Validation of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis in Japan

Multiple Sclerosis Journal—Experimental, Translational and Clinical. October-December 2017, 1–8

Niino M, Fukazawa T, Kira J, Okuno T, Mori M, Sanjo N, Obashi T, Fukura H, Fujimori J, Shimizu Y, Mifune M, Miyaraki Y, Takahasi E, Kikuchi S, Langdon D, Benedict RHB, Matsui M.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) is a practical battery for measuring cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MS).

OBJECTIVES:

We aimed to validate a Japanese version of the BICAMS in MS patients and healthy controls.

METHODS:

The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT2) and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test Revised (BVMTR) were administered to 156 MS patients and 126 healthy controls (HCs). The BICAMS was re-administered in a subset of 27 MS patients and 30 HCs.

RESULTS:

The mean (}SD) raw scores in the MS and HC groups were as follows: SDMT: MS 47.9 } 14.0, HC 61.0 } 9.5; CVLT2: MS 48.6 } 12.6, HC 55.7 } 10.5; BVMTR: MS 23.5 } 8.4, HC 28.3 } 5.4, respectively, and significant differences were found between the two groups on all tests (p < 0.0001). Cohen’s d values were 1.07, 0.60, and 0.67 in SDMT, CVLT2, and BVMTR, respectively. The test-retest reliability coefficients for each test were as follows: SDMT: r = 0.93; CVLT2: r = 0.82; and BVMTR: r = 0.77 (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provides results that support the reliability and validity of the BICAMS in Japan.