Search

Introduction: Rabies virus infection can cause fatal brain disease in mammals. Any species is susceptible to infection. Any effort aimed at recognizing infected animals and performing first actions in the event of transmission is mandatory., Objective: To determine knowledge, attitudes, and practice profiles regarding rabies, or hydrophobia, in a municipality of Colombia, using a multiple correspondence analysis., Materials and Methods: A descriptive observational study involving 71 pet owners was carried out in the municipality of Ibagué (Tolima). A questionnaire-based survey collected data on rabies knowledge, attitudes, practices, and demographic information. The survey was conducted between October and November 2021, and the data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analysis., Results: The study revealed a commendable level of rabies awareness among the urban residents in the study municipality. However, there are causes of concern as they allow stray animals to enter their homes and are not aware of the importance of notifying dead animals. The respondents demonstrated a humane approach to bite management and emphasized the importance of wound cleaning. Additionally, they expressed a strong desire for more information to enhance their knowledge and awareness of the disease., Conclusion: The findings of this study provide valuable insights for improving rabies prevention efforts and promoting public health. Health education, evidence-based strategies, and community participation are essential for successful disease control and educational gaps addressing related to sociocultural factors.

Objective: Several studies have demonstrated an association between frailty and worse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, there is a lack of evidence from Colombia. This study aims to evaluate the association between frailty and the risk of adverse outcomes in patients over 65 years old diagnosed with ACS., Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted, including patients over 65 years old who underwent coronary angiography due to an ACS diagnosis at a hospital in Medellín, Colombia. Frailty was assessed using the FRAIL scale. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 30 days. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay and a composite outcome of in-hospital or 30-day mortality, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, hemorrhagic complications, and vascular complications., Results: A total of 112 patients were included. Frail patients (n=35, 31.3%) were older, had a lower socioeconomic status, higher GRACE scores, and more severely compromised coronary vessels. A significant association was observed between frailty and 30-day mortality (relative risk [RR] 19.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.04-72.61; p<0.001), the composite outcome (RR 4.57, 95% CI: 2.56-8.34; p<0.001), and longer hospital stays (9 days vs. 5 days in the non-frail group)., Conclusions: A considerable number of patients over 65 years old with ACS were frail. Frailty was associated with adverse in-hospital and 30-day outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflictos de interés: Ninguno

Introduction: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is common in Parkinson's Disease (PD). Few studies have compared the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with and without MCI due to PD (PD-MCI), and its correlation to patients' subjective cognitive and communicative difficulties has not been explored., Objective: We aimed to compare HRQoL in PD-MCI and PD without MCI (PD-nMCI), and explore its possible relationship to subjective cognitive and communicative complaints., Methods: We included 29 PD-nMCI and 11 PD-MCI patients. The HRQoL was assessed with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39): its Cognition dimension was used as a measure of subjective cognitive complaints, its Communication dimension for subjective communicative complaints, and the summary index (PDQ-39 SI) as an indicator of HRQoL. Non-parametric partial correlations between the Cognition and Communication dimensions, and the adjusted PDQ-39 SI were conducted., Results: PD-MCI patients had greater subjective cognitive and communicative complaints and worse HRQoL than PD-nMCI patients. In the PD-MCI group, both subjective cognitive and communicative complaints exhibited significant direct correlations with the adjusted HRQoL scores., Conclusions: HRQoL seems to be affected in PD-MCI, and it might be influenced by greater subjective cognitive and communicative complaints. Including patient-reported outcome measures of HRQoL, and providing cognitive and speech rehabilitation, as well as psychotherapeutic strategies to face these deficits can enhance the patient-centred approach in PD., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Studies that have compared the cognitive alterations of the children of parents with bipolar disorder (CPBD) versus the children of control parents (CCP), present heterogeneous results due to the studies' methodological differences, the age of the population studied, and the lack of standardisation of the measures used for the different neurocognitive domains. The objective was to compare the neurocognitive profile of CPBD versus CCP to observe if there are differences that could be proposed as possible endophenotypes of BD., Results: A total of 107 individuals (51 CPBD, and 56 CCP) with ages between 6 and 16 (mean, 12.2±2.80) years of age were evaluated. Seventy-four point five percent of the CPBD group had some disorder compared to 67.9% of the CCP group. Tests such as letter-F phonemic verbal fluency, letter-S phonemic verbal fluency, overall F-A-S phonemic verbal fluency, story recall and retrieval, and Wisconsin perseverative errors showed a difference with a small effect size, but with a high degree of uncertainty., Conclusions: The CPBD did not have differences in their neurocognitive profile in comparison with CCP. Both groups have a high prevalence of psychopathology, which is a factor that could explain the lack of differences in neurocognitive performance., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To classify the staff of two reference institutions for COVID-19 care in Antioquia according to the intensity of anxiety and depression symptoms, and to determine the factors associated with these classes., Methods: Cross-sectional study in which the GAD-7, PHQ-9, fear of COVID-19, and the Copenhagen Burnout scale were used. Latent class analysis was performed to identify the classes, and the factors associated with these were determined using multinomial logistic regression., Results: 486 people participated. The three-class model had the best fit: class I with low scores on the scales; class II with mild degrees of anxiety and depression, and intermediate levels of fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress; and class III with moderate and severe degrees of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. The factors associated with belonging to class III were age (OR = 0.94; 95%CI, 0.91-0.96), change of residence to avoid exposing relatives (OR = 4.01; 95%CI, 1.99-8.09), and a history of depressive disorder (OR = 3.10; 95%CI, 1.27-7.56), and anxiety (OR = 5.5; 95%CI, 2.36-12.90). Factors associated with class II were age (OR = 0.97; 95%CI, 0.95-0.99), history of depressive disorder (OR = 3.41; 95%CI, 1.60-7.25), living with someone at risk of death from COVID-19 (OR = 1.86; 95%CI, 1.19-2.91), family member being healthcare staff (OR = 1.58; 95%CI, 1.01-2.47), and change of residence to avoid exposing relatives (OR = 1.99; 95%CI, 1.11-3.59)., Conclusions: Three classes of participants were obtained, two of them with anxiety and depression symptoms. Younger age and a history of mental disorder were factors associated with the two classes of symptomatic patients; other factors may be causes or consequences of the symptoms., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We aim to determine the prevalence of mental disorders in siblings of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to determine how psychosocial adversity factors relate to this psychopathology, in a low-middle income country (Colombia)., Methods: We evaluated subjects with ADHD diagnosed according to the DSM-5 criteria, one of their parents and one of their siblings (ages 8-19). We used the ADHD rating scale and a set of instruments to assess the presence of mental disorders as well as psychosocial adversity., Results: We evaluated 74 trios formed by the index case with ADHD, one sibling and one of the parents. We found that 24.3% of the participating siblings also met the criteria for ADHD and another 24.3% for other psychiatric disorders. The risk of these siblings having ADHD increased further when one of the parents reported a history of ADHD. We also found that 28.3% of the families faced high levels of psychosocial adversity as per their scores in the Rutter Adversity Index., Conclusions: Siblings of subjects with ADHD showed a significant risk for ADHD and other mental disorders. That risk increased if a parent reported a history of ADHD and also when two or more psychosocial adversity factors were present. This study supports the importance of early detection in efforts to decrease the risk for other siblings., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Handgrip strength is a robust indicator of the biological health of children and adolescents. Objecti ves: to identify the anthropometric characteristics and body composition related to handgrip stren gth, and to describe the main characteristics of the protocols used for its evaluation., Methodology: A scoping review was developed; the search was carried out in 1.) Medline; 2.) Web of Science; 3.) Science Direct; 4.) Scielo; and 5.) EBSCO's Sportdiscus. Original investigations were included if they have handgrip strength data, anthropometric characteristics, and body composition., Results: 59 reports published between 2005 and 2020 were selected. Among them, nutritional classification was the most studied characteristic (n = 25; 42.3%), followed by body mass index (n = 23; 38.9%). In 47.5% (28 reports), the number of tests performed on each individual to estimate the handgrip strength value was not clear. The dynamometer brand Takei Scientific Instrument Co. Ltd. was the most used, with 49.2 %. The most widely used indicator was absolute handgrip (86.4%, 51 reports)., Conclusions: There is a wide variety of protocols used for handgrip strength assessment with va riations in body position, arm and hand selection, number of repetitions, and intervals between measurements. A proportional pattern of values was found between absolute handgrip strength and body mass index, Σ skinfolds, however, when adjusted by mass (relative handgrip strength), the relationship is inverse.

Introduction: Lithium treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) has been associated with less cognitive impairment and fewer changes in structural brain anatomy compared to other treatments. However, the studies are heterogeneous and few assess whether these effects are related. The objective of this study was to evaluate and relate cognitive performance and structural neuroanatomy in patients treated with and without lithium., Methods: Cross-sectional study that included 48 subjects with BD-I, of which 22 were treated with lithium and 26 without lithium. Performance was assessed on Wechsler III (WAIS III), TMT A and B (Trial Making Test) neuropsychological tests, California verbal learning test (CVLT), Rey complex figure test and Wisconsin card sorting test. Brain structures obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were evaluated. The standardised mean difference (SMD) between both groups was calculated, adjusted for confounding variables using a propensity score, and the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to assess the relationship between cognitive performance and neuroanatomical regions., Results: Compared to the group without lithium, the group with lithium had fewer perseverative errors in the Wisconsin test (SMD = -0.69) and greater left and right cortical areas (SMD = 0.85; SMD = 0.92); greater surface area in the left anterior cingulate (SMD = 1.32), right medial orbitofrontal cortex (SMD = 1.17), right superior frontal gyrus (SMD = 0.82), and right and left precentral gyrus (SMD = 1.33; SMD = 0.98); greater volume of the right amygdala (SMD = 0.57), right hippocampus (SMD = 0.66), right putamen (SMD = 0.87) and right thalamus (SMD = .67). In the lithium group, a correlation was found with these errors and the thickness of the left precentral gyrus (ρ = -0.78), the volume of the right thalamus (ρ = -0.44), and the right amygdala (ρ = 0.6)., Conclusions: The lithium group had better cognitive flexibility and greater dimension in some frontal and subcortical cortical regions. Furthermore, there was a moderate to high correlation between performance in this executive function and the thickness of the right precentral gyrus, and the volumes of the thalamus and the right amygdala. These findings could suggest a neuroprotective effect of lithium., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The offspring of bipolar parents (BO) is a high-risk population for inheriting the bipolar disorder (BD) and other early clinical manifestations, such as sleep disturbances., Objective: To compare the presence of psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances of BO versus offspring of control parents (OCP)., Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted that compared BO versus OCP. The participants were assessed using valid tools to determine the presence of psychiatric symptoms or disorders. The "Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire" and "School Sleep Habits Survey" were used to determine sleep characteristics and associated factors. Sleep records (7-21 days) were also obtained by using an actigraphy watch., Results: A sample of 42 participants (18 BO and 24 OCP) was recruited. Differences were found in the presentation of the psychiatric disorder. The BO group showed a higher frequency of major depression disorder (MDD; P = .04) and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD; P = .04). The OCP group showed a higher frequency of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; P = .65), and Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD; P = .46). Differences were also found in sleep by using subjective measurements. Compared to the OCP group, BO had a worse perception of quality of sleep (P = .02), a higher frequency of nightmares (P = .01), a shorter total sleep time, and a higher sleep latency. Nevertheless, no differences were found between groups in the actigraphy measurements., Conclusions: The BO group had a higher frequency of Mood Disorders, and at the same time a higher number of sleep disturbances in the subjective measurements. It is possible that there is an association between mood symptoms, sleep disturbances, and coffee intake. No differences were found in the sleep profile by using actigraphy., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Bipolar disorder (BD) has a large hereditary component. It is a disorder that begins in early adulthood, but about which it has been described a premorbid period preceding the onset of BD. During this herald expression psychiatric disorders and symptoms, such as depressive, manic, psychotic, anxious and others, may appear., Objective: To determine the psychopathological profile of a Bipolar Offspring (BO) group compared with the Community Control Offspring (CCO) group, and its evolution over time, including subthreshold symptoms and mental disorders., Methods: We conducted an observational mixed cohort study, with a prospective design. We included subjects from six to 30 years of age, from the region of Antioquia, Colombia. A total of 131 subjects from the risk group BO and 150 subjects from the CCO group were evaluated through validated psychiatric diagnostic interviews (K-SADS-PL and DIGS) at baseline and at 4 years follow up. All interviews were carried out by a staff blind to parent diagnoses. Follow-up assessment were complete in 72% of the offspring. Forty-two subjects were excluded as they surpassed the age of 30 years, and only 46 subjects were not followed (change of address or did not consent to participate)., Results: Compared with the CCO group, the BO group had a higher frequency of affective disorder, psychotic disorder, externalizing disorders and use of the psychoactive substances during both assessments at time 1 and 2. The magnitude of the differences between the groups increased when they reach time 2. The BO group had a greater risk for presenting subthreshold symptoms and definitive psychiatric disorders, such as affective disorders, psychotic disorders and externalizing disorders. In addition, the BO group had a younger age of onset for psychoactive substances consumption., Conclusion: During the follow-up period, the BO group had a higher risk of presenting mental disorders compared with the CCO group. The most relevant symptoms and disorders that could precede the onset of BD were depressive, bipolar not otherwise specified, psychotic and substance use., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Studies that have compared the cognitive alterations of the children of parents with bipolar disorder (CPBD) versus the children of control parents (CCP), present heterogeneous results due to the studies' methodological differences, the age of the population studied, and the lack of standardisation of the measures used for the different neurocognitive domains. The objective was to compare the neurocognitive profile of CPBD versus CCP to observe if there are differences that could be proposed as possible endophenotypes of BD., Results: A total of 107 individuals (51 CPBD, and 56 CCP) with ages between 6 and 16 (mean, 12.2±2.80) years of age were evaluated. Seventy-four point five percent of the CPBD group had some disorder compared to 67.9% of the CCP group. Tests such as letter-F phonemic verbal fluency, letter-S phonemic verbal fluency, overall F-A-S phonemic verbal fluency, story recall and retrieval, and Wisconsin perseverative errors showed a difference with a small effect size, but with a high degree of uncertainty., Conclusions: The CPBD did not have differences in their neurocognitive profile in comparison with CCP. Both groups have a high prevalence of psychopathology, which is a factor that could explain the lack of differences in neurocognitive performance., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is common in Parkinson's Disease (PD). Few studies have compared the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with and without MCI due to PD (PD-MCI), and its correlation to patients' subjective cognitive and communicative difficulties has not been explored., Objective: We aimed to compare HRQoL in PD-MCI and PD without MCI (PD-nMCI), and explore its possible relationship to subjective cognitive and communicative complaints., Methods: We included 29 PD-nMCI and 11 PD-MCI patients. The HRQoL was assessed with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39): its Cognition dimension was used as a measure of subjective cognitive complaints, its Communication dimension for subjective communicative complaints, and the summary index (PDQ-39 SI) as an indicator of HRQoL. Non-parametric partial correlations between the Cognition and Communication dimensions, and the adjusted PDQ-39 SI were conducted., Results: PD-MCI patients had greater subjective cognitive and communicative complaints and worse HRQoL than PD-nMCI patients. In the PD-MCI group, both subjective cognitive and communicative complaints exhibited significant direct correlations with the adjusted HRQoL scores., Conclusions: HRQoL seems to be affected in PD-MCI, and it might be influenced by greater subjective cognitive and communicative complaints. Including patient-reported outcome measures of HRQoL, and providing cognitive and speech rehabilitation, as well as psychotherapeutic strategies to face these deficits can enhance the patient-centred approach in PD., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We aim to determine the prevalence of mental disorders in siblings of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to determine how psychosocial adversity factors relate to this psychopathology, in a low-middle income country (Colombia)., Methods: We evaluated subjects with ADHD diagnosed according to the DSM-5 criteria, one of their parents and one of their siblings (ages 8-19). We used the ADHD rating scale and a set of instruments to assess the presence of mental disorders as well as psychosocial adversity., Results: We evaluated 74 trios formed by the index case with ADHD, one sibling and one of the parents. We found that 24.3% of the participating siblings also met the criteria for ADHD and another 24.3% for other psychiatric disorders. The risk of these siblings having ADHD increased further when one of the parents reported a history of ADHD. We also found that 28.3% of the families faced high levels of psychosocial adversity as per their