Validation of the Italian version of the In-Person Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (IP-TICS)

Background: This study validated the Italian version of the In-Person Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (IP-TICS). Methods: 468 healthy Italian individuals (176 males; age: 57.5 ± 15.4, education: 13.2 ± 3.7) completed the TICS, IP-TICS, MMSE and MoCA. Correlational analyses explored the construct validity of the IP-TICS against the TICS, MMSE and MoCA. Hierarchical Confirmatory Factor Analyses tested the configural, metric and scalar invariance between the TICS and IP-TICS. Statistical equivalence was assessed via a two one-sided test (TOST) procedure. Equating norms were derived via log-linear smoothing equipercentile equating (LSEE) analyses, with TOST procedures assessing equivalence between empirical and LSEE-derived scores. Results: The IP-TICS converged with the TICS, MMSE and MoCA, showing configural and metric invariance and equivalence with the TICS. Empirical and LSEE-derived scores were statistically equivalent. Discussion: Findings support the convergence, equivalence and invariance between the TICS and the IP-TICS. The IP-TICS converges with established in-person screeners.