Determining clinically relevant neuropsychological change in an epilepsy sample

Accurate interpretation of pre- and post-surgical cognitive assessments is essential for patients undergoing surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, potentially confounding issues such as practice effects and low test-retest reliability may influence a person’s test score when they are given the same neuropsychological test on a second occasion, such as following surgery. Determining how much change in test scores is due to methodological issues and how much is due to genuine post-operative cognitive improvement or decline can better inform both clinical and client decisions regarding surgical intervention for TLE. Such data has been reported in North American TLE populations but the generalisability of this data to other centres is unknown. Using data obtained from unoperated patients with TLE, the current study utilised standardised regression-based change (SRB) and reliable change index (RCI) methodologies to determine change on retest across cognitive domains. Both the local and North American RCIs and SRB change norms were then applied to an Australian post-operative sample to evaluate cognitive outcomes, as well as to investigate the generalisability of change data derived from different demographic backgrounds.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

other

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Victoria University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Cumner, Marnie

• 1701 Psychology
• School of Social Sciences and Psychology

Language dc:language

en