scores in the Rutter Adversity Index., Conclusions: Siblings of subjects with ADHD showed a significant risk for ADHD and other mental disorders. That risk increased if a parent reported a history of ADHD and also when two or more psychosocial adversity factors were present. This study supports the importance of early detection in efforts to decrease the risk for other siblings., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Validate the Self Stigma Of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale in a population of students of a medical school for its use in Colombia., Methods: We included 384 medical students from the city of Medellín. Initially, two direct translations were made, two back translation and one pilot test. The internal consistency, test-retest repeatability and structural, convergent, divergent and discriminative construct validity were then evaluated., Results: A easy-to-understand and to fill out Spanish version was obtained. The internal consistency of the scale was adequate (Cronbach's alpha=.80; 95%CI, .77-.83) as well as the test-retest repeatability (CCI=.77; 95%CI, .63-.86). The Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a good fit with the one-dimensional structure (RMSEA=.073; IC90%, .056-.089; CFI=.968; TLI=.977; WRMR=.844). The convergent validity was supported by the correlation with the Public Stigma scales (ρ=.39) and Attitudes towards Seeking Help (ρ= -0.50) and the divergent validity with the Social Desirability scale (ρ=-0,05). When examining the discriminative validity, differences were found between the scores of those who would be willing to seek professional help when having a mental health problem and those who probably would not (Difference of means=4.9; 95%CI, 2.99-6.83)., Conclusions: The Colombian version of the SSOSH is valid, reliable and useful for the measurement of the Self-stigma associated with seeking professional help in the university population of the Colombian health sector. Its psychometric properties must be investigated in populations of other programs and outside universities., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Validate the Self Stigma Of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale in a population of students of a medical school for its use in Colombia., Methods: We included 384 medical students from the city of Medellín. Initially, two direct translations were made, two back translation and one pilot test. The internal consistency, test-retest repeatability and structural, convergent, divergent and discriminative construct validity were then evaluated., Results: A easy-to-understand and to fill out Spanish version was obtained. The internal consistency of the scale was adequate (Cronbach's alpha = .80; 95%CI, .77-.83) as well as the test-retest repeatability (CCI = .77; 95%CI, .63-.86). The Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a good fit with the one-dimensional structure (RMSEA = .073; IC90%, .056-.089; CFI = .968; TLI = .977; WRMR = .844). The convergent validity was supported by the correlation with the Public Stigma scales (ρ = .39) and Attitudes towards Seeking Help (ρ = -0.50) and the divergent validity with the Social Desirability scale (ρ = -0,05). When examining the discriminative validity, differences were found between the scores of those who would be willing to seek professional help when having a mental health problem and those who probably would not (Difference of means = 4.9; 95%CI, 2.99-6.83)., Conclusions: The Colombian version of the SSOSH is valid, reliable and useful for the measurement of the Self-stigma associated with seeking professional help in the university population of the Colombian health sector. Its psychometric properties must be investigated in populations of other programs and outside universities., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Predominant polarity (PP) has been proposed as a specifier of bipolar disorder (BD) due to its relationship with clinical and prognostic variables. It is possible that this is due to a different underlying neurobiology, in such a way that the changes found by structural nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) in BD are different and specific., Objectives: To explore findings of structural neuroimaging in patients with BD type I (BD-I) according to PP., Methods: Cross-sectional study that evaluated 77 patients with BD-I using the DIGS interview. PP was established using the operative definition of two-thirds of all affective episodes throughout life to classify PP as manic (MPP), depressive (DPP) or indeterminate (IPP). MRIwas performed during the euthymia phase to measure intracranial structures. The data obtained was analysed using a linear regression model adjusted for confounding variables (drug use, alcohol use, psychoactive substance use) and were compared between the three groups finding the standardised mean difference (SMD)., Results: Differences with adequate effect size were found in three brain structures after adjusting for confounding variables, specifically in the right fusiform gyrus and the left lingual gyrus, which were greater in the DPP group than in the MPP group (SMD = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.34 to 1.49 and SMD = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.21 to 1.35). Likewise, in the right thalamus, it was shown to be greater in the IPP group compared to MPP group (SMD 0.89, 95% CI = 0.31 to 1.46)., Conclusions: A reduction in the thickness of the right fusiform gyrus and the left lingual gyrus, as well as the right thalamic volume was observed in patients with BD-I with PPM, which supports the hypothesis that PP has a plausible neurobiological correlate and could have potential utility as a BD specifier., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The offspring of bipolar parents (BO) is a high-risk population for inheriting the bipolar disorder (BD) and other early clinical manifestations, such as sleep disturbances., Objective: To compare the presence of psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances of BO versus offspring of control parents (OCP)., Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted that compared BO versus OCP. The participants were assessed using valid tools to determine the presence of psychiatric symptoms or disorders. The "Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire" and "School Sleep Habits Survey" were used to determine sleep characteristics and associated factors. Sleep records (7-21 days) were also obtained by using an actigraphy watch., Results: A sample of 42 participants (18 BO and 24 OCP) was recruited. Differences were found in the presentation of the psychiatric disorder. The BO group showed a higher frequency of major depression disorder (MDD; P=.04) and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD; P=.04). The OCP group showed a higher frequency of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; P=.65), and Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD; P=.46). Differences were also found in sleep by using subjective measurements. Compared to the OCP group, BO had a worse perception of quality of sleep (P=.02), a higher frequency of nightmares (P=.01), a shorter total sleep time, and a higher sleep latency. Nevertheless, no differences were found between groups in the actigraphy measurements., Conclusions: The BO group had a higher frequency of Mood Disorders, and at the same time a higher number of sleep disturbances in the subjective measurements. It is possible that there is an association between mood symptoms, sleep disturbances, and coffee intake. No differences were found in the sleep profile by using actigraphy., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Bipolar disorder (BD) has a large hereditary component. It is a disorder that begins in early adulthood, but about which it has been described a premorbid period preceding the onset of BD. During this herald expression psychiatric disorders and symptoms, such as depressive, manic, psychotic, anxious and others, may appear., Objective: To determine the psychopathological profile of a Bipolar Offspring (BO) group compared with the Community Control Offspring (CCO) group, and its evolution over time, including subthreshold symptoms and mental disorders., Methods: We conducted an observational mixed cohort study, with a prospective design. We included subjects from six to 30 years of age, from the region of Antioquia, Colombia. A total of 131 subjects from the risk group BO and 150 subjects from the CCO group were evaluated through validated psychiatric diagnostic interviews (K-SADS-PL and DIGS) at baseline and at 4 years follow up. All interviews were carried out by a staff blind to parent diagnoses. Follow-up assessment were complete in 72% of the offspring. Forty-two subjects were excluded as they surpassed the age of 30 years, and only 46 subjects were not followed (change of address or did not consent to participate)., Results: Compared with the CCO group, the BO group had a higher frequency of affective disorder, psychotic disorder, externalizing disorders and use of the psychoactive substances during both assessments at time 1 and 2. The magnitude of the differences between the groups increased when they reach time 2. The BO group had a greater risk for presenting subthreshold symptoms and definitive psychiatric disorders, such as affective disorders, psychotic disorders and externalizing disorders. In addition, the BO group had a younger age of onset for psychoactive substances consumption., Conclusion: During the follow-up period, the BO group had a higher risk of presenting mental disorders compared with the CCO group. The most relevant symptoms and disorders that could precede the onset of BD were depressive, bipolar not otherwise specified, psychotic and substance use., (Copyright © 2020 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The identification of pre-frailty and frailty syndrome in older adults is important due to its association with the development of disability. It is a priority problem for health systems and quality of life of older adults, caregivers, and relatives., Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of pre-frailty and frailty syndrome in indigenous older adults from Colombia., Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted that included 