Predictive value of an unsupervised web-based assessment of the neuropsychological function

Abstract

Neuropsychological assessment has to consider the subjective and objective functional deficits of help-seeking individuals in several cognitive domains. Due to time constraints in clinical practice, several web-based approaches have been developed. The current study examined whether functional deficits in the mnestic and attentive domain can be predicted based on an unsupervised self-administered online assessment neuropsychological online screening (NOS): This screening includes self-reports and psychometric memory tests (face-name association, visual short-term memory). Data of help-seeking individuals (n = 213, mean age: 48.2 years) running an extensive in-person assessment were analyzed. A functional deficit in at least one cognitive domain was detected in 48 individuals. This classification was supported by the preceding online screening (sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.80), and a linear regression model identified two significant predictors (free recall performance, form discrimination in visual short-term memory). The predictive quality was enhanced for individuals with selective deficits in the mnestic domain (n = 23: sensitivity = 0.78 and specificity = 0.78) as compared to the attentive domain (n = 25: sensitivity = 0.68 and specificity = 0.75). Our results show that a neuropsychological in-person assessment cannot be replaced by an unsupervised self-administered online test. However, a specific pattern of results in the online test might indicate the necessity of an extensive assessment in help-seeking individuals.