TY - JOUR
T1 - The utility of regression-based norms in interpreting the minimal assessment of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MACFIMS)
AU - Parmenter, Brett A.
AU - Testa, S. Marc
AU - Schretlen, David J.
AU - Weinstock-Guttman, Bianca
AU - Benedict, Ralph H.B.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - The Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) is a consensus neuropsychological battery with established reliability and validity. One of the difficulties in implementing the MACFIMS in clinical settings is the reliance on manualized norms from disparate sources. In this study, we derived regression-based norms for the MACFIMS, using a unique data set to control for standard demographic variables (i.e., age, age2, sex, education). Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (n = 395) and healthy volunteers (n = 100) did not differ in age, level of education, sex, or race. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the performance of the healthy adults, and the resulting models were used to predict MS performance on the MACFIMS battery. This regression-based approach identified higher rates of impairment than manualized norms for many of the MACFIMS measures. These findings suggest that there are advantages to developing new norms from a single sample using the regression-based approach. We conclude that the regression-based norms presented here provide a valid alternative to identifying cognitive impairment as measured by the MACFIMS. (JINS, 2010, 16, 616.)
AB - The Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) is a consensus neuropsychological battery with established reliability and validity. One of the difficulties in implementing the MACFIMS in clinical settings is the reliance on manualized norms from disparate sources. In this study, we derived regression-based norms for the MACFIMS, using a unique data set to control for standard demographic variables (i.e., age, age2, sex, education). Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (n = 395) and healthy volunteers (n = 100) did not differ in age, level of education, sex, or race. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the performance of the healthy adults, and the resulting models were used to predict MS performance on the MACFIMS battery. This regression-based approach identified higher rates of impairment than manualized norms for many of the MACFIMS measures. These findings suggest that there are advantages to developing new norms from a single sample using the regression-based approach. We conclude that the regression-based norms presented here provide a valid alternative to identifying cognitive impairment as measured by the MACFIMS. (JINS, 2010, 16, 616.)
KW - Brain
KW - Immunologic disease
KW - Neuropsychology
KW - Normalization
KW - Psychometrics
KW - Standard scores
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U2 - 10.1017/S1355617709990750
DO - 10.1017/S1355617709990750
M3 - Article
C2 - 19796441
AN - SCOPUS:77149155676
SN - 1355-6177
VL - 16
SP - 6
EP - 16
JO - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
JF - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
IS - 1
ER -