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Background: Cognitive training (CT) for illness-linked neuropsychological deficits has been attempted in psychiatric disorders and, more recently, in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, studies are few and far between, with a limited understanding of factors contributing to efficacy. This article aims to provide a comprehensive critical review of studies employing CT in OCD. Methods: This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Protocols. Empirical studies that used any form of CT/remediation in individuals with OCD were included. Results: Eight articles met the criteria for inclusion, of which five were randomized controlled trials, two were case series, and one was an open-label trial. The studies have predominantly demonstrated improved trained cognitive functions, with only two showing generalization to untrained domains like clinical symptoms and socio-occupational functioning. Conclusion: There are few controlled trials of CT in OCD, which limits conclusions of efficacy. Given the sparse research in the area, the review summarizes the current status of research and examines important methodological considerations that may inform future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychological deficits and brain damage following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection are not well understood. Then, 116 patients, with either severe, moderate, or mild disease in the acute phase underwent neuropsychological and olfactory tests, as well as completed psychiatric and respiratory questionnaires at 223 ± 42 days postinfection. Additionally, a subgroup of 50 patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Patients in the severe group displayed poorer verbal episodic memory performances, and moderate patients had reduced mental flexibility. Neuroimaging revealed patterns of hypofunctional and hyperfunctional connectivities in severe patients, while only hyperconnectivity patterns were observed for moderate. The default mode, somatosensory, dorsal attention, subcortical, and cerebellar networks were implicated. Partial least squares correlations analysis confirmed specific association between memory, executive functions performances and brain functional connectivity. The severity of the infection in the acute phase is a predictor of neuropsychological performance 6–9 months following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection causes long‐term memory and executive dysfunctions, related to large‐scale functional brain connectivity alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease is characterized by motor and cognitive deficits that usually have an impact on quality of life and independence. To reduce impairment, various rehabilitation programs have been proposed, but their effects on both cognitive and motor aspects have not been systematically investigated. Furthermore, most intervention is focused on lower limb treatment rather than upper limbs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 3-week upper limb vibratory stimulation training on cognitive functioning in 20 individuals with Parkinson's disease. We analyzed cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trial Making Test, Digit Symbol, Digit Span Forward and Backward and Alertness) and motor performance (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale—part III; Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire) before treatment, at the end of treatment and one month post treatment. After rehabilitation, a statistically significant improvement was observed in terms of global cognitive status, attention, global motor functioning and disability. The results suggest an impact of upper limb motor rehabilitation on cognition in Parkinson's disease. Future studies on neuromotor interventions should investigate their effects on cognitive functioning to improve understanding of cognitive motor interaction in Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Family members caring for a patient with acquired brain injury (ABI) are coping with inordinate levels of stress partially due to their lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of acquired brain injury in the patient. The objective of this research is to show that as the caregivers’ stress levels increase, there is an increase in suicidal ideation. This highlights the causal relationship between unhealthy stress and reduced psychological well-being in these caregivers. In addition, qualitative research evidence regarding the caregivers’ views of their main sources of stress are presented. Methods. The participants were a random sample of 80 family caregivers of patients with acquired brain injury, out of whom 72.5% (58) are primary caregivers and 27.5% (22) are secondary caregivers. A mixed methodology was utilized. It comprised cross-sectional descriptive and phenomenological approaches. Quantitative data were obtained from two standardized measures: The Stress Symptom Checklist (SSCL) and item 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory. The qualitative data were derived from self-report procedures that were part of a structured questionnaire administered individually during the interviews. Results. The Kruskal-Wallis test with a significance level of p = .05 was used to compare the stress and suicidal ideation scores, which revealed that increasing levels of stress led to increased suicidality. The analysis of the qualitative data revealed five themes which were identified as the triggers of the caregivers’ profound stress. Most caregivers felt that it was predominantly the patient’s neuropsychological deficits, such as emotions and/or moods, cognitive ability, behavior and personality, executive function, and social factors that caused them profound stress. Conclusions. Support and education are needed to help family caregivers understand the neuropsychological impact of acquired brain injury on the patient. Once caregivers have an improved understanding and receive better support from healthcare providers, they should experience less stress and be better prepared to provide the appropriate support to patients with acquired brain injury.

Electrical status epilepticus in slow wave sleep (ESES) is typically characterized by neuropsychological deterioration to varying extents. While the syndrome is self-limiting for some, for others it has a swiftly declining course that requires aggressive neurosurgical intervention. Here, we present a patient with ESES secondary to a large left middle cerebral artery stroke in utero who experienced behavioral and neuropsychological deterioration that rapidly progressed. Collectively, her neuropsychological status, EEGs, MRIs, and nature of her ESES warranted a left hemispherectomy to prevent further decline. The patient was seen for four neuropsychological evaluations. Over time, neuropsychological test scores did not adequately capture her degree of impairment and change. Behavioral observations during evaluations and parental reports played a critical role in determining her initial decline and mild post-surgical improvement. For all practitioners, this report illustrates one extreme of ESES. It also illustrates, particularly for neurologists and neurosurgeons, the importance of behavioral observations relative to test performances.

