Reliable change indices for the Italian Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS)

Abstract

This study aimed at providing standardized regression-based (SRB) reliable change indices (RCIs) for the Italian Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS). Thirty-one consecutive ALS patients undergoing the ECAS were followed-up (T1) at 6.5 ± 1 months (range = 5–8). Ceiling/floor effects, practice effect, and test–retest reliability were assessed. Each ECAS measure was regressed by stepwise-entering as predictors demographics, respective T0 scores, T0 disease duration and ALSFRS-R, retest interval, and progression rate (ΔFS) – i.e., (48 - ALSFRS-R_T0)/disease duration_T0 in months. Ceiling effects were infrequently detected, no practice effect emerged and all ECAS measures were reliable at retest (except for Language and Visuo-spatial subscales). T0 scores predicted all ECAS measures except for the Visuo-spatial subscale. The availability of RCIs for the Italian ECAS will aid ALS-related clinical practice and research within the longitudinal dimension.

Keywords:

• Reliable change index
• Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• neuropsychology
• psychometrics

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Correction

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to patients and their caregivers.

Ethical approval

Participants provided informed consent. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano (I.D.: 2013_06_25).

Declaration of interest

V. S. received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from AveXis, Cytokinetics, Italfarmaco, Liquidweb S.r.l., and Novartis Pharma AG, receives or has received research supports from the Italian Ministry of Health, AriSLA, and E-Rare Joint Transnational Call. He is in the Editorial Board of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, European Neurology, American Journal of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Frontiers in Neurology. B.P. and L. C. received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Liquidweb S.r.l. N. T. received compensation for consulting services from Amylyx Pharmaceuticals and Zambon Biotech SA. He is Associate Editor for Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

Data availability statement

Datasets associated with this study are available upon reasonable request of interested researchers.

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21678421.2023.2243703).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Corrente to IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, project 23C302). Publication fees have been covered by IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano.