Date
2015
Abstract
To review the use of the Months Backwards Test (MBT) in clinical and research contexts. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of reports relating to the MBT based upon a search of PsychINFO and MEDLINE between January 1980 and December 2014. Only reports that specifically described findings pertaining to the MBT were included. Findings were considered in terms of rating procedures, testing performance, psychometric properties, neuropsychological studies and use in clinical populations. RESULTS: We identified 22 data reports. The MBT is administered and rated in a variety of ways with very little consistency across studies. It has been used to assess various cognitive functions including focused and sustained attention as well as central processing speed. Performance can be assessed in terms of the ability to accurately complete the test without errors (“MB accuracy”), and time taken to complete the test (“MB duration”). Completion time in cognitively intact subjects is usually 0.90). Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies comparing the months forward test and MBT indicate greater involvement of more complex networks (bilateral middle and inferior frontal gyri, the posterior parietal cortex and the left anterior cingulate gyrus) for backwards cognitive processing. The MBT has been usefully applied to the study of a variety of clinical presentations, for both cognitive and functional assessment. In addition to the assessment of major neuropsychiatric conditions such as delirium, dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment, the MBT has been used in the assessment of concussion, profiling of neurocognitive impairments in organic brain disorders and Parkinson’s disease, prediction of delirium risk in surgical patients and medication compliance in diabetes. The reported sensitivity for acute neurocognitive disturbance/delirium in hospitalised patients is estimated at 83%-93%. Repeated testing can be used to identify deteriorating cognitive function over time. CONCLUSION: The MBT is a simple, versatile tool that is sensitive to significant cognitive impairment. Performance can be assessed according to accuracy and speed of performance. However, greater consistency in administration and rating is needed. We suggest two approaches to assessing performance - a simple (pass/ fail) method as well as a ten point scale for rating test performance (467).
Supervisor
Description
peer-reviewed
Publisher
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
Citation
World J Psychiatry;22, 5 (3), pp. 305-314
Collections
School of Medicine
4i - Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity
Computer Science & Information Systems
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Dunne_2015_months.pdf
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Keywords
cognition, assessment, Months backward test, dementia
ULRR Identifiers
https://researchrepository.ul.ie/handle/10344/4726
 https://doi.org/10.34961/3212
Funding code
Funding Information
Health Research Board (HRB)
Sustainable Development Goals
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Article
Rights
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/
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