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by motor and cognitive deficits that usually have an impact on quality of life and independence. To reduce impairment, various rehabilitation programs have been proposed, but their effects on both cognitive and motor aspects have not been systematically investigated. Furthermore, most intervention is focused on lower limb treatment rather than upper limbs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 3-week upper limb vibratory stimulation training on cognitive functioning in 20 individuals with Parkinson’s disease. We analyzed cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trial Making Test, Digit Symbol, Digit Span Forward and Backward and Alertness) and motor performance (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale—part III; Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire) before treatment, at the end of treatment and one month post treatment. After rehabilitation, a statistically significant improvement was observed in terms of global cognitive status, attention, global motor functioning and disability. The results suggest an impact of upper limb motor rehabilitation on cognition in Parkinson’s disease. Future studies on neuromotor interventions should investigate their effects on cognitive functioning to improve understanding of cognitive motor interaction in Parkinson’s disease.

OBJECTIVES: Neuropsychological deficits were compared between three groups, i.e. RD (n = 12), RD (ADHD) (n = 12), and control group (n = 24) on neuropsychological tasks assessing Visuoconstructional ability, Postural Stability, and Language Laterality. METHODS: Forty-eight children (age M = 12.5 years; 29 females, 19 males) were selected through purposive sampling procedure, from local primary schools. The participants were initially selected on the basis of Teachers Evaluation Checklist and then screened for RD and ADHD (combined type) using the Bangor Dyslexia Test and ADHD Clinical Parent Form, respectively. The groups were matched on nonverbal IQ (not less than on RSPM), Reading achievement estimate (≤90 on WRAT-3), age (11.5–15.3 years), and income. Visuoconstructional ability was assessed by scores on Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure Task (RCFT), while Postural Stability was measured by scores on Postural Stability subtest of Dyslexia Screening Instrument. Language Laterality was analysed through Dichotic Listening Words Test (DLWT). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that the group with RD (ADHD) performed significantly poor on all these tasks as compared to NC and RD (pure) group. Although the results are restricted to limited sample size, findings of the study may help in isolating the specific neuropsychological deficits related to reading disability and comorbidity which can provide important clinical information regarding etiology of the RD-ADHD connection and future treatment.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction adversely effects multiple functional outcomes and social roles after TBI. We hypothesize that chronic systemic inflammation exacerbates cognitive deficits post-injury and diminishes functional cognition and quality of life (QOL). Yet few studies have examined relationships between inflammation and cognition after TBI. Associations between early chronic serum inflammatory biomarker levels, cognitive outcomes, and QOL 6-months and 12-months after moderate-to-severe TBI were identified using unweighted (uILS) and weighted (wILS) inflammatory load score (ILS) formation. Methods: Adults with moderate-to-severe TBI (n ​= ​157) completed neuropsychological testing, the Functional Impairment Measure Cognitive Subscale (FIM-Cog) and self-reported Percent Back to Normal scale 6 months (n ​= ​139) and 12 months (n ​= ​136) post-injury. Serial serum samples were collected 1–3 months post-TBI. Cognitive composite scores were created as equally weighted means of T-scores derived from a multidimensional neuropsychological test battery. Median inflammatory marker levels associated with 6-month and 12-month cognitive composite T-scores (p ​

Objective Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders that often persist into adulthood. ADHD is associated with a high percentage of comorbid psychiatric disorders. Studies indicate that ADHD is prevalent among inmates. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the executive functions (EFs), that is, inhibition and working memory among inmates with and without ADHD after controlling for comorbidity effects. Method Through stratified sampling method, 60 adult male inmates (30 with ADHD and 30 without ADHD) were selected on a voluntary basis and were matched for age and education. We compared the groups on measures of neuropsychological tests battery and self‐rated comorbidities. Results Prior to controlling for the effects of comorbid disorders, the ADHD and non‐ADHD groups showed significant differences on several measures of attention; however, only the classic Stroop test interference score remained significant after controlling for the effect of the comorbid disorders. The group comparisons on the measures of memory remained unaffected from before to after controlling for the effects of the six comorbid disorders. Conclusions Specific comorbid disorders may exacerbate the poor performance of prison inmates with ADHD on the tests of attention, but their performance on the tests of memory could remain unaffected by their comorbidity symptoms. We recommend replicating the study with ADHD participants with no criminal history.

