Detection of Major and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder with the Verbal Naming Test.

OBJECTIVE: The Verbal Naming Test (VNT) is an auditory-based measure of naming or word finding. The current multisite study sought to evaluate the reliability and validity of the VNT in the detection of major and mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD). METHOD: This study analyzed clinical data from two outpatient neuropsychology clinics (N = 188 and N = 77) and a geriatric primary care clinic (N = 104). Cronbach's alpha and Spearman correlations with other measures were calculated. ROC analyses were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive power, and negative predictive power for the detection of major and mild NCD per DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) criteria. RESULTS: The VNT was found to have strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .90) and high convergent validity with a commonly used picture-naming task (NAB Naming, Spearman's rho = .65, p < .001). The VNT showed good sensitivity and specificity for the detection of NCDs, particularly major NCD, with an area under the curve of .85, sensitivity of .80, and specificity of .75. A possible discontinue rule is also suggested for clinicians to use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide compelling evidence for the use of the VNT to detect neurocognitive impairment in a clinical setting. The VNT provides a reliable alternative to picture-naming tasks, which may be advantageous when working with visually impaired patients or conducting evaluations over telehealth.

Culturally Competent Approaches for Neuropsychological Assessment for Differential Diagnosis of Dementia of Korean-Speaking Patients in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To serve the over 1.82 million people of Korean descent who reside in the United States, we assembled a core and supplemental battery of culturally and linguistically appropriate neuropsychological measures for differential diagnosis of dementia for Korean-speaking patients. METHOD: Test instruments in Korean were identified through systematic searches of PubMed and Google Scholar, US-based website searches in Korean, and in consultation with Korean-speaking cultural brokers, residing in the United States and Korea. RESULTS: A battery assessing cognitive domains and mood was assembled using core measures developed specifically for Korean-speaking individuals within the United States and supplemental English measures that can be administered using translated instructions and English normative data. The rationale for test selection and clinical utility, including strengths and limitations of the proposed measures, is presented. Additionally, a case illustration using the proposed battery is included. CONCLUSIONS: Given the large and aging population of Korean-speaking residents in the United States, it is imperative to utilize appropriately designed and normed instruments to provide culturally competent assessments to better serve the Korean community.

Developing a Culturally Competent Neuropsychological Assessment Battery for Vietnamese-speaking Patients with Suspected Dementia.

OBJECTIVES: To assemble a core battery of culturally and linguistically appropriate neuropsychological measures that can be administered to Vietnamese-speaking patients with suspected dementia. METHODS: Test instruments in Vietnamese were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar, and in consultation with two Vietnamese-speaking cultural brokers. RESULTS: A battery assessing the domains of attention, executive function, verbal and visual episodic memory, basic language abilities, visuospatial/visuoconstruction abilities, and mood/anxiety was assembled that included core measures developed either specifically for a Vietnamese-speaking population, or were validated/normed with a Vietnamese-speaking sample either in Vietnam or Vietnamese-speaking persons in the U.S. Supplemental measures were selected that can be administered using translated instructions with U.S. English normative data. The rationale for test selection and caveats for their clinical use are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The number of neuropsychological measures identified in Vietnamese and/or with Vietnamese normative data was sparse. Given the large and growing population of Vietnamese-speaking residents in the U.S. and the aging of these communities, it is imperative to develop additional, appropriately designed and normed instruments to provide culturally competent assessments to better serve these individuals.