Biomedical subjects

H R Kessler

Publications and source records attributed to H R Kessler.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

The Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) as a predictor of impairments of functional activities of daily living in multiple sclerosis.

We investigated the relationship between the Kurtzke expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and an activities of daily living (ADL) scale that assesses disability across multiple functional domains based on self report of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Forty-three patients with definite MS responded on a 42-item ADL inventory and were also assigned an EDSS rating as part of their regular clinical examination. While a strong correlation was found between the EDSS and total ADL disability level, the ADL domain of 'Mobility' fully accounted for this relationship. The distribution of ADL scores as a function of EDSS level was curvilinear, as ADL variance was inconsistent across EDSS levels. Little ADL disability was evident when EDSS levels were below five. At higher EDSS levels, ADL variability increased substantially, making predictions regarding ADL level less exact.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1992

The relationship between disability and memory dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

We examined the relationship between memory impairment and functional disability in multiple sclerosis. Tests of memory, sensorimotor ability, and functional capacity were administered to fifty-six subjects with chronic-progressive or remitting-relapsing MS. Sensorimotor impairment, functional disability, and chronicity predicted impairment on various measures of memory acquisition, while age and type of diagnosis did not. After accounting for the effects of initial acquisition, delayed-recall performance was weakly-associated with disability. We suggest that: (1) Functional disability is associated with memory loss in MS; (2) MS-forgetting is caused by defective acquisition, rather by a deficit in consolidation or storage; (3) Level of disease activity, rather than type of MS diagnosis, determines the degree of memory impairment; and (4) MS disability needs to be evaluated multidimensionally, to account for both neurologic and functional impairment.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recall of three words after five minutes: its relationship to performance on neuropsychological memory tests.

This paper examines the statistical relationship between a memory screening test (recall of three words after 5 minutes, 3W5M) and an extensive battery of neuropsychological memory tests. Subjects were 142 consecutive referrals for neuropsychological examination and were given 3W5M in addition to measures of memory, language, and intelligence. Performance on 3W5M was categorized as either "impaired" or "unimpaired" in a manner consistent with judgement used in clinical settings. Linear discriminant function analysis was used to predict 3W5M performance from neuropsychological test scores. Results indicated that 3W5M was a relatively good screening measure, but that its sensitivity and utility as a measure of memory was significantly influenced by the nature of the neurological disorder. Significantly higher diagnostic accuracy rates were obtained in patient groups with clinically obvious memory impairment (e.g., dementia, pure amnesia) than in groups with less obvious memory impairment (e.g., closed head injury, psychiatric disorders). Implications for clinical memory testing, and for the relationship between screening and battery approaches to assessment, are discussed.

Journal Article↗