RESUMO
The evaluation of individual cognitive change has relied heavily upon the raw change score, defined simply as the difference between follow-up and baseline scores. However, raw changes scores are susceptible to the confounding effects of both regression-to-the-mean and practice effect. The clinical relevance of raw change scores for the older adult is also obscured by normal, age-related cognitive change. The present study illustrates the use of a standardized regression-based (SRB) methodology to generate an alternative to the raw change score; the SRB change score. SRB change scores provide a standardized alternative to the raw change score, allowing the clinician to evaluate the magnitude of change on one or more variables along a common metric that controls for practice effect, regression-to-the-mean, and normal cognitive decline. Case data illustrate how SRB change scores can identify clinically relevant cognitive change in the individual older adult patient.
