Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Brief Repeatable Battery: psychometrics and normative values with age, education and gender corrections in a Serbian population

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Neurological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is present in up to 65 % of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The Brief Repeatable Battery of neuropsychological tests (BRB) is one of the most used neuropsychological tools for cognitive assessment in MS. However, relative lack of normative data limits its application in research and clinical practice. In order to obtain normative data for a Serbian population, we administered the BRB version A to 140 healthy subjects and assessed the influence of demographic factors such as gender, age, and education on the tests’ scores. We also calculated corrections for these factors. Higher education was associated with better performance on all the tests. Age influenced all the tests, except the word list generation, higher age being associated with worse performance on all other tests. Women performed worse on the paced auditory serial addition test 2, no other gender differences were observed. Our data obtained for the Serbian population could further improve use of the BRB in clinical practice and for the research purposes, establishing cognitive evaluation as a part of standard neurological examination of MS patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rao SM, Leo GJ, Bernardin L, Unverzagt F (1991) Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis I: frequency, patterns, and predictions. Neurology 41:685–691

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bobholz JA, Rao SM (2003) Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: a review of recent developments. Curr Opin Neurol 16:283–288

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rogers JM, Panegyres PK (2007) Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: evidence-based analysis and recommendations. J Clin Neurosci 14:919–927

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ghaffar O, Feinstein A (2007) The neuropsychiatry of multiple sclerosis: a review of recent developments. Curr Opin Psychiatry 20:278–285

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Amato MP, Ponziani G, Siracusa G, Sorbi S (2001) Cognitive dysfunction in early-onset multiple sclerosis: a reappraisal after 10 years. Arch Neurol 58:1602–1606

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Amato MP, Zipoli V, Portaccio E (2006) Multiple sclerosis-related cognitive changes: a review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. J Neurol Sci 245:41–46

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sadovnick AD, Jacobs DH (2008) MS and cognition and APOE. The ongoing conundrum about biomarkers. Neurology 70:164–165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hujibregts SC, Kalkers NF, de Sonneville LM, de Groot V, Polman CH (2006) Cognitive impairment and decline in different MS subtypes. J Neurol Sci 245:187–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rao SM, Leo GJ, Ellington L, Nauertz T, Bernardin L, Unverzagt F (1991) Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. II. impact on employment and social functioning. Neurology 41:692–696

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Beatty WW, Blanco CR, Wilbanks SL, Paul RH, Hames KA (1995) Demographic, clinical and cognitive characteristics of multiple sclerosis patients who continue to work. J Neurol Rehabil 9:167–173

    Google Scholar 

  11. Morrow SA, Drake A, Zivadinov R, Munschauer F, Weinstock-Guttman B, Benedict RHB (2010) Predicting loss of employment over three years in multiple sclerosis: clinically meaningful cognitive decline. Clin Neuropsychol 24(7):1131–1145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Rao SM, and the Cognitive Function Study Group of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (1990) A manual for the brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests in multiple sclerosis. Medical College of Wisconsin

  13. Benedict RHB, Fischer JS, Archibald CJ, Arnett PA, Beatty WW, Bobholz J et al (2002) Minimal neuropsychological assessment of MS patients: a consensus approach. Clin Neuropsychol 16:381–397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Strober L, Englert J, Munschauer F, Weinstock-Guttman B, Rao S, Benedict RHB (2009) Sensitivity of conventional memory tests in multiple sclerosis: comparing the Rao Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery and the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS. Mult Scler 15(9):1077–1084

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Boringa JB, Lazeron RH, Reuling IE, Ader HJ, Pfennings L, Lindeboom J et al (2001) The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests: normative values allow application in multiple sclerosis clinical practice. Mult Scler 7:263–267

