Publication Abstract Display | Type: Published Abstract | Title: Brief neuropsychological assessment for the detection of HIV-related cognitive impairment. | Authors: Carey C, Heaton RK, Marcotte T, Moore DJ, Rippeth J, Gonzalez R, Cherner M, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | Year: 2002 | Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society | Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Pages: 251 | Abstract:While the most accurate approach for detecting and characterizing HIV related
neurocognitive impairment involves assessment with a comprehensive
neuropsychological (NP) test battery, lengthy batteries are at times
difficult to administer in particular research and clinical settings. This
study sought to develop a brief and valid screening battery by determining
the sensitivity and specificity for 7 NP measures representing the ability
areas most likely affected by HIV infection. The measures were selected
from a larger NP battery administered to 303 HIV seropositive (HIV +)
and 93 HIV seronegative (HIV -) subjects (M age = 39.0, M education = 5
13.1). The 7 measures were paired in all possible combinations (n = 19).
Test performance was classified as impaired if demographically corrected
T-scores fell below 40 for both tests in the pair, or below 35 for one test to
account for the relative rarity of the event. Using blind clinical ratings of
NP protocols from the full battery as the gold standard (impaired or
unimpaired), performance on the Hopkins Verbal Leaning Test–Revised
(HVLT–R) and the first (slowest) series of the Paced Auditory Serial
Addition (PASAT–50) produced an overall diagnostic accuracy rate of
84%, demonstrating the highest combination of sensitivity (74%), specificity
(90%), positive predictive power (81%), and negative predictive
power (85%). Additionally, T-scores from both tests predicted 56% of the
variance in a deficit summary score of the comprehensive battery. Results
suggest that the HVLT-R/PASAT-50 combination may serve as a valid
screening device to identify subjects with potential HIV-related NP impairment
who could benefit from more extensive NP examination. |
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