How Impulsivity is Associated with Adolescent Depression: The Role of Substance Use, Gender and Social Support.

Background: Some risk/protective factors of adolescent depression have been proposed but have not been comprehensively studied. Recent advances in neuroimaging techniques have provided greater insight into the underlying neuropsychiatric mechanisms of depression-related factors such as impulsivity, substance use, gender difference and social support. However, how these factors are interconnected and how they affect depression in the real world is poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the relationships between adolescent depression with trait impulsivity, substance use and gender. We also tested the hypothesis that social support may play a buffering role in preventing depression. By expanding the diathesis-stress model. Methods: The adolescents enrolled in this study were grade 1 senior high school students from northern Taiwan (N = 5879), and they were assessed for depression, trait impulsivity, and tobacco/alcohol use. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was performed to control possible confounders, including other depression-related diathesis and sociodemographic variables. Gender differences were also analyzed by separately examining variables significantly associated with depression. Results: A higher level of depression was associated with female gender, trait impulsivity, low self-esteem, negative attitude towards the future, tobacco use, alcohol use, family discord and difficulty in basic family needs. Good parental health, living with their biological family and social support were protective factors. Trait impulsivity was significantly associated with depression after controlling for the confounding factors. Gender-specific analysis showed that trait impulsivity and tobacco use had a significant synergistic interaction on female depression. Social support from parents/peers was significantly associated with depression, but social support from other family members/teachers was not. Conclusion: The current study advances the understanding of adolescent depression and highlights that trait impulsivity, addictive substance use, social support and their interaction may play an influential role in the emergence of adolescent depression. Gender-specific research and treatment approach are also crucial, and more investigations are necessary.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese Mandarin version of the Borderline Symptom List, short form (BSL-23) in suicidal adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The short form of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) is a self-rated instrument developed from the initial 95-item German version of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-95). It is widely used among Chinese adults, but its applicability, factor structure and validity remain uncertain in adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese Mandarin version of the BSL-23 in a sample of suicidal adolescents. METHODS: The Chinese Mandarin BSL-23 was given to 279 outpatient adolescents with self-injurious thoughts or behaviors. The factor structure, reliability, convergent validity, criterion-related validity and cut-off value were investigated. RESULTS: The Chinese Mandarin version of the BSL-23 demonstrated a one-factor structure and replicated the original version. The scale had high reliability and good test-retest stability. The Chinese Mandarin BSL-23 was correlated with depression, hopelessness, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem, loneliness, childhood trauma and parental bonding patterns evaluated with a variety of scales. The measure showed good criterion-related validity and predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.87) for self-injurious and suicidal adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) at a cut-off point of 60/61 (mean score 2.60/2.65), with a sensitivity of 0.76 and specificity of 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese Mandarin version of the BSL-23 is a reliable and valid self-reported instrument to assess BPD symptomatology among suicidal adolescents.

The efficacy of applying the Interpersonal Effectiveness skills of dialectical behavior therapy into communication skills workshop for clinical nurses.

Background: We designed this open-pilot study to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of incorporating the Interpersonal Effectiveness skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-IE) into a 3-h clinical communication workshop for registered nurses. Method: A convenience sample of registered nurses were invited. The Professional Fulfillment Index, Perceived Stress Scale, Empathy Index, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and measures regarding quality of life, anxiety, depression, and insomnia were completed. A subgroup of participants received the Objective Structured Teaching Examinations (OSTE). Pre- and post-workshop assessments were conducted to identify the most empathetic or validated responses from case scenarios and to assess the self-rated levels of confidence regarding the capability to select the best answer. The satisfaction of the participants with respect to the workshop content, process, and the lecturer were also collected. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Among the 164 participants of the clinical communication workshop, 72 consented and their pre- and post-results were analyzed. Post-workshop assessment revealed significant improvement in professional fulfillment (p = 0.014), interpersonal coping ability (p = 0.038), and decrease in dysfunctional coping style (p < 0.001). The overall satisfaction score of participants was 4.68 (5-point Likert scale). In the subgroup that underwent pre- and post-workshop OSTE (n = 28), there was a significant improvement in total scores, pass rates, ratings from observational supervisors, simulated students, and simulated patients after the workshop (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the effectiveness, acceptance, and feasibility of incorporating the DBT-IE skills into a clinical medical communication workshop through a teaching style comprising of rigorous interactions and hands-on practices.

