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A comparison of neuropsychological tests for the assessment of chronic toxic encephalopathy

Österberg, Kai LU ; Örbaek, Palle LU ; Karlson, Björn LU ; Bergendorf, Ulf LU and Seger, Lena (2000) In American Journal of Industrial Medicine 38(6). p.666-680
Abstract
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,... (More)
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. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
volume
38
issue
6
pages
666 - 680
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:11071689
  • scopus:0033765599
ISSN
0271-3586
DOI
10.1002/1097-0274(200012)38:6<666::AID-AJIM7>3.0.CO;2-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e612ba9b-637b-4c45-95a0-4504cbbd0b9b (old id 1117939)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:41:39
date last changed
2022-01-26 08:50:30
@article{e612ba9b-637b-4c45-95a0-4504cbbd0b9b,
  abstract     = {{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.}},
  author       = {{Österberg, Kai and Örbaek, Palle and Karlson, Björn and Bergendorf, Ulf and Seger, Lena}},
  issn         = {{0271-3586}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{666--680}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Industrial Medicine}},
  title        = {{A comparison of neuropsychological tests for the assessment of chronic toxic encephalopathy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1097-0274(200012)38:6<666::AID-AJIM7>3.0.CO;2-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/1097-0274(200012)38:6<666::AID-AJIM7>3.0.CO;2-8}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}