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Pratt DN, Luther L, Kinney KS, Osborne KJ, Corlett PR, Powers AR, Woods SW, Gold JM, Schiffman J, Ellman LM, Strauss GP, Walker EF, Zinbarg R, Waltz JA, Silverstein SM, Mittal VA. Comparing a Computerized Digit Symbol Test to a Pen-and-Paper Classic. Schizophr Bull Open 2023; 4:sgad027. [PMID: 37868160 PMCID: PMC10590153 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad027] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Background and Hypothesis Processing speed dysfunction is a core feature of psychosis and predictive of conversion in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Although traditionally measured with pen-and-paper tasks, computerized digit symbol tasks are needed to meet the increasing demand for remote assessments. Therefore we: (1) assessed the relationship between traditional and computerized processing speed measurements; (2) compared effect sizes of impairment for progressive and persistent subgroups of CHR individuals on these tasks; and (3) explored causes contributing to task performance differences. Study Design Participants included 92 CHR individuals and 60 healthy controls who completed clinical interviews, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia Symbol Coding test, the computerized TestMyBrain Digit Symbol Matching Test, a finger-tapping task, and a self-reported motor abilities measure. Correlations, Hedges' g, and linear models were utilized, respectively, to achieve the above aims. Study Results Task performance was strongly correlated (r = 0.505). A similar degree of impairment was seen between progressive (g = -0.541) and persistent (g = -0.417) groups on the paper version. The computerized task uniquely identified impairment for progressive individuals (g = -477), as the persistent group performed similarly to controls (g = -0.184). Motor abilities were related to the computerized version, but the paper version was more related to symptoms and psychosis risk level. Conclusions The paper symbol coding task measures impairment throughout the CHR state, while the computerized version only identifies impairment in those with worsening symptomatology. These results may be reflective of sensitivity differences, an artifact of existing subgroups, or evidence of mechanistic differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N Pratt
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Lauren Luther
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kyle S Kinney
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Albert R Powers
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Scott W Woods
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - James M Gold
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jason Schiffman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lauren M Ellman
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gregory P Strauss
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Elaine F Walker
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Richard Zinbarg
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - James A Waltz
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steven M Silverstein
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Vijay A Mittal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Institutes for Policy Research (IPR) and Innovations in Developmental Sciences (DevSci), Psychiatry, Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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