Remote administration of the symbol digit modalities test to individuals with multiple sclerosis is reliable: A short report

Tehila Eilam-Stock; Michael T Shaw; Kathleen Sherman; Lauren B Krupp; Leigh E Charvet

doi:10.1177/2055217321994853

Remote administration of the symbol digit modalities test to individuals with multiple sclerosis is reliable: A short report

Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2021 Feb 14;7(1):2055217321994853. doi: 10.1177/2055217321994853. eCollection 2021 Jan-Mar.

Authors

Tehila Eilam-Stock¹, Michael T Shaw², Kathleen Sherman, Lauren B Krupp, Leigh E Charvet¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.
² Departmernt of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, USA.

Abstract

Background: The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is the gold standard for cognitive screening in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the increased need for virtual clinical visits, we examined the reliability of remote administration of the SDMT vs. standard in-person administration to individuals with MS.

Methods: Pearson's correlation analysis was performed between SDMT scores on the in-person and remote administrations.

Results: For n = 132 participants, remote and in-person SDMT scores were strongly correlated (r = .80, p = .000).

Conclusion: Remote administration of the SDMT is a reliable cognitive screening approach in MS.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; SDMT; cognitive screening; telehealth; teleneurology; teleneuropsychology.