Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40275598›Full record

ArticleMultiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)2025

Differential Validity in the Written, Oral, and Electronic SDMT in Multiple Sclerosis.

Matthew A Greenwald, Héctor G Cancel Asencio, Jenifer Dwyer, Arshe Moss, Tianxia Wu, Irene Cortese, Daniel S Reich, María I Gaitán

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In one paragraph

Article in Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Matthew A GreenwaldTranslational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-3366-5079
Héctor G Cancel AsencioNeuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Jenifer DwyerNeuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Arshe MossNeuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Tianxia WuDivision of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Irene CorteseExperimental Immunotherapeutics Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Daniel S ReichTranslational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2628-4334
María I GaitánTranslational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4455-5641

Funding

Intramural NIH HHS Z99 NS999999
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCognitive decline in multiple sclerosis (MS) is commonly assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). However, the written (wSDMT), oral (oSDMT), and electronic (eSDMT) versions may display differing psychometric properties, despite often being used interchangeably.

objectiveThe objective of the study is to compare the wSDMT, oSDMT, and eSDMT, including inter-test reliability, and to assess demographic and motor disability influences on test performance.

methodsIn this within-subjects study, 85 participants with MS completed all three SDMT versions. Statistical analyses included assessment of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and sequential multiple regression modeling.

resultsThe three SDMT versions demonstrated good inter-test reliability (ICC = 0.77) and similar mean scores (range: 53.5-56.2). Scores on all three test versions declined with age (

conclusionThe wSDMT and eSDMT show signs of motor disability influence, while the eSDMT displays the greatest sensitivity to the influences of age and education. This differential construct validity necessitates SDMT version-specific normative data and motor-adjustments for accurate cognitive assessment in MS.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionMultiple SclerosisNeuropsychological TestsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychometricsReproducibility of Resultsagingcognitioneducationmultiple sclerosisoutcome measurementprocessing speedSDMT

Identifiers

PMID40275598
PMCPMC12100773

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.