Subclinical alterations of resting state functional brain network for adjunctive bright light therapy in nonseasonal major depressive disorder: A double blind randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The treatment effect of bright light therapy (BLT) on major depressive disorder (MDD) has been proven, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Neuroimaging biomarkers regarding disease alterations in MDD and treatment response are rarely focused on BLT. This study aimed to identify the modulatory mechanism of BLT in MDD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI). Materials and methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial included a dim red light (dRL) control group and a BLT experimental group. All participants received light therapy for 30 min every morning for 4 weeks. The assessment of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 (HAMD-24) and brain MRI exam were performed at the baseline and the 4-week endpoint. The four networks in interest, including the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), salience network (SN), and sensorimotor network (SMN), were analyzed. Between-group differences of the change in these four networks were evaluated. Results: There were 22 and 21 participants in the BLT and dRL groups, respectively. Age, sex, years of education, baseline severity, and improvement in depressive symptoms were not significantly different between the two groups. The baseline rfMRI data did not show any significant functional connectivity differences within the DMN, FPN, SN, and SMN between the two groups. Compared with the dRL group, the BTL group showed significantly increased functional connectivity after treatment within the DMN, FPN, SN, and SMN. Graph analysis of the BLT group demonstrated an enhancement of betweenness centrality and global efficiency. Conclusion: BLT can enhance intra-network functional connectivity in the DMN, FPN, SN, and SMN for MDD patients. Furthermore, BLT improves the information processing of the whole brain. Clinical trial registration: The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier was NCT03941301.

Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Non-Seasonal Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This double-blind, randomized controlled trial assessed bright light therapy (BLT) augmentation efficacy compared with placebo light in treating non-seasonal major depressive disorder. The study participants belonged to a subtropical area (24.5°-25.5°N) with extensive daylight and included outpatients who had received stable dosages and various regimens of antidepressive agents for 4 weeks before enrollment. The outcomes were the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, which were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. A total of 43 participants (mean age 45 years, ranging from 22-81) were randomized into the BLT [n = 22] and placebo light groups [n = 21]. After a 4-week administration of morning light therapy (30 min/day), depressive symptoms did not reduce significantly, which might be due to the small sample size. Nonetheless, this study had some strengths because it was conducted in warmer climates, unlike other studies, and examined diverse Asians with depression. Our findings suggest that several factors, such as poor drug response, different antidepressive regimens, duration of BLT, and daylength variability (i.e., natural daylight in the environment) may influence the utility of add-on BLT. Researchers may consider these important factors for future non-seasonal depression studies in subtropical environments.

Predictors of repeated adolescent self-harm: The display of multiple variables and mediators in a 2-year study.

BACKGROUND: Data on self-harm (SH) repetition in non-Western adolescents are limited; this study is to survey the predictors. METHODS: A total of 5879 adolescents (mean age 16.02 years) in Northern Taiwan were recruited. The participants filled in online questionnaires about their sociodemographic data, suicidality, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, social support, family discord, impulsivity, and alcohol and tobacco use at baseline (T1) and at the 1 year follow-up (T2). We used logistic regression analysis to examine the predictors of SH continuation. Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) was then estimated to analyze the treatable variables for both years and to investigate their relationships and mediating effects. RESULTS: A total of 125 students were identified as being in the SH continuation group; while 470 students were identified as being in the SH stop group. The SH continuation rate was 21%; no significant gender difference was found. Logistic regression analysis showed that the predictors of SH continuation were low school ranking, poor quality of listening from relatives, use of the cutting method for SH, and a suicide plan in the past year at T1, and more depressed mood, use of the cutting method for SH, more suicide ideation and plans at T2. Similar predictors were found by GSEM; self-esteem at T1 and depressed mood at T2 were found to be mediators in the pathways. CONCLUSION: The continuation rate of SH was similar to that reported in Western countries. These predictors should be included in the treatment plan to prevent SH continuation.

Validating the Mandarin version of the Memorial delirium assessment scale in general medical hospital patients.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric condition in the general hospital population. Thus, the goal of the present study is to extend the use of diagnostic tools for delirium by developing and validating a Mandarin version of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). METHODS: Participants were sampled from two general Mackay Memorial Hospital locations in Taipei and Danshui. Board-certified psychiatrists assessed patients using the MDAS, confusion assessment method (CAM), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Another consultation-liaison psychiatrist confirmed the diagnosis of delirium. We assessed the reliability and validity of the MDAS, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point for identifying delirium. RESULTS: Of the 61 patients assessed, 29 were diagnosed with delirium. The mean MDAS score was 16.7 for delirium patients and 4.1 for nondelirium patients. The MDAS has good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.912. Interrater reliability was 0.996 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.992-0.998). The diagnostic cut-off value for the Mandarin version of the MDAS was 9, with a high sensitivity (93.1%) and specificity (96.9%). Factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure; these factors accounted for 58.37% and 14.42% of the variance. A high correlation was found between the MDAS and the CAM scores (r = -0.849, p < .001) as well as the MMSE (r = -0.875, p < .001). DISCUSSION: The Mandarin MDAS exhibited good reliability and validity for assessing general hospital patients.