Objectives. Family members caring for a patient with acquired brain injury (ABI) are coping with inordinate levels of stress partially due to their lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of acquired brain injury in the patient. The objective of this research is to show that as the caregivers' stress levels increase, there is an increase in suicidal ideation. This highlights the causal relationship between unhealthy stress and reduced psychological well-being in these caregivers. In addition, qualitative research evidence regarding the caregivers' views of their main sources of stress are presented. Methods. The participants were a random sample of 80 family caregivers of patients with acquired brain injury, out of whom 72.5% (58) are primary caregivers and 27.5% (22) are secondary caregivers. A mixed methodology was utilized. It comprised cross-sectional descriptive and phenomenological approaches. Quantitative data were obtained from two standardized measures: The Stress Symptom Checklist (SSCL) and item 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory. The qualitative data were derived from self-report procedures that were part of a structured questionnaire administered individually during the interviews. Results. The Kruskal-Wallis test with a significance level of p = .05 was used to compare the stress and suicidal ideation scores, which revealed that increasing levels of stress led to increased suicidality. The analysis of the qualitative data revealed five themes which were identified as the triggers of the caregivers' profound stress. Most caregivers felt that it was predominantly the patient's neuropsychological deficits, such as emotions and/or moods, cognitive ability, behavior and personality, executive function, and social factors that caused them profound stress. Conclusions. Support and education are needed to help family caregivers understand the neuropsychological impact of acquired brain injury on the patient. Once caregivers have an improved understanding and receive better support from healthcare providers, they should experience less stress and be better prepared to provide the appropriate support to patients with acquired brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychological deficits in depression are a significant therapeutic challenge. Their occurrence means poor therapeutic prospects, worse social and professional functioning after therapy, as well as a higher risk of relapse. Despite clinical improvement, they often remain even in a state of complete remission. Beck’s model of depression does not include interventions directed at neuropsychological processes leading to neurocognitive mechanisms responsible for the development and maintenance of depression. More recent trends in cognitive-behavioral therapy seem to involve neuropsychological processes to a greater extent. This applies to Well’s metacognitive model, which focuses on the meta-level of thinking. Therapeutic process involves various aspects of attention, as well as detached mindfulness. Available empirical studies indicate that this therapy model is more effective in reducing neuropsychological deficits than Beck’s model. Acceptance and commitment therapy as well as mindfulness-based cognitivetherapy both focus on the development of skills that are related to the efficiency of executive functions and flexibility of attention, i.e. the cognitive processes whose deficits are characteristic of depression. However, research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in reducing neuropsychological deficiencies compared to other therapeutic models. Interventions in the field of cognitive remediationcan be used to enrich cognitive-behavioral therapies and increase their effectiveness. Until now, they have been used as a separate form of therapy, for example in anorexia.

Neuropsychological deficits in depression are a significant therapeutic challenge. Their occurrence means poor therapeutic prospects, worse social and professional functioning after therapy, as well as a higher risk of relapse. Despite clinical improvement, they often remain even in a state of complete remission. Beck's model of depression does not include interventions directed at neuropsychological processes leading to neurocognitive mechanisms responsible for the development and maintenance of depression. More recent trends in cognitive-behavioral therapy seem to involve neuropsychological processes to a greater extent. This applies to Well's metacognitive model, which focuses on the meta-level of thinking. Therapeutic process involves various aspects of attention, as well as detached mindfulness. Available empirical studies indicate that this therapy model is more effective in reducing neuropsychological deficits than Beck's model. Acceptance and commitment therapy as well as mindfulness-based cognitivetherapy both focus on the development of skills that are related to the efficiency of executive functions and flexibility of attention, i.e. the cognitive processes whose deficits are characteristic of depression. However, research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in reducing neuropsychological deficiencies compared to other therapeutic models. Interventions in the fi eld of cognitive remediationcan be used to enrich cognitive-behavioral therapies and increase their effectiveness. Until now, they have been used as a separate form of therapy, for example in anorexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depressed patients are preoccupied with unhappy thoughts which reduce their capacity to focus on attention, memory, and other cognitive performance. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess neuropsychological deficits in elderly depressive and compare it with matched normal controls. Methods: After consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria, the sample of 30 elderly depressive patients diagnosed on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition criteria and 30 normal controls were selected. The selection of sample was by purposive sampling from private psychiatric clinic of Bhopal. The age range of sample was 60 years and above. All participants were administered the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Luria–Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery-1 (LNNB form-1). Results: On the Geriatric Depression Scale, 21 patients were at mild level and nine patients were at severe level of depression. None of the normal controls were depressed. On LNNB form-1, depressive patients showed significant elevation on receptive speech, arithmetic, memory, reading, writing, and expressive speech as compared to normal controls. Conclusion: Older depressive patients showed significantly more neurocognitive deficits as compared to normal controls. It is important that these deficits are identified and addressed for the holistic treatment of late-onset depression.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is now universally recognized as a complex multisystem disorder with considerable extra-motor involvement. The neuropsychological manifestations of frontotemporal, parietal, and basal ganglia involvement in ALS have important implications for compliance with assistive devices, survival, participation in clinical trials, caregiver burden, and the management of individual care needs. Recent advances in neuroimaging have been instrumental in characterizing the biological substrate of heterogeneous cognitive and behavioral deficits in ALS. In this review we discuss the clinical and radiological aspects of cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS focusing on the recognition, assessment, and monitoring of these symptoms.

