Diagnostic properties of the Italian ECAS Carer Interview (ECAS-CI)

Abstract

Background: This study aimed at providing diagnostic properties and normative cut-offs for the Italian ECAS Carer Interview (ECAS-CI).

Materials: N = 292 non-demented ALS patients and N = 107 healthy controls (HCs) underwent the ECAS-CI and the Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI). Two ECAS-CI measures were addressed: (1) the number of symptoms (NoS; range = 0-13) and (2) that of individual symptom clusters (SC; range = 0-6). Diagnostics were explored against an FBI score ≥ than the 95th percentile of the patients' distribution.

Results: Both the NoS and SC discriminated patient from HCs. High accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were detected for both the NoS and SC; however, at variance with SC, the NoS showed better post-test features and did not overestimate the occurrence of behavioural changes. The ECAS-CI converged with the FBI and diverged from the cognitive section of the ECAS.

Discussion: The ECAS-CI is a suitable screener for behavioural changes in ALS patients, with the NoS being its best outcome measure (cut-off: ≥ 3).

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Behavioural symptom; Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen; Frontotemporal degeneration; Psychometrics.