Adapting dialectical behavior therapy in Mandarin-speaking Chinese patients with borderline personality disorder: An open pilot trial in Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is the most commonly used treatment for patients suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, data on its applications in Asian countries remain lacking. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying Mandarin-translated DBT among suicidal Chinese patients with BPD in Taiwan. METHODS: An open-label trial design was implemented for the 1-year standard DBT model. Patients from a psychiatric outpatient department in a general hospital in Taiwan with a history of ≥2 episodes of suicidal behavior within the previous year and who scored >40 on the Borderline Symptom List were invited to participate in this trial. Outcomes of suicidal behaviors, severity of BPD and depression symptoms, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and quality of life were assessed at the beginning of the treatment and every 3 months until 12 months. RESULTS: Eighteen patients participated, three of whom (16.7%) dropped out. Significant improvements were found in the frequency and severity of suicidal behaviors and ideations, depressive symptoms, and BPD symptoms beginning as early as the third month after initiating DBT. DISCUSSION: This pilot study found that DBT may be an effective and feasible intervention for Mandarin-speaking individuals with a recent history of suicidal behaviors with BPD. Future randomized controlled trials with comparison groups are needed to further determine the efficacy of DBT on this population.

Prediction of Repeated Self-Harm in Six Months: Comparison of Traditional Psychometrics With Random Forest Algorithm.

Suicidal risk has been a significant mental health problem. However, the predictive ability for repeated self-harm (SH) has not improved over the past decades. This study thus aimed to explore a potential tool with theoretical accommodation and clinical application by employing traditional logistic regression (LR) and newly developed machine learning, random forest algorithm (RF). Starting with 89 items from six commonly used scales (i.e., proximal suicide risk factors) as preliminary predictors, both LR and RF resulted in a better solution with much fewer items in two phases of item selections and analyses, with prediction accuracy 88.6% and 79.8%, respectively. A combination with 12 selected items, named LR-12, well predicted repeated self-harm in 6-month follow-up with satisfactory performance (AUC = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76-0.92; cut-off point by 1/2 with sensitivity 81.1% and specificity 74.0%). The psychometrically appealing LR-12 could be used as a screening scale for suicide risk assessment.

Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors associated with current cigarette smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking among adolescents in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are the most common types of substance use and misuse (SUM) among adolescents. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and psychosocial factors associated with current cigarette smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking among adolescents in Taiwan. METHODS: Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires on computers from students at 14 senior high schools in Taipei, Taiwan. Hierarchical multiple regression strategies were used to determine the risk factors for SUM. RESULTS: A total of 5879 participants were recruited, the majority of whom were female (56.7%). The prevalence rates of current smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking were 3.84% and 7.38%, respectively. Risk factors associated with current smoking were similar to those for hazardous alcohol drinking, including male gender, low school ranking, and depression. In addition, current smoking was associated with increasing age, hazardous alcohol drinking, and fewer parents with whom they can talk, whereas hazardous alcohol drinking was associated with current smoking, not living with both biological parents, and more peers with whom they can talk. CONCLUSION: The potential coexistence of adolescent SUM and common psychosocial correlates demands an integrated approach. Health professionals should provide corresponding intervention programs and coordinate with parents and teachers to develop an anti-SUM environment, especially for males and high-risk schools. Preventive psychiatric services as an integral part of anti-SUM strategies for adolescents targeting to depression may be useful in reducing the risk.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcultural Validation of Group-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Adjunctive psychosocial interventions are part of the preferred method to treat bipolar disorder (BD). This study aimed to conduct a randomized control and protocol-guided trial, in order to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of adjunctive group-based treatments for Chinese outpatients with BD. A single-blind trial in which 68 outpatients with BD were randomly assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU) or to an experimental group with 12 additional weekly sessions and 3 monthly booster sessions. Participants were assessed at baseline for mood condition, suicidal ideation, medication adherence, and quality of life (QoL), with follow-up assessments every 3 months over a 1-year period. The overall retention rate of this study was 89.7%. The results showed significant differences between groups for the variables evaluated, which included achieving euthymia, decrease of depression symptoms, and improvement of QoL. No improvements in medication adherence, reduction in manic symptoms, or suicidal ideation was observed. The results of this study support the transcultural validity and efficacy of group-based psychosocial intervention as anadjunct to TAU among Chinese outpatients with BD to promote improvements during the course of the illness including achieving euthymia, reducing depressive symptoms, and improving QoL.

