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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