540 indigenous over 60 years of age who belong to the 13 sub-regions of the Obando province in Nariño, Colombia. The prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty syndrome was determined, we evaluated sociodemographic variables, cognitive deterioration, functionality, and the presence of different morbidities. Associations were estimated using multivariate multinomial logistic regression models., Results: The mean age was 70.68 (SD 6.86). The prevalence of frailty syndrome was 32.4%, and pre-frailty syndrome was 58.7%. Having depressive symptoms, those with altered functional dependence according to the Barthel index, and those who reported having arthrosis or arthritis, showed an association with frailty syndrome., Conclusion: This analysis shows a high prevalence of frailty syndrome in the population of indigenous older adults. This was similar to that reported in other countries. Frailty has a great impact on health due to its strong association with musculoskeletal diseases, depression, and disability., (Copyright © 2019 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) have a high risk of unwanted pregnancies and abortions, due to their condition of vulnerability or hypersexuality (common in BD). This is associated with difficulty in planning their actions and lack of sex education and counselling by medical personnel, and can lead to adverse obstetric outcomes and inability to care adequately for their children., Objective: To describe the characteristics in terms of sexual and reproductive health, and the use of contraception and counselling in psychiatric consultations, in a sample of patients with BD and schizophrenia in Medellin, Colombia., Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. We included the 160 participants from the clinical trial, "The effects of a multimodal intervention programme in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia", who were recruited from the mood and psychosis disorders group clinic at Hospital Universitario de San Vicente Fundación in Medellin. They were contacted by phone by a third-year psychiatry resident, who applied a survey about the characteristics of their sex life, contraception and reproduction., Results: Almost all of the patients with schizophrenia were single, had no undergraduate studies and were unemployed. No significant differences were found regarding the age of starting sexual relations when comparing by diagnosis and gender. Almost all patients with schizophrenia and almost half of the patients with BD reported not having an active sexual life. Almost all of those who admitted to having an active sexual life claimed to always use contraception; in the BD group, only 48.8% of single women admitted to using contraception and a little over half of men stated that they used a condom when having sex. A quarter of the pregnancies were unplanned. Although the majority of the patients stated that they had never received information about family planning in the consultations with their psychiatrist, 57.4% of the patients with BD and 78.8% of those who had schizophrenia, considered themselves to be well informed on the subject., Conclusions: Patients with mental illness have cognitive and behavioural alterations that affect their sexual and reproductive lives. Psychiatrists should therefore address this issue, to ensure education in areas such as contraception, family planning and sexually transmitted diseases and help safeguard the safety and quality of life of their patients., (Copyright © 2018. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Introduction: Exposure to armed conflict produces biological adaptations oriented to handle the highly stressful conditions in war environments. The special features of The Colombian armed create a special scenario to evaluate the human behavior., Objective: In this study, psychiatric, cognitive and emotional processing characteristics of a group of Colombian armed illegal forces of ex-combatants are described., Methods: Sixty-three ex combatants and 22 controls were assessed with WAIS (IQ), INECO frontal screening (executive functions), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (empathy), emotional features recognition and MINI (psychiatric profile)., Results: When compared to the control group, ex-combatants showed higher frequency of antisocial personality disorder (P=.031) and behavioral dissocial disorder (P=.017). In cognitive profile, the ex-combatants showed a lower score in the executive function test (Me=18.50; RQ=4.00), control (Me=23.00; RQ=5.25), with a poor personal distress in emphatic profile (Me=10.00; RQ=5.00) compared to control group (Me=37.00; RQ=7.25)., Conclusions: We found differences in cognitive and psychiatric profile in ex-combatants in comparison with controls., (Copyright © 2015 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Spanish version of the cognitive impairment in psychiatry scale screening scale has been developed as a response to the needs arising in clinical practice during the evaluation of mental illness patients, but the performance is not known in the Colombian population with bipolar disorder I. This paper tries to establish construct validity and stability of the scale in patients with bipolar disorder I in the city of Manizales., Methods: Construct validity was estimated by comparing the measurement in two divergent groups, a control group and a group with bipolar disorder I. It was also compared to a Neuropsychological battery measuring the same scale domains. The correlation between each one of the sub-tests of the scale and stability was evaluated through the reliability test-retest in the group with bipolar disorder I., Results: The scale showed discriminatory capacity in cognitive functioning between the control group and the group with bipolar disorder I. The correlation with the neuropsychological battery was estimated by the Spearman test showing results between 0.36 and 0.77, and the correlation between each sub-test of the scale showed correlations between 0.39 and 0.72. Test-retest was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and their values were between 0.77 and 0.91., Conclusions: The Spanish version of screening scale in the cognitive disorder in psychiatry shows acceptable validity and reliability as a measurement tool in clinical psychiatric practice., (Copyright © 2014 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Cognitive decline could begin 20 years before the diagnosis of dementia. Besides age, several factors related to medical, socioeconomic, and behavioral and genetic condition may be associated with cognitive decline. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence on the risk and protective factors for cognitive decline in people under 65 years old., Methods: A systematic review was conducted using a search strategy in MEDLINE and Embase, including longitudinal studies to analyze the effect of protective or risk factors on cognitive decline in a population under 65 years old., Results: A total of 22 studies were included in this review. Factors such as diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, overweight or obesity, metabolic syndrome, education, physical activity, cognitive stimulation, marital status and diet, could be related to cognitive decline before 65 years of age., Conclusions: Cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle conditions may be associated with cognitive decline before 65 years of age. However, the quality of the evidence was low., (Copyright © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Empathy is one of the main concepts of in social neurosciences. It is defined as a trait with multiple dimensions allowing individuals to place themselves in the emotional states of others. Colombia has an irregular, internal and long-lasting armed conflict which has been increasing its cruelty levels., Objectives: to assess the empathy dimensions of 285 ex-combatants from the internal Colombian conflict, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index(IRI) in Spanish. METHODOLOGY AND SUBJECTS: a sample of 285 male ex-combatants, 241 (84, 6%) males: 85,3% paramilitaries, and 14,7% guerillas. The 28 Item IRI questionnaires were administered. 3 exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were performed. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were developed using structural equation procedures., Results: The first EFA obtained 9 factors (KMO=0,74, variance 54,7% and internal consistency (IC): 0,22 - 0,63). The second EFA produced 20 items with burdens above 0,4 and showed a 6-factor structure (KMO=0,70, variance 50,3%, IC: 0,37 - 0,63). The third EFA forced the 4 original IRI dimensions (KMO=0,74, variance 33,77, IC: 0,44 - 0,77. CFAs showed goodness of adjustment indexes adequate for the three models. The 4-factor model obtained the lowest value, while the 6-factor model obtained the highest. The 4- factor model showed the best IC., Conclusion: The Spanish IRI administered to ex-combatants of the Colombian conflict has possible structures of 4, 6 and 9 factors. The best adjustment was for the 6-fctor. The 4-factor model exhibited the best IC., (Copyright © 2013 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Publicado por Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Analyzing the IQ and associated factors in school children aged 6 to 8 years old from the northeastern and northwestern districts of Medellin, Colombia., Materials and Methods: Simple, random, stratified sampling was carried out according to grade, level and commune; the sample consisted of 423 male and female children. The Wechsler intelligence scale (WISCIV) was used for evaluating the children's IQ and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) for evaluating the children's psychosocial stimulation/quality of their home environment. WHO cutoff points were used as reference standards for assessing their nutritional status., Results: The following risk factors explained IQ scores and rates: the parents' academic problems, the siblings' behavioral problems, the mothers' alcoholism during pregnancy and aggressive behavior at home., Conclusion: The IQ scores and associated rates for children who attended early school years in the two poorest districts of Medellin were correlated with psychosocial background factors and aggressive behavior at home.

