Neuropsychiatric assessments in patients with multiple sclerosis in early phases and with low disability

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups: MS and HC (N=70)

Characteristics	MS (N=35)	HC (N=35)
Age mean (years)	35.4	35.2
SD (years)	8.8	9.7
Gender
Female (%)	28 (80)	28 (80)
EL mean (years)	15.4	15.2
SD (years)	4.3	4.3
Mean time of MS onset (months)	21.2	–
SD (months)	11.7

Note: “–” indicated as not applicable.

Abbreviations: MS, multiple sclerosis; HC, healthy control; EL, educational level.

Table 2 Proof values – MANCOVA(s)

Effects/tests	RAVLT	VOT	COWAT	SDMT
Gender	0.14	0.95	0.11	0.05
Age	0.69	0.17	0.60	0.06
Years of education	0.002*	0.014*	0.001***	<0.001***
Disease	0.274	0.44	0.25	0.03*

Notes:

* P<5%;

*** P<0.1%.

Abbreviations: MANCOVA, multivariate analysis of covariance; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; COWAT, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test; VOT, Hopper Visual Organization Test.

Table 3 Univariate ANCOVA for the SDMT (proof values)

Effects/variables	Number of correct responses	Number of errors
Years of education	<0.001***	0.28 (NS)
Disease	0.102 (NS)	0.015*

Notes:

* P<5%;

*** P<0.1%.

Abbreviations: ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test; NS, non-significant.

Table 4 Pearson’s correlation coefficients between years of education and test variables

Tests	Variables	Pearson’s coefficients
RAVLT	T1	0.34**
	T2	0.53**
	T3	0.52**
	T4	0.39**
	T5	0.34**
	IRB	0.48**
	T6	0.42**
	T7	0.42**
SDMT	Number of correct responses	0.55**
	Number of errors	−0.09 NS
Hooper	Correct responses	0.32**
COWAT	Fluency – animals	0.33**
	Fluency – fruits	0.32**
	Total category fluency	0.35**
	Letter F	0.33**
	Letter A	0.41**
	Letter S	0.30*
	Total letter fluency	0.37**

Notes:

* P<5%;

** P<1%.

Abbreviations: RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test; COWAT, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; T, trial; IRB, immediate recall list B; NS, non-significant.