Towards patient collaboration in cognitive assessment: Specificity, sensitivity, and incremental validity of self-report

The present work addressed the specificity and sensitivity of patient-reported cognitive ability using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, and the incremental validity of patient self-report in addition to knowledge gained through neuropsychological tests. We examined a sample of individuals with multiple sclerosis (N = 130) as a model of chronic illness where neuropsychological deficits are relatively common. Results revealed that 64% of the sample reported noticing some problems with memory or confusion. Very high levels of reported problems were not consistent with objective testing, whereas moderate levels of noticing problems were congruent with test results. This pattern suggests a curvilinear relationship between self-reported and objective assessment. The moderate reporters seem to be attending to subtle increases in deficits over time. Results also supported the incremental validity of combining subjective and objective indices, but only when the high reporters were excluded. We conclude that patients can provide important complementary data which may promote preventive care.