Barbara A Wilson Eve Greenfield Linda Clare Alan

Barbara A. Wilson, Eve Greenfield, Linda Clare, Alan Baddeley, Janet Cockburn, Peter Watson, Robyn Tate, Sara Sopena, Rory Nannery & John Crawford (2008)

BACKGROUND

History • The original RBMT was published in 1985, with an update in 2003 (RBMT-II) • Designed to predict everyday memory problems and to monitor change over time • Original data was collected on adults aged 16 -65 and older adult and child samples were also collected post-publication • Later versions included a development of RBMTC (1991) and RBMT-E (1998) • Numerous studies since publication of the RBMT have shown that the tool is a valid instrument for detecting everyday memory problems in patient groups

Why do we need a new version? • Some changes were needed to improve the clinical effectiveness of the test • In 2003 RBMT-II was published but this only included an update of materials, e. g. included more multiracial stimuli to reflect ethnic diversity of UK • RBMT-3 includes new items on tests, new materials, a new subtest (Novel task) and increased normative sample • The difficulty level of the RBMT-3 is between that of the RBMT-II and RBMT-E

Features of the new tool • The RBMT-3 contains 14 scored subtests • 12 of these are the same or slightly altered from the RBMT-E. • New ‘Novel task’ is included to assess new learning • 30 minutes administration • 2 versions allowing retesting • Can be used by a range of professionals • Intervention chapter • Scoring examples reported in the manual to aid interpretation

Core capabilities of RBMT-3 • Predict everyday memory problems • For use in neuropsychological and older adult settings • Helpful with assessment of patients with more severe cognitive difficulties, e. g. acute settings, older adults • Meaningful to clients – reflects everyday memory skills • Links to rehabilitation intervention

THE TEST

The Subtests • • • • First & Second Names – Delayed Recall Belongings – Delayed Recall Appointments – Delayed Recall Picture Recognition – Delayed Recognition Story – Immediate Recall Story – Delayed Recall Face Recognition – Delayed Recognition Route – Immediate Recall Route – Delayed Recall Messages – Immediate Recall Messages – Delayed Recall Orientation & date Novel Task – Immediate Recall NEW! Novel Task – Delayed Recall NEW!

New Subtest – Novel Task • Assesses ability to learn a new task • Deficits in this skill impact on everyday life, and also influence the individual’s capacity to benefit from compensatory aids used in rehabilitation.

Why a Novel Task test? • It is important to establish the level of ability in learning new tasks before attempting to teach them for rehabilitation

– NOVEL TASK • • • Based on a mathematical dissection 6 piece puzzle Assembled in a set order 3 learning trials and a delayed trial Scoring criteria: – Order – Position

STANDARDISATION

Standardisation • 333 Normative Controls – 172 females 161 males – 16 -89 years of age (mean age = 44. 3 years) – Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests revealed that the sample distribution of age, education, gender and ethnicity did not differ significantly from the expected UK 2001 census figures

Standardisation • Exclusionary criteria for Normative Controls – A history of hospitalisation or treatment for severe psychiatric disturbance, drug or alcohol abuse – Spoken English inadequate for understanding test materials or instructions – Severe visual impairment – Brain damage or loss of consciousness for five minutes or more

Clinical sample • 75 participants Category N Traumatic Brain Injury 19 Stroke 24 Encephalitis 20 Progressive Conditions 12 Total 75

SCORING STUDIES

Subtest Scoring Studies • Raw scores on the 14 RBMT-3 subtests are converted to subtest scaled scores with a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3 • Percentile ranks for scaled scores are provided • Subtests take into account an individual’s age and data is reported for the following age bands: – – – – 16 -24 years of age 25 -34 years of age 35 -44 years of age 45 -54 years of age 55 -64 years of age 65 -74 years of age 75 -89 years of age

General Memory Index • A General Memory Index (GMI), representing overall memory performance can also be calculated • GMI is standardised to have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15 • GMI scores are calculated by summing the scaled scores on the RBMT-3 subtests and then converting this sum to a GMI using the appropriate conversion table • Conversion tables also report the confidence intervals and percentile ranks for each GMI

Reliability • Alternate form reliability coefficients for each subtest for Version 1 and Version 2 of the test with the normative and clinical sample combined ranged from 0. 57 to 0. 86. • The reliability coefficient of the GMI was 0. 87 for both Versions 1 and 2 • With the exception of the Messages - Delayed Recall subtest the inter-scorer reliability for the RBMT-3 subtests were 0. 9 or higher, indicating a high level of agreement between scorers – The lower level of agreement on the Messages – Delayed Recall subtest was attributable to only two of the 18 pairs who completed the inter-scorer study and is thought to be due to two examinees whose results were particularly difficult to score on this subtest.

Validity • Factor analytic results confirmed the construct validity of forming a GMI • Ecological validity (as supported by performance against the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire; Smith et al. , 2000) was moderate (r =-. 43 Version 1; r=-. 44 Version 2) • Performance of the clinical sample compared to the normative sample provided strong evidence of the sensitivity of the RBMT-3 to memory problems