Objective: This study was aimed at establishing subgroups having specific socioeconomic characteristics by using latent class analysis as a method for segmenting target population members of the MANA-ICBF supplementary food program in the Antioquia department of Colombia and determine their differences regarding poverty and health conditions in efficiently addressing pertinent resources, programs and policies., Methods: The target population consisted of 200,000 children and their households involved in the MANA food assistance program; a representative sample by region was used. Latent class analysis was used, as were the expectation-maximization and Newton Raphson algorithms for identifying the appropriate number of classes., Results: The final model classified the households into four clusters or classes, differing according to well-defined socio-demographic conditions affecting children's health., Conclusions: Some homes had a greater depth of poverty, therefore lowering the families' quality of life and affecting the health of the children in this age group.

Introduction: Previous studies related alterations in non-conventional seminal parameters with recurrent early embryonic death for one couple. A reference standard of clinical assessment is required for the management of these kinds of patients., Objective: Normal semen parameters were established based on functional tests including lipid peroxidation of sperm membranes, antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma and integrity of sperm chromatin to compare with men whose partners have recurrent early embryonic death. These parameters set reference values to identify subfertile individuals whose condition can be attributed to altered semen parameters., Materials and Methods: The conventional and non-conventional semen parameters of 47 samples of semen were evaluated. Thirty-six samples were from subfertile individuals whose partners had a history of early recurrent embryo death, and 11 samples were from individuals with recent evidence of normal fertility., Results: By discriminant analysis, the two groups were classified as follows: a value below 0.50 for 86.1% of individuals in the group of recurrent early embryonic death, and a value above 0.50 to classify 81.8% of individuals in the group of recent fertility., Conclusions: This reference value of 0.5 based on the results of sperm tests can identify infertile male patients whose partners have a history of early embryonic death. This will aid the physician to suggest treatments more focused on the possible cause of subfertility.

