Validity and reliability of the Georgian-language brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS)

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is one of the common features of multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite high prevalence, cognitive decline is often overlooked by neurologists. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) was therefore introduced by the international expert committee as a brief and effective tool for the assessment and monitoring of cognitive functions in patients with MS. The validity and reliability of BICAMS have been demonstrated in many countries. Our aim was to validate the BICAMS in Georgian patients with MS. METHODS: A total of 68 patients with MS and 68 matched controls were assessed by the Georgian-language BICAMS. All healthy controls and seven patients were re-evaluated with identical tests to assess retest reliability. RESULTS: In comparison to healthy controls, patients with MS performed significantly worse on all tests in the assessment battery. Test–retest reliability measures were good for all tests. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with MS was 43%. CONCLUSION: The Georgian-language BICAMS is a reliable and valid battery for the assessment of cognitive function in patients with MS.