THINC-it® is a brief screening tool designed to measure cognition and determine whether cognitive functioning is impaired. Developed and validated by THINC, an international group of experts in cognition and depression (including Dr. Raymond Lam), the THINC-it® screener is designed to use on a tablet device (iPad, Android, Windows) or a desktop computer. Users can complete the cognitive screening in only 10-15 minutes. THINC-it® includes 4 objective cognitive tests (adapted from choice reaction time, 1-back working memory task, symbol digit coding, and Trails-B) and a subjective cognitive questionnaire (PDQ-5).
Once completed, THINC-it® produces results that are easy to understand. THINC-it® performance results are immediately available and simply presented using a colour scheme (green, amber, red) indicating cognitive performance compared to healthy age-, sex- and education-matched individuals. Data from the user assessment can be confidentially stored and compared to later assessments, including a measure of sensitivity to change with treatment; moreover, a quantitative output can be obtained (e.g., to incorporate in an electronic medical record).
The THINC-it® cognitive screener (and many other resources) can be downloaded for free use at the THINC web site.
References
McIntyre RS, Best MW, Bowie CR, Carmona NE, Cha DS, Lee Y, Subramaniapillai M, Mansur RB, Barry H, Baune BT, Culpepper L, Fossati P, Greer TL, Harmer C, Klag E, Lam RW, Wittchen HU, Harrison JE. The THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it) screening assessment for cognitive dysfunction: Validation in patients with major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2017; 78:873-881.
Culpepper L, Lam RW, McIntyre RS. Cognitive impairment in patients with depression: Awareness, assessment, and management. J Clin Psychiatry 2017; 78:1383-1394.
Cha DS, Carmona NE, Rodrigues NB, Mansur RB, Lee Y, Subramaniapillai M, Phan L, Cha RH, Pan Z, Lee JH, Lee J, Almatham F, Alageel A, Rosenblat JD, Shekotikhina M, Rong C, Harrison J, McIntyre RS. Cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it): The association with self-reported anxiety in Major Depressive Disorder. J Affect Disord 2018; 238:228-232.
Cha DS, Carmona NE, Mansur RB, Lee Y, Park HJ, Rodrigues NB, Subramaniapillai M, Rosenblat JD, Pan Z, Lee JH, Lee J, Almatham F, Alageel A, Shekotikhina M, Zhou AJ, Rong C, Harrison J, McIntyre RS. Pain and major depressive disorder: Associations with cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it). Scand J Pain 2017; 15:62-67.
Cha DS, Carmona NE, Subramaniapillai M, Mansur RB, Lee Y, Hon Lee J, Lee J, Rosenblat JD, Shekotikhina M, Park C, Rong C, Greer TL, Lam R, Baune BT, Harrison J, McIntyre RS. Cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it): Association with psychosocial function in major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2017; 222:14-20.
Harrison JE, Barry H, Baune BT, Best MW, Bowie CR, Cha DS, Culpepper L, Fossati P, Greer TL, Harmer C, Jaeger J, Klag E, Lam RW, Lee Y, Mansur RB, Wittchen HU, McIntyre RS. Stability, reliability and validity of the THINC-it screening tool for cognitive impairment in depression: A psychometric exploration in healthy volunteers. Int J Methods Psychiatry, in press.