The Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery (AMIPB) test of information-processing speed: a study of its reliability and feasibility in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective: To investigate how useful the Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery Task A (AMIPB) is as a test of the speed of information processing in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by comparing various methods of presenting the test and assessing the reliability (test–retest and inter-rater) and utility of each version. Design: Each patient was assessed twice verbally by the same assessor 1–2 weeks apart. Then 1–2 weeks later half were assessed by another observer, and half were assessed by the first observer using a written method. Setting: A specialist young disabled unit. Subjects: Thirty-three patients with MS. Measures: The AMIPB, the Short Memory-Orientation-Concentration Test (SOMC) and the Barthel ADL Index. Results: The average (SD) number of correct responses after 4 min was 23.3 (18.6), median 21. The test–retest reliability (n = 24) of the 4-min AMIPB was high (r = 0.98) and the difference of the score ranged from –7 to 9: median 3, mean (SD) 1.88 (4.01) and interquartile range 0 to 3.25. The inter-observer reliability (n = 12) of the 4-min AMIPB was also high (r = 0.97) and the mean (SD) differences between scores were 4.3 (5.8), median 4, range +19 to –2. The score at 60 seconds and the score at 240 seconds were highly correlated (r = 0.98). The scores obtained verbally and by writing were closely correlated (r = 0.99). Conclusions: The AMIPB used over 120 seconds with verbal responses is a reliable and reasonable test for major information-processing deficits.