Establishing General Working Population Norms for the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work.

PURPOSE: The Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work (CSC-W) is a self-report measure to assess cognitive symptoms (i.e., memory and executive function) in working adults with cancer. To date, general working population norm data are lacking worldwide. We established CSC-W norm values in the general working population, and assessed associations of CSC-W scores with work and health-related factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 1,000 Dutch working adults, of whom data was collected through an online respondent panel. The sample was stratified for sex and age, and data were weighted. Summary scores of the CSC-W total scale, and memory and executive function symptoms subscales, were determined (e.g., means, percentiles). Z- and T-scores were calculated, and analysis of (co)variance has been applied. RESULTS: Cognitive symptom scores were relatively stable across age groups, but 18-39-year-old respondents reported lower memory and executive function than respondents in other age groups. Symptom scores of memory function (mean 29.1; SD = 16.7) were higher for all age groups and in both sexes compared to executive function (mean 22.1; SD = 16.8). No sex differences in memory and executive function were observed. Higher symptom scores were associated with performing non-manual work only, manual work only, self-reported long-term illness, and higher levels of depressive symptoms and fatigue. CONCLUSION: The CSC-W norms may enhance the interpretation and facilitate the analysis of self-reported cognitive symptoms in patients with cancer at work. Our findings may support health care professionals in identifying working adults with cancer with cognitive symptoms and in developing personalized treatment.

Trajectories of cognitive symptoms and associated factors in cancer survivors after return to work: an 18-month longitudinal cohort study.

PURPOSE: Cognitive symptoms affect cancer survivors' functioning at work. To date, cognitive symptoms trajectories in working cancer survivors and the factors associated with these trajectories have not been examined. METHODS: Data from a heterogeneous group of working cancer survivors (n = 379) of the longitudinal "Work-Life-after-Cancer" study, linked with Netherlands Cancer Registry data, were used. The Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work was administered at baseline (within the first 3 months after return to work), 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up to measure self-perceived memory and executive function symptoms. Data were analyzed using group-based trajectory modeling. RESULTS: Four trajectories of memory and executive function symptoms were identified. All memory symptoms trajectories were stable and labeled as "stable-high" (15.3% of the sample), "stable-moderately high" (39.6%), "stable-moderately low" (32.0%), and "stable-low" (13.0%). Executive function symptoms trajectories changed over time and were labeled as "increasing-high" (10.1%), "stable-moderately high" (32.0%), "decreasing-moderately low" (35.5%), and "stable-low" (22.4%). Higher symptoms trajectories were associated with older age, longer time from diagnosis to return to work, more quantitative work demands, and higher levels of depressive symptoms at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: In cancer survivors who returned to work, four cognitive symptoms trajectory subgroups were identified, representing different but relatively stable severity levels of cognitive symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: To identify cancer survivors with higher symptoms trajectories, health care providers should assess cognitive symptoms at baseline after return to work. In case of cognitive symptoms, it is important to also screen for psychological factors to provide appropriate guidance.

Utility of an attention-based performance validity test for the detection of feigned cognitive dysfunction after acquired brain injury.

Introduction: The Groningen Effort Test (GET) is a recently developed performance validity test (PVT) for the identification of noncredible performance in a neuropsychological assessment of attention abilities. Because the majority of already established PVTs are based on memory functions, the GET has the potential to make a valuable contribution to validity testing.Method: The current study examined the utility of the GET in the detection of feigned cognitive dysfunction after acquired brain injury (ABI) and its incremental validity over already established PVTs, namely the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), the Dot Counting Test (DCT), and the b Test. Three hundred and forty-eight participants took part in this study, including 58 patients with ABI (stroke or traumatic brain injury), 43 healthy individuals instructed to show normal behavior, and 247 healthy individuals instructed to feign cognitive dysfunction after ABI.Results: With excellent overall classification accuracy, the GET performed close to the level of the TOMM, and superior to the b Test and DCT. Data analyses further revealed that the GET provides additional diagnostic accuracy compared to the b Test and the DCT in the detection of feigned cognitive dysfunction, but has no incremental validity over the TOMM. For each of the four PVTs in this study, diagnostic sensitivity was independent of the simulation strategy used.Conclusions: It is concluded that the GET is an attention-based PVT with promising test characteristics and high diagnostic accuracy in the detection of noncredible cognitive performance using a simulation design. Given the results can be replicated in studies using known-groups methodology, it may be a useful tool for clinical practice to complement neuropsychological assessments of patients with ABI.

Type of cancer treatment and cognitive symptoms in working cancer survivors: an 18-month follow-up study.

PURPOSE: Cognitive symptoms are reported to affect cancer survivors' functioning at work. However, little is known about the type of cancer treatment and cognitive symptoms in working cancer survivors. We examined the longitudinal association between type of cancer treatment and cognitive symptoms in cancer survivors post return to work, and whether the course of cognitive symptoms over 18 months differed per type of cancer treatment. METHODS: Data from the Dutch longitudinal "Work-Life after Cancer" study were used. The study population consisted of 330 working cancer survivors who completed questionnaires at baseline, and 6, 12, and 18 months follow-up. Cognitive symptoms were assessed with the cognitive symptom checklist-work and linked with cancer treatment data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Cancer survivors who received chemotherapy reported comparable memory symptom levels (b: - 2.3; 95% CI = - 7.1, 2.5) to those receiving locoregional treatment. Executive function symptom levels (b: - 4.1; 95% CI = - 7.8, - 0.4) were significantly lower for cancer survivors who received chemotherapy, compared with those receiving locoregional treatment. In cancer survivors who received other systemic therapy, memory (b: 0.4; 95% CI = 0.1, 0.7) and executive function symptom levels (b: 0.4; 95% CI = 0.0, 0.7) increased over time. In cancer survivors who received chemotherapy and locoregional treatment, memory and executive function symptom scores were persistent during the first 18 months after return to work. CONCLUSIONS: The contradictory finding that cancer patients receiving chemotherapy report fewer cognitive symptoms warrants further research. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Working cancer survivors may have cognitive symptom management needs irrespective of the type of cancer treatment they received.