BACKGROUND The aim of the case study was to describe the profile of cognitive and emotional functioning of a patient with possible progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from a longitudinal perspective. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE This study involved an 71-year-old male patient diagnosed with PSP, and 9 matched healthy subjects. Neuropsychological examination of the patient was performed twice with a 6‑month interval. A set of neuropsychological tests was used to assess both cognition and behaviour. RESULTS Neuropsychological assessment revealed executive dysfunction dominance (planning deficits, reduced cognitive flexibility and abstract thinking, impulsiveness), reduced verbal fluency, psychomotor slowness and problems with memory retrieval from the long-term memory storage in contrast to significantly better recognition of the previously learned information. According to emotional functioning, frontal change of personality was observed, with apathy, disinhibition, lack of insights, impulsiveness and “utilization behaviours”. CONCLUSIONS The profile of emotional and cognitive impairments met the criteria for dementia. There was a progression of deficits at visit two in comparison to visit one. The longitudinal perspective allowed the dynamics of emotional, cognitive and behavioural changes to be described over time: from depression related to initially preserved criticism of the illness to apathy and emotional blunting and behavioural frontal syndrome connected with the systematic loss of insight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is now universally recognized as a complex multisystem disorder with considerable extra-motor involvement. The neuropsychological manifestations of frontotemporal, parietal, and basal ganglia involvement in ALS have important implications for compliance with assistive devices, survival, participation in clinical trials, caregiver burden, and the management of individual care needs. Recent advances in neuroimaging have been instrumental in characterizing the biological substrate of heterogeneous cognitive and behavioral deficits in ALS. In this review we discuss the clinical and radiological aspects of cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS focusing on the recognition, assessment, and monitoring of these symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study intends to characterize the neuropsychological profile in persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using objective measures of cognitive performance. A neuropsychological battery of tests for attention, memory and executive functions was administered to four groups: PTSD (n = 25), mTBI (n = 19), subjects with two formal diagnoses: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI/PTSD) (n = 6) and controls (n = 25). Confounding variables, such as medical, developmental or neurological antecedents, were controlled and measures of co-morbid conditions, such as depression and anxiety, were considered. The PTSD and mTBI/PTSD groups reported more anxiety and depressive symptoms. They also presented more cognitive deficits than the mTBI group. Since the two PTSD groups differ in severity of PTSD symptoms but not in severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, the PTSD condition could not be considered as the unique factor affecting the results. The findings underline the importance of controlling for confounding medical and psychological co-morbidities in the evaluation and treatment of PTSD populations, especially when a concomitant mTBI is also suspected.

Objectives: The present study was targeted to observe the impact of neuropsychological rehabilitation on activities of daily living (ADL) and community reintegration of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Settings and Participants: Based on purposive sampling technique, ten patients with TBI falling in the age range of 20–40 years and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, India. Design: A quasi-experimental design, i.e., nonequivalent control group design was chosen for the study. Materials and Methods: Patients were assessed on Luria–Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery for Adults, Cognitive Symptoms Checklist, and Community Integration Questionnaire. Patients in experimental group were given neuropsychological rehabilitation for 6 months. Brainwave-R and Talking Pen were used as rehabilitative tools. Results: Patients with TBI have significant neuropsychological deficits observed in memory, visuo-spatial organization, arithmetic, spelling, writing, fine motor coordination, and executive functioning. Neuropsychological deficits have a major impact on ADL and community reintegration. Neuropsychological rehabilitation is effective in rehabilitating neuropsychological deficits, which in turn leads to improvement in ADL and community reintegration. Conclusion: Neuropsychological rehabilitation should be one of the major goals in rehabilitation procedures for patients with TBI in order to bring overall improvement in them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prevalent form of complex partial seizures with temporal lobe origin of electrical abnormality. Studies have shown that recurrent seizures affect all aspects of cognitive functioning, including memory, language, praxis, executive functions, and social judgment, among several others. In this article, we will review these cognitive impairments along with their neuropathological correlates in a comprehensive manner. We will see that neuropsychological deficits are prevalent in TLE. Much of the effort has been laid on memory due to the notion that temporal lobe brain structures involved in TLE play a central role in consolidating information into memory. It seems that damage to the mesial structure of the temporal lobe, particularly the amygdale and hippocampus, has the main role in these memory difficulties and the neurobiological plausibility of the role of the temporal lobe in different aspects of memory. Here, we will cover the sub-domains of working memory and episodic memory deficits. This is we will further proceed to evaluate the evidences of executive function deficits in TLE and will see that set-shifting among other EFs is specifically affected in TLE as is social cognition. Finally, critical components of language related deficits are also found in the form of word-finding difficulties. To conclude, TLE affects several of cognitive function domains, but the etiopathogenesis of all these dysfunctions remain elusive. Further well-designed studies are needed for a better understanding of these disorders.