Comparison of cognitive function between early- and late-onset late-life depression in remission.

Differences in cognitive function have been suggested in people with late-life depression between those with early- (EOD) and late-onset (LOD), possibly reflecting different etiologies. The cutoff point for EOD and LOD was the first depressive episode before age 60 or later. However, depressive symptoms at the time of disorder are important confounders. The study aimed to compare cognitive function in older people with EOD and LOD in the euthymic state. A sample of 135 participants aged 60+ with a history of major depressive disorder in remission, received neuropsychological evaluation including tests of memory, attention, processing speed, visuospatial function, language, and executive function. Individual test scores and a derived composite score were investigated as dependent variables against age of onset using multiple linear regressions adjusted for potential confounders, including residual depressive symptoms. We found EOD (N = 67) and LOD (N = 68) groups did not differ significantly in overall composite cognitive scores after adjustment. Of individual test scores, only those for immediate recall were significantly lower in participants with EOD compared to LOD. In conclusion, the study found no associations between cognitive function and age of onset in this sample of people with depressive disorder in remission. Active or residual depressive symptoms might have confounded this relationship in previous research.

Brief Cognitive-based Psychosocial Intervention and Case Management for Suicide Attempters Discharged from the Emergency Department in Taipei, Taiwan: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effectiveness of brief cognitive-based psychotherapy plus standard case management in the prevention of further suicide attempts, clinical severity, and treatment adherence in a randomized clinical trial compared with standard case management. METHOD: Among five hundred and ninety-seven patients presenting with suicide attempts, 147 participants were included. They were randomized into two groups. After a 6-session intervention over four months, all participants were re-evaluated at the 6th and 12th months. RESULTS: At a 6-month assessment, the intervention had approximately halved the odds of following suicide attempts and doubled the odds of outpatient visits in comparison with standard case management, although the differences did not attain statistical significance. At a 12-month assessment, the two groups did not differ significantly in any of the outcome variables. Generalized linear mixed models indicated that intervention did not significantly decrease the subsequent suicide risk and severity of clinical symptoms, but it did increase psychiatric outpatient treatment adherence. The subgroup analysis revealed that the intervention increased the outpatient clinic visits only for repetitive attempters, not for first-time attempters. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to test whether more intensive psychotherapy sessions might be more effective in decreasing the probability of further attempt and the severity of symptoms.

Equivalency of the diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) queries about thoughts of death and self-harm, but not suicidality. Although it is sometimes used to assess suicide risk, most positive responses are not associated with suicidality. The PHQ-8, which omits Item 9, is thus increasingly used in research. We assessed equivalency of total score correlations and the diagnostic accuracy to detect major depression of the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9. METHODS: We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis. We fit bivariate random-effects models to assess diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: 16 742 participants (2097 major depression cases) from 54 studies were included. The correlation between PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 scores was 0.996 (95% confidence interval 0.996 to 0.996). The standard cutoff score of 10 for the PHQ-9 maximized sensitivity + specificity for the PHQ-8 among studies that used a semi-structured diagnostic interview reference standard (N = 27). At cutoff 10, the PHQ-8 was less sensitive by 0.02 (-0.06 to 0.00) and more specific by 0.01 (0.00 to 0.01) among those studies (N = 27), with similar results for studies that used other types of interviews (N = 27). For all 54 primary studies combined, across all cutoffs, the PHQ-8 was less sensitive than the PHQ-9 by 0.00 to 0.05 (0.03 at cutoff 10), and specificity was within 0.01 for all cutoffs (0.00 to 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 total scores were similar. Sensitivity may be minimally reduced with the PHQ-8, but specificity is similar.

Perception of Stigma and Its Associated Factors Among Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Multicenter Survey From an Asian Population.