Introduction: Standard questionnaires to characterize familial attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of adults have been studied in some studies., Aim: To observe convergent and concurrent validity of four standard rating scales to quantify the familial ADHD symptoms of adults., Patients and Methods: The sample was constituted by the 392 adults; aged 18 through 84 years, belonging to 141 Antioquian families with multiple ADHD affected members, who fulfilled by self-report the Wender-Utah Rating Scale and the ADHD checklist; and, beside, answered a questionnaire asking for current and past ADHD symptoms, in a neurological interview. Correlation analyses were done. Sensitivity and specificity for ADHD diagnosis were also determined., Results: Significant and over 0.6 correlations were observed between scales that explored past ADHD symptoms. Distant cut-off points for 90% sensitivity and specificity were observed for all questionnaires. The best LR+ (12.15) was found for the report of 5 or more past hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms; follow by the report of 7 or more past ADHD symptoms (6.92)., Conclusions: Cut-off points should be taken with caution when these rating scales were used for adult ADHD screening. Psychometric properties do not allow using these scales as substitution of structured clinical interview for the gold standard ADHD diagnosis in adults.

Introduction: The clinical signs of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) are expressed mainly in the nervous system and recently reports also situate them in the retina., Aim: To determine the prevalence and risk of periodontal disease in subjects from families with a history of CADASIL mutation in the department of Antioquia, Colombia., Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, with subjects being assigned to the CADASIL group or a control group according to genotyping for the R1031C and C455R mutation in Notch3. Each participant voluntarily signed the informed consent document and was submitted to neurological, neuropsychological and periodontal evaluation., Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups according to age, sex, schooling, tobacco smoking, cognitive status, functional status and the presence of natural teeth. The frequency of soft plaque, gingivitis and periodontal disease was significantly higher in the group of carriers of the CADASIL mutation than in the control group. The CADASIL group had six times more risk of having soft plaque above or equal to 20% than the control group. Prevalence of gingivitis above or equal to 10% was observed in all the members of the CADASIL group. The people in the CADASIL group had five times more risk of suffering periodontal disease than the control group., Conclusions: Carriers of the CADASIL mutation displayed a higher prevalence and risk of periodontal disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, and it is characterised by tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. The most frequent cognitive disorder is executive dysfunction, although global deficits associated to late onset of the disease have also been reported., Aims: To describe and to compare cognitive performance in three groups with PD and one with Parkinsonism., Patients and Methods: A neurological and neuropsychological evaluation was carried out on 175 patients with idiopathic PD and Parkinsonism. The data analysis was performed by comparing the results of the tests carried out on the four groups: three with PD (age of onset: juvenile, adult and late) and one with Parkinsonism, while controlling for age, schooling and time of progression., Results: In the juvenile PD group, alterations were observed in the number of intrusions in verbal memory; in the adult PD and late PD groups, there were alterations in time in continuous visual execution. These differences disappeared when the groups were compared to each other while also controlling for age. The Parkinsonism group obtained results that were lower than those of all the groups with PD for most of the cognitive and functional variables., Conclusions: Idiopathic PD would not be the cause of multiple cognitive impairment, but of a specific alteration, mainly involving the speed of processing and information recall. Age of onset would not be a decisive factor in the degree of impairment of cognitive functioning; important cognitive impairment was only present in the group with Parkinsonism.