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Scherer P, Baum K, Bauer H, Gohler H (2004) Normalization of the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological tests (BRB-N) for German speaking regions. Application in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. Nervenarzt 75:984–990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Amato MP, Portaccio E, Zipoli V, Ricchiuti L, De Caro MF, Patti F, Vecchio R, Trojano M (2006) The Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery and Stroop test: normative values with age, education and gender corrections in an Italian population. Mult Scler 12:787–793

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ruff RM, Light RH, Parker SB, Levin HS (1996) Benton Controlled Oral Word Association Test: reliability and updated norms. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 11(4):329–338

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Petersen RC, Smith G, Kokmen E, Ivnik J, Tangalos EG (1992) Memory function in normal aging. Neurology 42:396

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Larabee GJ, Trahan DE, Curtiss G, Levin HS (1988) Normative data for the verbal selective reminding test. Neuropsychology 2:173–182

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wiens AN, Fuller KH, Crossen JR (1997) Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test: adult norms and moderator variables. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 19(4):473–483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Diehr MC, Heaton RK, Miller W, Grant I (1998) The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT): norms for age, education and ethnicity. Assessment 5(4):375–387

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tombaugh TN (2006) A comprehensive review of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). Arch Clin Neuropsychol 21(1):53–76

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Smith A (1991) Symbol digit modalities test. Western Psychological Services, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rogers JM, Panegyres PK (2007) Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: evidence-based analysis and recommendations. J Clin Neurosci 14:919–927

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Stuss DT, Stethem LL, Poirier CA (1987) Comparison of three tests of attention and rapid information processing across six age groups. Clin Neuropsychol 1:139–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kaufman AS, Kaufman JC, Xin L, Johnson CK (2009) How do educational attainment and gender relate to fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, and academic skills at ages 22–90 years? Arch Clin Neuropsychol 24(2):153–163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Giannakou M, Kosmidis MH (2006) Cultural appropriateness of the Hooper visual organization test? Greek normative data. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 28(6):1023–1029

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Patti F, Amato MP, Trojano M, Bastianello S, Tola MR, Goretti B, Caniatti L, Di MonteE, Ferrazza P, Brescia Morra V, Lo Fermo S, Picconi O, Luccichenti G, For the COGIMUS Study Group (2009) Cognitive impairment and its relation with disease measures in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: baseline results from the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study. Mult Scler 15:779–788

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Johnson BF, Hoch K, Johnson J (1991) Variability in psychometric test scores: the importance of the practice effect in patient study design. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 15:625–635

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Portaccio E, Goretti B, Zipoli V, Iudice A, Pina DD, Malentacchi GM, Sabatini S, Annunziata P, Falcini M, Mazzoni M, Pia Amato M, TuSCIMS Study (2010) Reliability, practice effects, and change indices for Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery Group. Mult Scler. 16(5):611–617

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Comi G (2010) Effects of disease modifying treatments on cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Neurol Sci 31(Suppl 2):261–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Mattioli F, Stampatori C, Bellomi F, Capra R, Rocca M, Filippi M (2010) Neuropsychological rehabilitation in adult multiple sclerosis. Neurol Sci 31(Suppl 2):271–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic of Neurology, University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Crnotravska 17, 11 000, Belgrade, Serbia

    D. Obradovic

  2. Clinic of Psychiatry, Military Medical Academy, 11 000, Belgrade, Serbia

    M. Petrovic & T. Stojanovic

  3. Welfare Center, 37000, Paracin, Serbia

    I. Antanasijevic

  4. Department of Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, 11 000, Belgrade, Serbia

    J. Marinkovic

  5. Clinic of Emergency Medicine, University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, 11 000, Belgrade, Serbia

    S. Obradovic

Authors
  1. D. Obradovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Petrovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Antanasijevic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Marinkovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. Stojanovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Obradovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Obradovic.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Obradovic, D., Petrovic, M., Antanasijevic, I. et al. The Brief Repeatable Battery: psychometrics and normative values with age, education and gender corrections in a Serbian population. Neurol Sci 33, 1369–1374 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1099-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1099-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation