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Rapid cognitive screening in multiple sclerosis accomplished by the Free Recall and Recognition Test

Department of Physical Therapy, Karolinska University Hospital, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden, ingrid.claesson{at}karolinska.se

C Ytterberg

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden

S Johansson

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden

O Almkvist

Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden

L von Koch

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden

This study sought to investigate the feasibility of the Free Recall and Recognition Test (FRRT) as a practical screening tool for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). Persons with MS (n = 227) were consecutively recruited and assessed with four cognitive tests; FRRT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Disease severity was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The FRRT, which was completed by 99% of the cohort in approximately 5 minutes per assessment, correlated significantly with the other cognitive tests, as well as with the disease severity rating. A cut-off of 4 for the FRRT recall rendered 90% sensitivity and 25% specificity, and a cut-off of 4.2 for the FRRT recognition resulted in 70% sensitivity and 51% specificity. We conclude that the FRRT proved feasible as a practical screening tool for cognitive impairment in MS within a clinical setting.

Key Words: assessment • cognition • multiple sclerosis • neuropsychological tests • validity

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 13, No. 2, 272-274 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458506071167


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