Background: Depressed patients are preoccupied with unhappy thoughts which reduce their capacity to focus on attention, memory, and other cognitive performance. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess neuropsychological deficits in elderly depressive and compare it with matched normal controls. Methods: After consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria, the sample of 30 elderly depressive patients diagnosed on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition criteria and 30 normal controls were selected. The selection of sample was by purposive sampling from private psychiatric clinic of Bhopal. The age range of sample was 60 years and above. All participants were administered the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery-1 (LNNB form-1). Results: On the Geriatric Depression Scale, 21 patients were at mild level and nine patients were at severe level of depression. None of the normal controls were depressed. On LNNB form-1, depressive patients showed significant elevation on receptive speech, arithmetic, memory, reading, writing, and expressive speech as compared to normal controls. Conclusion: Older depressive patients showed significantly more neurocognitive deficits as compared to normal controls. It is important that these deficits are identified and addressed for the holistic treatment of late-onset depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations of the limbic system may be present in the chronic phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our aim was to study the long-term impact of this disease on limbic system-related behaviour and its associated brain functional connectivity, according to the severity of respiratory symptoms in the acute phase. To this end, we investigated the multimodal emotion recognition abilities of 105 patients from the Geneva COVID-COG Cohort 223 days on average after SARS-CoV-2 infection (diagnosed between March 2020 and May 2021), dividing them into three groups (severe, moderate or mild) according to respiratory symptom severity in the acute phase. We used multiple regressions and partial least squares correlation analyses to investigate the relationships between emotion recognition, olfaction, cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional brain networks. Six to 9 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection, moderate patients exhibited poorer recognition abilities than mild patients for expressions of fear ( P = 0.03 corrected), as did severe patients for disgust ( P = 0.04 corrected) and irritation ( P < 0.01 corrected). In the whole cohort, these performances were associated with decreased episodic memory and anosmia, but not with depressive symptoms, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuroimaging revealed a positive contribution of functional connectivity, notably between the cerebellum and the default mode, somatosensory motor and salience/ventral attention networks. These results highlight the long-term consequences of SARS-Cov-2 infection on the limbic system at both the behavioural and neuroimaging levels., Competing Interests: The authors report no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.)

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a trophic factor regulating cell survival and synaptic plasticity. Recent findings indicate that BDNF could be a potential regulatory factor for cognitive functioning in normal and/or neuropathological conditions. With regard to neurological disorders, recent data suggest that individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be affected by cognitive deficits and that they have altered BDNF production. Therefore, the hypothesis can be advanced that BDNF levels are associated with the cognitive state of these patients. With this in mind, the present study was aimed at exploring the relationship between BDNF serum levels and cognitive functioning in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirteen PD patients with MCI were included in the study. They were administered an extensive neuropsychological test battery that investigated executive, episodic memory, attention, visual-spatial and language domains. A single score was obtained for each cognitive domain by averaging z-scores on tests belonging to that specific domain. BDNF serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed between BDNF serum levels and cognitive performance. Results showed a significant positive correlation between BDNF serum levels and both attention (p

A long line of research has revealed that neuropsychological and familial factors are associated with crime and delinquency. Although some studies have also examined the relevance of neuropsychological–familial interplay in the prediction of adolescent misconduct, scholars have yet to explore whether this interplay is generalizable across groups stratified by race and socioeconomic status (SES). The current study employs data drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K) to examine whether race and SES condition the interactive effects of neuropsychological deficits and adverse parenting on adolescent misconduct (N = 7,155). The results reveal that interactions between neuropsychological deficits and adverse parenting during childhood are especially predictive of adolescent misconduct among relatively privileged subsets of the sample (i.e., White, high SES). Limitations are noted, and future avenues for research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slovenia is an endemic area for Lyme borreliosis, a disease that affects many organic systems. Decline in cognitive abilities and emotional changes can appear in acute and chronic stage of the disease beside somatic difficulties. Early antibiotic therapy is of great importance in recovery. Attention and concentration deficits, memory deficits, impaired executive functioning, depression and other symptoms reduce work efficiency and life quality of people with Lyme borreliosis. Neuropsychological deficits can be explained with central nervous system impairment and partly also with reactive psychological factors. On account of symptomatic complexity, broad differential diagnostic and unreliable diagnostic technology neuropsychological evaluation can help to correctly diagnose and accurately treat this disease, and thus to enable appropriate cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapeutic assistance.

