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Asiedu N, Mwesiga EK, Akena D, Morrison C, Gumikiriza-Onoria JL, Nanteza A, Nakku J, Koen N, Nakasujja N, Ssembajjwe W, Ferraris CM, Santoro AF, Stein DJ, Robbins RN. Evaluating construct and criterion validity of NeuroScreen in assessing neurocognition among hospitalized Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients. Schizophr Res Cogn 2022; 32:100276. [PMID: 36593996 PMCID: PMC9803945 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2022.100276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) is commonly exhibited among patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis. However, there are few resources in many low-income countries, such as Uganda, that allow for the administration of extensive neurocognitive test batteries for the detection of NCI. NeuroScreen is a brief tablet-based neurocognitive assessment battery that can be administered by all levels of healthcare staff. We examined the validity of NeuroScreen to assess neurocognition and detect NCI in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients in Uganda. Methods We enrolled 112 participants FEP patients and matched controls at Butabika Mental Referral Hospital. Each participant completed NeuroScreen and a traditionally administered neurocognitive battery: the MATRIC Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). We examined correlations between participant performance on NeuroScreen and the MCCB. A ROC curve determined sensitivity and specificity of NeuroScreen to detect NCI as determined by MCCB criterion. Results There was a large, statistically significant correlation between overall performance on NeuroScreen and the MCCB [r(112) = 0.64, p < .001]. Small to large correlations were found between tests in the MCCB and NeuroScreen batteries. The ROC curve of NeuroScreen performance to detect MCCB-defined NCI had an area under curve of 0.80 and optimal sensitivity and specificity of 83 % and 60 %, respectively. Conclusion There was a moderate positive correlation between overall performance on both batteries. NeuroScreen shows promise as a valid assessment battery to assess neurocognition and detect NCI in FEP patients in Uganda. Further studies of NeuroScreen in healthy individuals and in a range of mental disorders are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Asiedu
- HIV Center for Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States of America,Corresponding author.
| | - Emmanuel Kiiza Mwesiga
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 7072 Upper Mulago Hill, Mulago Hospital Complex, Uganda,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dickens Akena
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 7072 Upper Mulago Hill, Mulago Hospital Complex, Uganda
| | - Corey Morrison
- HIV Center for Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States of America
| | - Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 7072 Upper Mulago Hill, Mulago Hospital Complex, Uganda
| | - Angel Nanteza
- Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, Plot 2 Kirombe-Butabika Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Juliet Nakku
- Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, Plot 2 Kirombe-Butabika Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Nastassja Koen
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa,Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa,South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Francie van Zijl Drive Parowvallei, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Noeline Nakasujja
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 7072 Upper Mulago Hill, Mulago Hospital Complex, Uganda
| | - Wilber Ssembajjwe
- Medical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 49, Entebbe Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Uganda
| | - Christopher M. Ferraris
- HIV Center for Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States of America
| | - Anthony F. Santoro
- HIV Center for Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States of America
| | - Dan J. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa,Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa,South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Francie van Zijl Drive Parowvallei, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Reuben N. Robbins
- HIV Center for Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, United States of America
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