested that MK-0249 5-mg daily would achieve approximately 85% brain receptor occupancy at Cmax in elderly patients. Primary efficacy measures were the short Computerized-Neuropsychological-Test-Battery (CNTB) summary score and ADAS-Cog score. A secondary efficacy measure was a Cognition Summary Score summarizing results from 7 cognitive tests. Of 144 patients randomized, 132 completed 4 weeks (MK-0249 = 65, placebo = 67). Most patients (88.2%) were on concomitant symptomatic AD treatment. There were no significant differences between treatments on primary and secondary endpoints at week 4: short CNTB summary score = 0.89 (95% CI: -0.74,2.52); ADAS-Cog score s -0.25 (95% CI: -1.61,1.11); Cognition Summary Score = 1.38 (95% CI: -0.64,3.40). MK-0249 was generally well tolerated but was associated with an increased percentage of patients with adverse events (41/73; 56.2) versus placebo (18/70; 25.7%). Adverse events in > 5% of patients on MK-0249 were diarrhea (8.2% vs. 2.9%), headache (8.2% vs. 1.4%), muscle spasms (5.5% vs. 0%), insomnia (5.5% vs. 0%) and stomach discomfort (5.5% vs. 0%). MK-0249 5-mg once daily over 4 weeks was not effective in improving cognitive function in mild to moderate AD patients who were on concomitant symptomatic AD treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration, NCT00420420).

Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on SRAVEN Performance

This exploratory study aimed to investigate the influence of specific socio-demographic variables on a computerized test of non-verbal neuropsychological performance. Six hundred and thirty South African first year students were assessed using the University of Pennsylvania Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (PennCNP). Fluid intelligence was measured by a computerized version of the Raven's Progressive Matrices (SRAVENS). Analysis of variance indicated that gender, home language, quality of schooling, language of schooling and paternal education influenced performance on the SRAVEN. Stepwise multiple regression evidenced the importance of language, paternal education and high school language on SRAVENS responses. The assumption of non-verbal test scores as being independent of socio-demographic factors needs to be revisited as such independence cannot be maintained in light of such evidence.

Discriminating healthy elderly, MCI, mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease: The Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB)

Discriminating healthy elderly, MCI, mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease: The Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB)

Assessing the neuropsychological profile of stable schizophrenic outpatients.

In an administration of the Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB), stable schizophrenic outpatients (n = 26) showed significant impairment (P < 0.05) relative to normal control subjects (n = 28) in overall function and measures of verbal learning. Except on tests of motor speed, the performance profile of schizophrenic patients was similar to that of elderly normal control subjects (n = 33). This profile of deficits is consistent with findings of other investigators in similar patient populations. In addition to displaying sensitivity to the mild impairments found in outpatients, the CNTB showed high test-retest reliability (r = 0.76, P < 0.0001). It should be useful for evaluating cognitive impairment in clinical trials of prospective treatments.

Effects of the Cholinomimetic SDZ ENS-163 on Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Humans

Scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment was used in healthy men to evaluate the central nervous system activity of the new cholinomimetic SDZ ENS-163. Eighteen subjects were treated in a crossover design with oral placebo/intravenous saline, 50 mg of oral SDZ ENS-163/intravenous saline, oral placebo/0.4 mg of intravenous scopolamine, and 50 mg of oral SDZ ENS-163/0.4 mg of intravenous scopolamine. The administration of placebo with scopolamine caused significant cognitive impairment, as assessed by the Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB), and also decreased salivation and heart rate. In contrast, SDZ ENS-163 with saline had no effect on CNTB scores, increased salivation, and increased heart rate. Despite the observed cholinomimetic effects of SDZ ENS-163 when administered with saline, the changes in CNTB scores, heart rate, and salivation were indistinguishable between placebo/scopolamine and SDZ ENS-163/scopolamine. Thus, 50 mg of oral SDZ ENS-163 has cholinomimetic activity in normal men, but this dose is insufficient to reverse the muscarinic effects of 0.4 mg of intravenous scopolamine.

Psychomotor and Memory Effects of Two Adinazolam Formulations Assessed by a Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery

The memory effects of adinazolam were assessed using the computerized neuropsychological test battery (CNTB). In a single-blind crossover study, 12 volunteers received 2 x 20 mg adinazolam mesylate immediate-release (CT) tablets, 2 x 30 mg sustained-release (SR) tablets, and placebo. Plasma adinazolam and N-desmethyladinozolam (NDMAD) were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Choice reaction time and word-list-learning/delayed-recall CNTB modules were administered at 0, 1, 3 and 6 hours after dosing. Adinazolam and NDMAD maximum peak plasma concentration were lower after SR tablets. Immediate-release tablets significantly prolonged reaction time compared with placebo and SR tablets; reaction time after SR tablets did not differ from placebo. Differences between SR and CT tablets in memory were significant only at 1 hour, but memory scores tended to be higher after SR tablet administration than after the CT tablet. At all times, memory scores were significantly lower than placebo for active treatments. Results suggest that memory is more impaired at lower NDMAD concentrations than is psychomotor function.

A New Assessment Tool for Neuropsychopharmacologic Research: The Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery

The Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB), a new assessment tool for neuropsychopharmacologic research, is based on a neuropsychological approach. While it is based on tests previously shown to be sensitive to subtle changes in neuropsychological functioning, it differs from currently available tools for measuring central nervous system effects of new compounds. It has sensitivity to a broader range of cognitive functioning and is more comprehensive than other measurements in its sampling of neuropsychological functions, providing wider application to diverse clinical populations. The CNTB is valid, reliable, and has two alternative forms. Use of the computer as an expert system maximizes standardization and ease of CNTB administration and data analysis. Using this assessment tool, three groups of subjects were compared: young and elderly neurologically normal subjects and elderly subjects with the dementia syndrome of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The AD subjects' summary score on the CNTB correlated significantly with the Blessed Information Memory Concentration Test score. The CNTB summary score was significantly higher in young subjects than in neurologically normal elderly subjects, demonstrating sensitivity to the effects of aging. The CNTB summary score also was significantly higher in neurologically normal elderly subjects than in elderly subjects with AD dementia.

A new assessment tool for neuropsychopharmacological research: The Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) : Veroff, A.E., Cutler, N.R., Prior, P.L., Wardle, T. California Clinical Trials, Beverly Hills, California

A new assessment tool for neuropsychopharmacological research: The Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) : Veroff, A.E., Cutler, N.R., Prior, P.L., Wardle, T. California Clinical Trials, Beverly Hills, California