Assignment task:
I believe the topic of examining concussions in children is interesting in relation to their cognitive development in comparison to adults. I found research, which utilized neuropsychological tests. Long et al.(2023) presented research which focused on examining executive functions in individuals diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The study had adult participants who utilized computerized neuropsychological tests, namely the Cambridge Neuropscychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (Long et al., 2023). According to Long et al.(2023) three core areas were measured to determine the neurocognitive ability of each participant, which include being able to absorb and store visuospatial information, to be able to redirect focus on stimuli and one's capability to respond. The results indicated the participants diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder didn't have any concerns related to utilizing the variety of computerized tests (Long et al., 2023). In general, do you feel its assumed individuals who have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder, would struggle with utilizing assessments? Why or why not?
Brief Synopsis of the Article
Computerized neuropsychological tests (CNTs) are now increasingly used in the therapy of concussions, particularly in juvenile populations. However, the predictive utility of these tests in determining recovery trajectories following a concussion is not well recognized, particularly in children and adolescents. Takagi et al. (2020) aimed at determining if cognitive functioning as per the measurement by Cog Sport CNT, predicts quick versus delayed retrieval in children experiencing concussion visiting emergency department (ED).
The study was based on the prospective longitudinal observational cohort design with the collection of data taking 1-4 days, 14 days, and 90 days after injury in children of age 5-18 years and has been on concussion with two days and reported to the ED. In this article, concussion was described abased on Zurich/Berlin Consensus statement on the Concussion during sport. The dependent variables included reaction time and the error cases on Cog Sport Brief Battery that participants finished within 1-4 days after injury.
The analysis of the study from 220 cases was carried out with 98 cases in the rapid recovery group or the asymptomatic group at 14 days after injury and 122 cases in the groups with slow recovery process or symptomatic group at two weeks following injury. The longitudinal analyses were conducted to help model the trajectories of the reaction times and error rates between the two groups over time. Surprisingly, both primary and interaction or the time by group impacts were not significant for all the models, indicating that cognitive functioning based on the measurement by Cog Sport within 1 to 4 days of conclusion failed to predict the long-term recovery in such a pediatric sample.
The authors stressed doctors' need to understand the Cog Sport battery's substantial shortcomings, considering its widespread usage and promotion in concussion therapy. While CNTs like Cog Sport have potential benefits, such as standardized administration and objective assessments, their predictive utility in predicting recovery trajectories following concussion in juvenile populations appears to be limited, according to the findings of this study. Further research is needed to establish accurate predictors of long-term recovery in concussed children and adolescents.
The Consideration to be taken when if I were to use the Neuropsychological Test for Dissertation
When considering the use of CNTs for a dissertation, some crucial considerations are psychometric features, which involve the evaluation of the test's reliability, validity, and normative data, more so for the target population. The other consideration is theoretical grounding, which involves the awareness of the cognitive constructs measured by the test and how they are aligned with the research questions. The other consideration is clinical relevance, which consists of assessing the test's ability to help predict real-world functioning and its activity to the population of focus.
The other consideration is practical considerations, which involve examining the needed resources such as software, training, and hardware. It also includes the administration of time and feasibility. The other consideration is availability and access, which involves ensuring that access to the test materials and permission for research applications is based on considering any proprietary or licensing problems.
References:
Takagi, M., Hearps, S. J. C., Babl, F. E., Anderson, N., Bressan, S., Clarke, C., Davis, G. A., Doyle, M., Dunne, K., Lanyon, C., Rausa, V., Thompson, E., & Anderson, V. (2020). Does a computerized neuropsychological test predict prolonged recovery in concussed children presenting to the ED? Child Neuropsychology, 26(1), 54-68.