Background and purpose A large body of research reports that stroke patients are debilitated in terms of daily independence after dismissal from the hospital unit. Patients struggle with the use of daily objects or performing complex actions. Differences between individual deficits of patients are often associated with the site of the brain damage. However, clinical studies suggest that patients exhibit varied constellations of action-associated difficulties and neuropsychological deficits. There is a lack of conclusive evidence indicating how different neuropsychological symptoms link to the impaired ability to perform activities of daily living ( ADL). Materials and methods To further address this matter, in this study we compared the behavior of patients with left brain damage ( LBD) and right brain damage ( RBD) following stroke in two naturalistic task scenarios (tea making and document filing), and compared the committed action errors to the neuropsychological screening results. Results We observed mild to severe impairments in both the LBD and RBD groups amounting to 37-55% of failure rate in attainment of action goal. Interestingly, the performance on both tasks was not correlated to each other, suggesting that the tasks involved a different set of higher cognitive functions. Despite similar behavioral manifestations, in the LBD group poor task performance was related to deficits in praxis performance and unilateral tactile and visual extinction. The presence of aphasia did not correlate with task performance, except for a link between low scores in Aachen aphasia test scales and misestimation error in the tea making task. In the RBD group, difficulties with performance were primarily linked to deficit in praxis and unilateral visual extinction. Conclusions Despite similar behavior, the underlying mechanisms of the deficits after stroke might be different (in patients with LBD and RBD) and reveal complex interlinks of cognitive networks involved in the ability to carry on everyday tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a trophic factor regulating cell survival and synaptic plasticity. Recent findings indicate that BDNF could be a potential regulatory factor for cognitive functioning in normal and/or neuropathological conditions. With regard to neurological disorders, recent data suggest that individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) may be affected by cognitive deficits and that they have altered BDNF production. Therefore, the hypothesis can be advanced that BDNF levels are associated with the cognitive state of these patients. With this in mind, the present study was aimed at exploring the relationship between BDNF serum levels and cognitive functioning in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirteen PD patients with MCI were included in the study. They were administered an extensive neuropsychological test battery that investigated executive, episodic memory, attention, visual-spatial and language domains. A single score was obtained for each cognitive domain by averaging z-scores on tests belonging to that specific domain. BDNF serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Pearson's correlation analyses were performed between BDNF serum levels and cognitive performance. Results showed a significant positive correlation between BDNF serum levels and both attention (p < 0.05) and executive (p < 0.05) domains. Moreover, in the executive domain we found a significant correlation between BDNF levels and scores on tests assessing working memory and selfmonitoring/ inhibition. These preliminary data suggest that BDNF serum levels are associated with cognitive state in PD patients with MCI. Given the role of BDNF in regulating synaptic plasticity, the present findings give further support to the hypothesis that this trophic factor may be a potential biomarker for evaluating cognitive changes in PD and other neurological syndromes associated with cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients often report neurocognitive difficulties after neuroborreliosis (NB). The frequency and extent of cognitive problems in European patients have been studied incompletely. Methods: Sixty patients received a neurological and neuropsychological work-up 6 months or longer after treatment for proven NB. Quality of life, psychiatric symptom load, and brain atrophy were measured. All results were compared with a group of 30 healthy control persons adapted for age, gender and education being serologically negative for Borrelia burgdorferi senso latu. A cognitive sum score and a global sum score including cognitive, psychological results and quality of life data was calculated for both groups. Results: Patients after NB showed a lower (i.e. more impaired) score on the Scripps Neurological rating scale (SNRS), but the observed neurological deficits were generally mild (mean ± SD: 97.1 ± 4.7 vs. 99.1 ± 2.4, p = 0.02). The mean neuropsychological domain results of the NB group were all within the normal range. However, a lower performance was found for the frontal executive function z-values (mean ± SD --0.29 ± 0.60 vs. 0.09 ± 0.60; p = 0.0059) of NB patients. Comparing the global sum score (mean ± SD 11.3 ± 4.2NB vs. 14.3 ± 2.9control, p = 0.001) and the cognitive sum score of the NB group with those of the control group (mean ± SD -0.15 ± 0.42NB vs. 0.08 ± 0.31control, p = 0.0079), both differences were statistically different. The frequencies of impaired global sum scores and those of the pathological cognitive sum scores (p = 0.07) did not differ statistically. No significant differences were found for health-related quality of life (hrQoL), sleep, psychiatric symptom load, or brain atrophy. Conclusion: The mean cognitive functions of patients after proven NB were in the normal range. However, we were able to demonstrate a lower performance for the domain of frontal executive functions, for the mean cognitive sum score and the global sum score as a sign of subtle but measurable sequelae of neuroborreliosis. Brain atrophy is not a common consequence of neuroborreliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study intends to characterize the neuropsychological profile in persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using objective measures of cognitive performance. A neuropsychological battery of tests for attention, memory and executive functions was administered to four groups: PTSD (n =25), mTBI (n = 19), subjects with two formal