Introduction: The Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) has been used for retrospective screening of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) symptoms and its comorbidities., Aim: To establish the ADHD behavioral phenotype dimensions of adults from 140 Antioquian families with genetic segregation for ADHD diagnosis, using the WURS -Spanish version., Subjects and Methods: 392 adults from both genders, belonging to nuclear and multigenerational families with one or more ADHD affected members were selected. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for mental disorder was administered to establish the gold standard diagnosis of ADHD through the long life. All participants fulfill the WURS. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were done to determine the behavioral dimensions of the ADHD phenotype., Results: A factor structure of four dimensions was derived, measuring behavioral decontrol, hyperactivity, inattention and anxiety, and which explained the 60% of the total variance., Conclusions: The behavioral adult ADHD phenotype in the Antioquian families was conformed by four dimensions, which could be used in heritability and linkage future studies.

Introduction: Intrusive errors in verbal memory tests could be considered as a preclinical marker of familial Alzheimer disease (AD). AIMS. To analyze and to compare the number and types of intrusive errors in the CERAD verbal memory test, administered to a genealogy of affected by familial AD, with E280A presenilin-1 mutation., Patients and Methods: Sample was constituted by 30 asymptomatic non-carriers (ANC), 39 non-demented carriers (NDC) and 21 demented carriers (DC). CERAD verbal memory test was administered to the sample. Comparisons, with non parametric Kruskal-Wallis' analysis, were done., Results: NDC participants presented more intrusive errors than ANC group in the first and second trials and in the delay recall of the memory task; also they had more intrusive errors than the DC patients in intrusive errors of the first trial and delay recall of the same task. The ANC and DC groups had significantly more intrusions only in third trial., Conclusion: Intrusive errors could be considered as a cognitive preclinical marker for familial AD.

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a clinical syndrome that presents with memory disorders, normal general cognition, and no compromise of activities of daily living or dementia. Its diagnosis has important clinical implications, since it behaves as a possible predictor of cognitive disorders that would suggest the onset of dementia. Amnestic-type MCI is considered to be a stage prior to Alzheimer-type dementia. The prevalence of MCI varies from 1-29% and the existence of this diagnosis implies a risk of presenting dementia at 12% per year., Aim: To establish the prevalence of amnestic-type MCI in a group of persons over the age of 50 years from the Valle de Aburra., Patients and Methods: The sample was made up of 848 participants of both genders, over 50 years old, who lived in the metropolitan area of Medellin and had different socioeconomic and educational levels. Amnestic MCI was diagnosed according to the criteria proposed by the American Academy of Neurology., Results: Prevalence of amnestic MCI was 9.7%, and was more predominant in males (p = 0.01) than in females. The prevalence was significantly lower in the group with more than 12 years of schooling (p < 0.05), and no significant differences in the prevalence were found in relation to age or economic status., Conclusion: The prevalence of amnestic MCI, 9.7%, found in our study is within the range reported by other researchers.

