Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS): Iranian normative values and correlates of cognitive function

Background

The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) is an easy instrument for accurate cognitive assessment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Although previously validated in Persian, the tests lack established normative values. This study aims to determine regression-based normative values for the Iranian population and explore the factors associated with BICAMS scores.

Materials and methods

MS patients and healthy individuals (HI) who were group-matched by age, sex, and education years underwent BICAMS assessment consisting of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Brief Visual Memory Test (BVMT-R), and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II). Depression was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) questionnaire.

Results

We obtained 68 MS patients and 68 HI samples. The mean raw scores for HI were as follows: SDMT: 51.24 ± 9.77; CVLT-II: 52.04 ± 8.06; and BVMT-R: 27.70 ± 4.96. The MS group scored significantly worse on the SDMT and BVMT tests, but not on the CVLT-II. Normative data were developed by converting raw scores to scaled scores using multivariate regression models. According to the models, 30 (44.1 %) of patients had cognitive impairment (CI) in at least one domain.

Conclusions

Our study introduced the first Iranian normative values for BICAMS. Using normative data can enhance utility and precision in assessing cognitive function in both research and clinical practice.