diagnoses: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI/PTSD) (n = 6) and controls (n = 25). Confounding variables, such as medical, developmental or neurological antecedents, were controlled and measures of co-morbid conditions, such as depression and anxiety, were considered. The PTSD and mTBI/PTSD groups reported more anxiety and depressive symptoms. They also presented more cognitive deficits than the mTBI group. Since the two PTSD groups differ in severity of PTSD symptoms but not in severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, the PTSD condition could not be considered as the unique factor affecting the results. The findings underline the importance of controlling for confounding medical and psychological co-morbidities in the evaluation and treatment of PTSD populations, especially when a concomitant mTBI is also suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the neuropsychological deficits in children with Hyperkinetic Disorder (HKD). Methods: Group matched (age and gender) healthy children (N = 20) and children with Hyperkinetic Disorder (N = 20) aged 6 - 14 years, were recruited from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Neuropsychological tools included Trail Making Test (TMT), PGI Memory Scale for Children, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Malin's Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC) and Letter Cancellation Test. Results: Neuropsychological evaluation on executive functioning (set shifting and mental flexibility) revealed that HKD group performed poorly compared to control group on some parameters of WCST, including perseverative responses, perseverative errors, percent of conceptual level responses and number of categories completed and mean time taken and mean errors committed on TMT (Part B). On assessment of attention, visual scanning and psychomotor speed, control group performed significantly better than HKD children on mean time taken and mean errors committed on TMT (Part A) and total number of correct cancellations and wrong cancellations in the Letter Cancellation Test. On memory functions, our study sample achieved low scores on most sub tests of PGI Memory Scale but had significant deficit only on attention-concentration compared to age appropriate norms for PGIMS test for children. The mean Intelligence (IQ) scores of HKD children on MISIC was 102.27 (± 10.72), Verbal Intelligence quotient (VIQ) was 101.25 (± 10.86) and Performance Intelligence quotient (PIQ) was 103.90 (± 11.20). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HKD is a pattern of neuropsychological impairments on executive functions of set shifting and cognitive flexibility, deficits in attention and memory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current article is a targeted review of two biosocial constructs, neuropsychological deficits relating to self-control and temperament, which as demonstrated by prior researchers are importantly related to antisocial behavior, importantly related to other constructs that influence antisocial behavior, such as aggression, and importantly related to prevention efforts. We explicate what is known about neuropsychological deficits relating to self-control and temperament specifically vis-à-vis prevention and early intervention programs that seek to preclude the development of costly antisocial careers.

Background: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative extrapyramidal syndrome. Studies have demonstrated that PSP can present clinically as an atypical dementing syndrome dominated by a progressive apraxia of speech (AOS) and aphasia. Aim: We aimed to investigate the clinical presentation of PSP, using a comprehensive multidimensional evaluation, and the disease response to various pharmacological treatments. Methods: A 72-year-old right-handed male, with 17 years education, who first presented with aphasia, AOS, depression, apathy, and postural instability at 69 years; a complete neuropsychological evaluation, tapping the different cognitive domains, was performed. Results: Testing revealed a moderate global cognitive deficit (Mini-Mental State Examination test score =20), low memory test scores (story recall, Rey's 15-word Immediate and Delayed Recall), and poor phonemic and semantic fluency. The patient's language was characterized by AOS, with slow speech rate, prolonged intervals between syllables and words, decreased articulatory accuracy, sound distortions, and anomia. Behavioral changes, such as depression, anxiety, apathy, and irritability, were reported. The neurological examination revealed supranuclear vertical gaze palsy, poor face miming, and a mild balance deficit. Magnetic resonance imaging showed only widespread cortical atrophy. Single photon emission computed tomography demonstrated left > right frontotemporal cortical abnormalities. After 6 months, a further neuropsychological assessment showed a progression in cognitive deficits, with additional attention deficits. The patient reported frequent falls, but the neurological deficits remained unchanged. Neuroimaging tests showed the same brain involvement. Conclusion: Our case highlights the heterogeneity of the clinical features in this syndrome, demonstrating that atypical PSP can present as AOS and aphasia, without the classical features or involvement of the subcortical gray and brainstem region, commonly affected in typical PSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the extent of impairment in social and non-social cognitive domains in an ecological context comparing bipolar (BD), schizophrenic (SKZ) patients and healthy controls (HC). The sample was enrolled at the Department of Psychiatry of Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan; it includes stabilized SKZ patients (n = 30), euthymic bipolar patients (n = 18) and HC (n = 18). Patients and controls completed psychiatric assessment rating scales, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) and the Executive and Social Cognition Battery (ESCB) that contains both ecological tests of executive function and social cognition, in order to better detect cognitive deficits in patients with normal results in standard executive batteries. The three groups differed significantly for gender and substance abuse, however, the differences did not influence the results. BD patients showed less impairment on cognitive performance compared to SKZ patients, even in "ecological" tests that mimic real life scenarios. In particular, BD performed