Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS): international standards for validation

Abstract

An international expert consensus committee recently recommended a brief battery of tests for cognitive evaluation in multiple sclerosis. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) battery includes tests of mental processing speed and memory. Recognizing that resources for validation will vary internationally, the committee identified validation priorities, to facilitate international acceptance of BICAMS. Practical matters pertaining to implementation across different languages and countries were discussed. Five steps to achieve optimal psychometric validation were proposed. In Step 1, test stimuli should be standardized for the target culture or language under consideration. In Step 2, examiner instructions must be standardized and translated, including all information from manuals necessary for administration and interpretation. In Step 3, samples of at least 65 healthy persons should be studied for normalization, matched to patients on demographics such as age, gender and education. The objective of Step 4 is test-retest reliability, which can be investigated in a small sample of MS and/or healthy volunteers over 1–3 weeks. Finally, in Step 5, criterion validity should be established by comparing MS and healthy controls. At this time, preliminary studies are underway in a number of countries as we move forward with this international assessment tool for cognition in MS.

Cognitive clinico‐radiological paradox in early stages of multiple sclerosis

“…All participants were tested using the Czech‐validated version of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) 30, 31. Cognitive processing speed was assessed with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) where stimuli were presented visually and only the oral response form was recorded.…”

“…Raw scores of the cognitive tests were used in the statistical models and presented results. Patients were evaluated as cognitively impaired when scoring outside the normal range in one or more of the BICAMS tests 30, 31…”

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Multiple Sclerosis: Relation to Clinical Features

“…When combined with the learning score from the verbal listlearning task, the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) [24], visual learning task and the Brief Visuomotor Integration Test-Revised (BVMT-R) [25] represent the Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS or BICAMS [26,19].The BICAMS was developed through an international effort of leading experts to establish a brief, reliable and sensitive screen to be used in MS. It is easily administered with normative data automatically calculated through the BICAMS website www.bicams.net.…”

The correlation between EDSS and cognitive impairment in MS patients. Assessment of a Brazilian population using a BICAMS version

“…The neuropsychological tests (NTs) provide assessment of the cognitive state and are used for the diagnosis of impairment and decision-making about medical and/or cognitive treatment 15 . The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) consists of a recently-proposed battery of NTs 1,15 that favor centers with teams with few professionals.…”