Stigma of major depressive disorder (MDD) is an important public health problem. This study aimed to examine the level of perceived stigma and its associated factors in MDD patients in five Asian countries, including China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. A total of 547 outpatients with MDD were included from Asian countries. We used the stigma scale of the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) to assess stigma. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Symptoms Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to assess symptoms, clinical features, functional impairment, health status, and social support. The stigma scores of patients under 55 years old were significantly higher than those equal to or greater than 55 years old (P < 0.001). The stigma scores exhibited significant negative correlation with age; MSPSS scores of family, friends, and others; and SF-36 subscale of mental health, but significant positive correlation with MADRS, FSS, SDS, and SCL-90-R subscale scores of depression, interpersonal sensitivity, obsession-compulsion, psychoticism, and somatization. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age, SCL-90-R interpersonal sensitivity, obsession-compulsion, psychoticism, MSPSS scores of friends and others, and SF-36 of mental health were significantly associated with the level of perceived stigma. These findings suggest that MDD patients who are young, have a high degree of interpersonal sensitivity and psychoticism, have low health-related quality of life, and have low social support are the target population for stigma interventions in Asia.

Homocysteine, rather than age of onset, is a better predictor for cognitive function in older adults with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: The association between older-age bipolar disorder and cognitive impairments may be mediated by vascular burden. The aim of the study was to examine the difference of cognitive function between older people with late-onset bipolar disorder (LOBD) and early-onset bipolar disorder (EOBD) by considering rigorous vascular risk burden evaluation, comprehensive cognitive tests, and relevant biochemistry data. METHODS: We recruited 95 outpatients aged over 55 with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. Fifty had LOBD, defined by age of onset after 40. Cognitive function was evaluated through a battery of tests assessing verbal memory, attention/speed, visuospatial function, verbal fluency, and cognitive flexibility. Vascular risk assessments included individual disorders, 10-year Framingham cardiovascular risk scores, and serum levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, and triiodothyronine. RESULTS: No differences were observed between LOBD and EOBD on any cognitive test after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition to age and educational years, multiple linear regression analyses indicated significantly negative associations between serum homocysteine levels and cognitive performances in attention, psychomotor speed, verbal memory, and executive function. CONCLUSIONS: Among older people with bipolar disorder, LOBD is not associated with more cognitive dysfunction in this study. However, higher serum homocysteine levels were significantly associated with worse cognitive performance in this particular group. Clinicians therefore have to pay attention to the cognitive function in older bipolar patients with higher levels of homocysteine.

The Psychometric Properties in the Chinese Version of the Reasons for Living Inventory and the Relationship with Suicidal Behaviors Among Psychiatric Patients in Taiwan.

This study examines the reliability, factor structure, convergent, and construct validities of the Mandarin Chinese version of the Reasons For Living Inventory (RFL) among Taiwanese psychiatric patients. Demographical characteristics of patients who hold these adaptive cognitions and differences on the level of endorsement between suicidal and non-suicidal individuals were also investigated. All adult patients that had visited the psychiatric ambulatory clinic or had been admitted to the psychiatric ward in a general hospital in Taiwan over a 3-month period were consecutively invited to complete an inventory that included background information, the Mandarin Chinese versions of the RFL, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), and the Beck Hopeless Scale (BHS). Of the 254 respondents aged 19 to 65 years, 47.2% had suicidal ideations or attempts within the past year. The original six-factor structure of the American version was confirmed to be acceptable. The Cronbach α was 0.964.Total scores on RFL were inversely and significantly correlated with that from BHS. Multivariate analysis with demographic data and items from SBQ-R revealed that higher scores on the RFL have been associated with married, have children or religious beliefs, fewer past and current suicidal ideations and attempts, fewer histories of suicidal threats, and a less self-reported likelihood of future suicide in our sample. The Mandarin version of the RFL inventory showed acceptable psychometric properties and could distinguish suicidal patients from non-suicidal ones.

Validity of a Novel Touch Screen Tablet-Based Assessment for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Probable AD in Older Adults.

This study aimed to develop a psychometrically valid touch screen tablet-based cognitive test battery to identify early cognitive impairment due to dementia in older adults. The battery includes eight tests with 13 subscores, evaluating visual attention, auditory attention, information processing speed, visual memory, motor control, and visuospatial perception. Among the participants, 43 had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 36 with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD); 41 had no cognitive impairment. The average time to administer the tablet-based tests was 10 minutes. Significant correlations with the Mini-Mental State Examination were found in 9 out of 13 subscores. Patients with probable AD scored significantly lower than controls in 8 out of 13 subscores, whereas those with MCI scored significantly lower in 4 out of 13 subscores. Confirmatory factor analysis using Promax rotation showed that four factors caused lower subscores in the MCI group compared with the controls: information processing speed, memory, visuospatial perception, and motor control. All four factors significantly discriminated the controls from the MCI and probable AD groups, and in the expected direction. The touch screen tablet-based cognitive test battery is psychometrically valid for evaluating cognition in older adults.