Comparing face-to-face and videoconference assessment of the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests in people with multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler. 2023 Sep;29(10):1337-1339. doi: 10.1177/13524585231192469. Epub 2023 Aug 21.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the need to evaluate cognitive profile via videoconferencing (teleneuropsychology, TeleNP) as a suitable alternative to face-to-face assessment (F-F).

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and the reliability of Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (R-BRB) remote administration in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Methods: Sixty PwMS underwent R-BRB in two conditions: F-F and TeleNP, 1 month apart.

Results: Cognitive test performance was similar, regardless of the administration type, but visuospatial test performance was better in F-F.

Conclusion: These data suggest that TeleNP is feasible and highly reliable in MS clinical practice.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; cognitive impairment; neuropsychological assessment; teleneuropsychology.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis* / complications
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Pandemics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Videoconferencing