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Reliability and validity of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale: A study in 156 spinocerebellar ataxia patients
Author(s) -
SchmitzHübsch Tanja,
Tezenas du Montcel Sophie,
Baliko Laszlo,
Boesch Sylvia,
Bonato Sara,
Fancellu Roberto,
Giunti Paola,
Globas Christoph,
Kang JunSuk,
Kremer Berry,
Mariotti Caterina,
Melegh Bela,
Rakowicz Maryla,
Rola Rafal,
Romano Sylvie,
Schöls Lodger,
Szymanski Sandra,
van de Warrenburg Bart P.C.,
Zdzienicka Elzbieta,
Dürr Alexandra,
Klockgether Thomas
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.20781
Subject(s) - spinocerebellar ataxia , ataxia , rating scale , psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , validity , clinical psychology , physical therapy , psychometrics , medicine , psychiatry , developmental psychology , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
To evaluate the efficacy of treatments in spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), appropriate clinical scales are required. This study evaluated metric properties of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) in 156 SCA patients and 8 controls. ICARS was found to be a reliable scale satisfying accepted criteria for interrater reliability, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency. Although validity testing was limited, we found evidence of validity of ICARS when ataxia disease stages and Barthel index were used as external criteria. On the other hand, our study revealed two major problems associated with the use of ICARS. First, the redundant and overlapping nature of several items gave rise to a considerable number of contradictory ratings. Second, a factorial analysis showed that the rating results were determined by four different factors that did not coincide with the ICARS subscales, thus questioning the justification of ICARS subscore analysis in clinical trials. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society