Method, Apparatus, And Computer Program Product For Stochastic Psycho-Physiological Assessment Of Attentional Impairments

• US 20080220400A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation (University of Virginia)
• Original Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation (University of Virginia)
• Inventors: Cox, Daniel J., Kovatchev, Boris P., Robeva, Rayna S., Penberthy, Jennifer Kim
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/256 of results relating to different input data, e.g. multimodal recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program product that provides, among other things, a procedure for the enhanced assessment of attention-related impairments of individuals. Further, the method, apparatus, and computer program product enhances existing assessment instruments by providing a way to reduce diagnostic error through the combining of the results of disparate assessment instruments. Potential users of this product will be any person or organization that diagnoses or treats persons with attentional or cognitive impairments. The method can be used for initial screening and diagnosis of disorders associated with impaired attention, such as ADHD, as well as for treatment and evaluation of the effects of treatments, such as medication or additional therapies.

Claims

1. A method of assessing an individual for disorders associated with attentional impairments, said method comprising:

a) obtaining scores of two or more assessment instruments for attentional impairment, conducted on the individual;

b) calibrating said obtained scores by standardizing the possible range of scores for each of said instruments before administration on the individual; and

c) operating upon said calibrated scores using a computational procedure to produce a composite result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessment instruments include two or more of the following:

demographic questionnaires, behavioral checklists, psychometric tests, parent reports, teacher rating forms, or EEG-based vigilance, attention, and consistency measures.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said assessment instruments include the Consistency Index, Alpha Blockade Index, or both.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said standardizing comprises mapping the possible range of scores for each said instrument to a range of conditional probabilities ranging from about 0 to about 1.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said standardizing further comprises mapping each indeterminate score, if any, obtained from said instruments to a conditional probability of about 0.5.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the range of possible scores of each said assessment instrument which constitutes an indeterminate score for said instrument is defined such that the likelihood of diagnostic error for each said instrument does not exceed a certain preset probability.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said certain preset probability is within the range of about 0.01 to about 0.1.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said computational procedure is one of the following:

Sequential Bayesian inference procedure, computation of joint probability distribution, multiplication of probabilities, logical expression, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus for assessing an individual for disorders associated with attentional impairments, comprising a microprocessor programmed to perform the following:

a) obtaining scores of two or more assessment instruments for attentional impairment, conducted on the individual;

b) calibrating said obtained scores by standardizing the possible range of scores for each of said instruments before administration on the individual;

c) operation upon said calibrated scores using a computational procedure to produce a composite result.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said assessment instruments include two or more of the following:

demographic questionnaires, behavioral checklists, psychometric tests, parent reports, teacher rating forms, or EEG-based vigilance, attention, and consistency measures.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said assessment instruments include the Consistency Index, Alpha Blockade Index, or both.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said standardizing comprises mapping the possible range of scores for each said instrument to a range of conditional probabilities ranging from about 0 to about 1.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said standardizing further comprises mapping each indeterminate score, if any, obtained from said instruments to a conditional probability of about 0.5.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the range of possible scores of each said assessment instrument which constitutes an indeterminate score for said instrument is defined such that the likelihood of diagnostic error for each said instrument does not exceed a certain preset probability.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said certain preset probability is within the range of about 0.01 to about 0.1.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said computational procedure is one of the following:

Sequential Bayesian inference procedure, computation of joint probability distribution, multiplication of probabilities, logical expression, or a combination thereof.

17. A computer program product for assessing an individual for disorders associated with attentional impairments, programmed to perform the following:

a) obtaining scores of two or more assessment instruments for attentional impairment, conducted on the individual;

b) calibrating said obtained scores by standardizing the possible range of scores for each of said instruments before administration on the individual;

c) operation upon said calibrated scores using a computational procedure to produce a composite result.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said assessment instruments include two or more of the following:

demographic questionnaires, behavioral checklists, psychometric tests, parent reports, teacher rating forms, or EEG-based vigilance, attention, and consistency measures.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said assessment instruments include the Consistency Index, Alpha Blockade Index, or both.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said standardizing comprises mapping the possible range of scores for each said instrument to a range of conditional probabilities ranging from about 0 to about 1.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said standardizing further comprises mapping each indeterminate score, if any, obtained from said instruments to a conditional probability of about 0.5.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the range of possible scores of each said assessment instrument which constitutes an indeterminate score for said instrument is defined such that the likelihood of diagnostic error for each said instrument does not exceed a certain preset probability.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said certain preset probability is within the range of about 0.01 to about 0.1.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said computational procedure is one of the following:

Sequential Bayesian inference procedure, computation of joint probability distribution, multiplication of probabilities, logical expression, or a combination thereof.

25. An apparatus for assessing an individual for disorders associated with attentional impairments, using scores obtained from two or more assessment instruments conducted on an individual, comprising a microprocessor configured to perform the following:

a) calibrating said obtained scores by standardizing the possible range of scores for each of said instruments before administration on the individual;

b) operation upon said calibrated scores using a computational procedure to produce a composite result.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said assessment instruments include two or more of the following:

demographic questionnaires, behavioral checklists, psychometric tests, parent reports, teacher rating forms, or EEG-based vigilance, attention, and consistency measures.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said assessment instruments include the Consistency Index, Alpha Blockade Index, or both.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said standardizing comprises mapping the possible range of scores for each said instrument to a range of conditional probabilities ranging from about 0 to about 1.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said standardizing further comprises mapping each indeterminate score, if any, obtained from said instruments to a conditional probability of about 0.5.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the range of possible scores of each said assessment instrument which constitutes an indeterminate score for said instrument is defined such that the likelihood of diagnostic error for each said instrument does not exceed a certain preset probability.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said certain preset probability is within the range of about 0.01 to about 0.1.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said computational procedure is one of the following:

Sequential Bayesian inference procedure, computation of joint probability distribution, multiplication of probabilities, logical expression, or a combination thereof.