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A comparison of neuropsychological tests for the assessment of chronic toxic encephalopathy
Author(s) -
Österberg Kai,
Ørbæk Palle,
Karlson Björn,
Bergendorf Ulf,
Seger Lena
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0274(200012)38:6<666::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - medicine , neuropsychology , toxic encephalopathy , neuropsychological assessment , neuropsychological test , test (biology) , encephalopathy , frontal lobe , audiology , psychiatry , cognition , paleontology , biology
Background From the viewpoint of the clinical neuropsychologist, it is not evident if the detection of solvent induced toxic encephalopathy (TE) could be optimized by a modification of the traditional test batteries, adding tests covering new dimensions or monitoring further functional domains. Methods To clarify this issue, TE patients were re‐examined with (a) the tests traditionally used in screening for TE and (b) some tests hitherto less utilized within neurotoxicology, involving complex attention and frontal lobe functioning. Results The results do not indicate that tests of the latter category would be more sensitive to TE than the tests traditionally used. Using an optimized core battery, compiled of tests from both categories, the sensitivity and specificity levels reached a maximum of around 0.7 when using as criterion the reproduction of a subnormal test profile (TE type 2B). Conclusions A combination of several traditional and a few newer tests is suggested to optimize the detection of TE. Repeated assessments over time are also recommended. Am. J. Ind. Med. 38:666–680, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.