Introduction: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary disease that affects small vessels and presents with vascular episodes, neuropsychiatric disorders, migraine and cognitive impairment. The cognitive disorder varies according to the time elapsed since onset. It is a condition with a subcortical origin related to executive dysfunction, slowing, attention-related disorders and memory disorders., Aim: To define the cognitive characteristics in two neuropsychological evaluations of carriers of Notch3 gene mutations as compared to non-carriers belonging to Colombian families with CADASIL., Subjects and Methods: The study followed a longitudinal, retrospective design with 140 participants, including both carriers and non-carriers of the mutation. Cognitive performance was analysed by comparing the first and the last neuropsychological evaluation carried out on each subject at a four-year interval., Results: There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two groups in the last evaluation, but only in some tests. Carriers and non-carriers did not display any significant changes between the first and the last evaluation., Conclusions: No differences were found between both groups in the two evaluations. Cognitive impairment is not observed with the passage of time in carriers, probably owing to the fact that most of them were young, asymptomatic subjects. We believe that four years' follow-up is not enough time to observe a significant progression in the alterations affecting the cognitive functions in carriers of mutations in the Notch3 gene, which causes CADASIL. We also consider that more sensitive cognitive tools are needed to perform the neuropsychological evaluation.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important public health problem due to its disabling character and high individual, familial and social costs. The CERAD neuropsychological battery has been widely used for evaluation and diagnosis of the cognitive deficit associated with AD. This instrument has been adapted to the Colombian culture (CERAD-Col) for the Neurosciences Group., Subjects and Methods: A study was carried out to establish the validity and reliability of the CERAD-Col in Colombian, Spanish-speaking individuals aged 50 years or more. It included 151 controls and 151 AD patients. Controls were selected from a convenience sample of 848 adults aged 50 years or more. The construct validity was determined in three ways: 1) factorial analysis; 2) correlation with the functional scales FAST and GDS (convergent-type validity) and, 3) comparison between the two groups. Internal consistency was determined by means of Cronbach's alpha coefficient., Results: Three factors -memory, language and praxis- explained 88% of the total variance. Moderate but statistically significant correlations were found between neuropsychological tests and functional scales. Internal consistency and test-retest reproducibility were high. The AD group exhibited significantly lower scores (p < 0.05) than the control one., Conclusion: CERAD-Col is valid and reliable for the diagnosis of AD in Colombian Spanish-speaking population aged 50 years or more.

Introduction: Available treatments for Alzheimer disease allow that early diagnosis become an important issue, because treatment only are useful during the earliest stage, especially during the mild cognitive impairment (MCI), when the most of the cognitive function is preserved., Aim: To observe the performance on a shortened version of a Semantic Cue Recall Memory Test (SCRMT) from a group of adult aged over 50 years old, living in Medellin city and with dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT)., Subjects and Methods: The sample was constituted by 30 patients with DAT, 30 with MCI, and 59 healthy controls, which were matched by socio economic strata and school achievement. The SCRMT was administered to the sample. For the analyses two groups of age (50-69 and over 70 years) were conformed., Results: Comparisons statistically significant differences between the groups (p < 0.05). The scores were not significant affected by age. A combination of low scores with the presence of intrusions on the free, immediate cue, and delay cue recalls suggested the diagnosis of DAT, which allow recommending a complete neuropsychological assessment. Statistically significant differences were preserved when the groups were divided by age. The effect of the gender could not determine because the small size of the male sample., Conclusion: The shortened version of the SCMRT would appear be useful for the DAT diagnosis.

Introduction: Phonological awareness problems have been reported in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, other researches found that phonological awareness problem appear only in children with learning disabilities (LD)., Objective: To analyze the performance on phonological awareness tasks of children aged 7 to11 years with ADHD combined type (ADHD/+H), and inattentive type (ADHD/-H) compared with one control group., Patients and Methods: A non-randomized sample consisting of 96 children of both genders was selected. Children were attending to school in Medellin, Colombia. The sample was classified into three groups of 32 participants: ADHD/+H, ADHD/-H and control. LD was excluded using a standardized questionnaire for teachers (CEPA). Groups were sorted using a T score (3) 60 for cases and T score pound 50 for controls on a standardized questionnaire with DSM-IV-ADHD criteria, and on an ADHD-DSM-IV checklist. The performances of the three groups on phonological awareness tasks, as auditory discrimination, visual recognition, sequential repetition, oral segmentation, syllable inversion, similar words reading and writing, and pseudo-words reading and writing, were compared., Results: Differences between ADHD and control children on phonological awareness tasks scores were not found., Conclusion: Children with ADHD without LD performed similarly to controls on phonological awareness tasks.

Introduction: It has been suggested that children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have problems in attention and executive functions. A factor analysis showed that ADHD children had a different factor structure of the executive functions when they were compared with controls. AIM. To determine the factor structure of attention and executive functions in a group of ADHD children compared with a group of controls., Subjects and Methods: 249 ADHD children and 372 controls of both genders, aged 6 to 11 years old, and from the different socio economic strata of Medellín city, were selected. Attention --Mental Control and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (ACPT)-- and executive functions --Phonologic and Semantic Verbal Fluency (FAS)--, and a shortened version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were assessed in both groups. Factor analyses were developed with principal components procedure were developed for each group and the total sample, using principal component procedure with orthogonal rotation., Results: Stable factor structures were found for each group and for the total sample. The general factor structure was constituted by three independent factors: 1- Categorization, 2- Verbal fluency and verbal sustained attention, and 3- Cognitive flexibility. This factor structure explained 74.9% of the variance., Conclusion: The factor structures suggested that the components of attention and executive functions are similar for ADHD and control groups. The differences between groups would be quantitative.