Improving Cognitive Recovery in Multiple Sclerosis

A personalised measure used to assess the extent to which patient-specific goals are achieved during therapy. Goals are collaboratively set between the therapist and patient, and the level of attainment is rated on a scale typically ranging from -2 (much less than expected outcome) to +2 (much more than expected outcome).

A self-report questionnaire designed to assess an individual's awareness and understanding of their cognitive abilities and deficits. It is particularly useful in clinical settings where cognitive impairments are common, such as in MS. The MIC consists of a series of statements that participants rate based on their perception of their cognitive functions. Each item is rated on a Likert scale, ranging from 1 to 5, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The total score is the sum or average of the scores for the items. Higher scores indicate greater insight into one's cognitive abilities and deficits.

Designed for rapid assessment of neuropsychological abilities commonly affected in MS. Comprises:

The Symbol Digit Modalities Test, measuring processing speed and attention. The participant is asked to orally identify the digits associated with test symbols within a key. It is scored on the number of digits correctly identified within 90 seconds.

Tasks 1-3 of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, measuring immediate visual recall. The participant inspects an array of 6 abstract geometric figures during three 10-second learning trials and then draws the array from memory. Higher scores are awarded for more accurate figure reproduction and positioning.

Tasks 1-5 of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition, measuring verbal working memory. The rater reads a 16-item word list aloud five times to the participant, who is then required to recall as many as possible.

This subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Version 4 will be administered because it is a widely used measure of attention and working memory that does not show strong correlations with the California Verbal Learning Test. The participants is required to repeat sequences of digits, proceeding to longer sequences if correct, then repeat sequences backwards and in numerical order.

A widely used neuropsychological assessment tool designed to measure verbal fluency, a component of executive function. It assesses the ability to generate words according to specific phonemic and semantic criteria within a limited time frame. The COWAT is commonly used in the diagnosis and evaluation of various neurological and psychiatric conditions. To measure phonemic fluency, participants are asked to produce as many words as possible that begin with a specific letter (usually F, A, and S) within 60 seconds for each letter. To measure semantic fluency, participants are asked to produce as many words as possible within a category (e.g., animals) within 60 seconds. The number of correct words generated in each category (phonemic and semantic) is counted. Repetitions, proper nouns, and variations of the same word are not included in the score. Errors will also be analysed, such as repetitions or rule violations, providing additional insights into cognitive function.

A widely used self-administered tool for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression. It is based on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The PHQ-9 consists of 9 items, each corresponding to one of the DSM-IV criteria for depression. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale based on the frequency of symptoms over the past two weeks. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.

A brief, self-report screening tool commonly used in clinical and research settings to assess the severity of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms. The GAD-7 provides an efficient way to identify GAD symptoms and track their severity over time. The GAD-7 contains 7 questions that evaluate the frequency of core anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety severity.

A self-report questionnaire designed to assess the impact of fatigue on a person's daily life. It is widely used in clinical and research settings to evaluate fatigue in various conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The FSS consists of 9 statements related to the severity and impact of fatigue. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale. The total score is the average of the scores for the 9 items, resulting in a score range from 1 to 7. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity and impact.

A self-report questionnaire designed to assess the impact of a person's mental health on their daily functioning. It is widely used in both clinical and research settings to gauge the extent to which psychological problems interfere with a person's ability to perform various life roles. The WSAS consists of 5 items, corresponding to five domains of daily functioning: work, home management, social leisure activities, private leisure activities, and family and relationships. Each item is rated on an 8-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all impaired) to 8 (severely impaired). The total score is the sum of the ratings for the five items, resulting in a score range from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate greater impairment. A total score of 20 or above suggests significant functional impairment.