better than SKZ in verbal memory (p < 0.0038) and BACS symbol coding (p < 0.0043). Regarding the ESCB tests, in the Hotel task SKZ patients completed significantly less tasks (p < 0.001), showed a greater number of errors in Multiple Errands Test (MET-HV) (p < 0.0248) and a worse performance in Theory of Mind (ToM) tests (p < 0.001 for the Eyes test and Faux pas test). Both patients' groups performed significantly worse than HC. Finally, significant differences were found between the two groups in GAF scores, being greater among BD subjects (p < 0.001). GAF was correlated with BACS and ESCB scores showing the crucial role of cognitive and ecological performances in patients' global functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes long-term psychosocial impairments even in patients who regain functional independence. Little is known about predictors of these impairments. We studied how early clinical data and neuropsychological results predict work status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 9-13 years after SAH. Methods: One hundred one patients performed a neuropsychological test battery and returned their self-rating and partner's rating of a psychosocial impairment questionnaire approximately 1 year after SAH. These data were analyzed for association to the patients' work status and self-rated HRQoL approximately 10 years later. Results: Age inversely, lower levels of self-rated impairments, employment and higher levels of education at the first follow-up independently predicted employment at the long-term follow-up. Although most cognitive test results were significantly associated with employment status at the long-term follow-up, they were of limited additional value as predictors of work status. The best predictor combination for long-term high HRQoL was good performance in a face recognition test and lower levels of self-rated impairments at the first follow-up as well as male sex. Problems in usual activities at the long-term follow-up were predicted by poor results in the face recognition and in a word list-learning task. Conclusion: Questionnaire ratings of patients' psychosocial impairments 1 year after SAH give important information for the long-term prediction of their work status and HRQoL. In the long run, patients' unemployment becomes strongly associated with higher age, while their performance of usual activities can be predicted with learning and memory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psicooncologia is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The symbolic information-processing paradigm in cognitive psychology has met a growing challenge from neural network models over the past two decades. While neuropsychological evidence has been of great utility to theories concerned with information processing, the real question is, whether the less rigid connectionist models provide valid, or enough, information concerning complex cognitive structures. In this work, we will discuss the theoretical implications that neuropsychological data posits for modelling cognitive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection in the central nervous system (CNS) is associated with a wide range of neurological, cognitive, and behavioral problems. HIV-1 enters the brain soon after the initial infection and is distributed in varying concentrations in different regions with specific affinity to the subcortical regions, particularly the basal ganglia, causing neurodegeneration of dopaminergic regions and resulting in the decreased availability of dopamine (DA) in the CNS. Although there are numerous reports on HIV-1-associated neuropsychological (NP) impairment, there is a paucity of studies showing a direct relationship between the decreased availability of dopamine in different regions of postmortem brains of HIV-1-infected individuals and the level of performance in different NP functions during life. Dopamine is the key neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a regulatory role for motor and limbic functions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the decreased availability of dopamine found in the postmortem brain regions (fronto-cortical regions, basal ganglia, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra) of individuals with HIV/AIDS and the antemortem level of performance (assessed as T scores) in different NP functions. The relationship between HIV-1 RNA levels in different brain regions and the level of performance in different NP domains was also investigated. We found that although DA concentrations were 2-53% lower in the brain regions of HIV-1-infected, HAART-treated individuals, compared with HIV-negative controls, a 45% decrease in DA levels in the substantia nigra (SN) of HIV-1-infected individuals was significantly correlated with the low level of performance ( T scores) in the speed of information processing, learning, memory, verbal fluency, and average T scores across domains. In case of homovanillic acid (HVA), the variable changes in different regions, including the substantia nigra, basal ganglia, caudate, and putamen (compared to that in the HIV-negative individuals), were significantly correlated with the level of performance ( T scores) in motor functions, speed of information processing, and attention/working memory. HIVRNA levels in the frontal cortex, caudate, and GP were significantly inversely correlated with abstract/executive function, motor, learning, verbal fluency, and attention/working memory. No significant correlations were found between HIVRNA in other brain regions and NP performance. These findings suggest that the decreased availability of dopamine in the SN (the main site of DA synthesis in the CNS), and changes in the levels of HVA in different brain regions are, in part, related with the lower level of performance in some of the NP functions in individuals with HIV/AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a brief overview of the differences in etiological explanations and manifestations of delinquents with early and late onset through two theories of developmental psychopathology - Patterson's coercion theory and Moffitt's life-persistent and adolescence-limited delinquency theory. According to these two theories, there are two distinct developmental pathways of delinquent behavior: those with early and late onset. Patterson called the group with early onset early delinquents, and Moffitt life-course-persistent delinquents; whereas group with late onset Patterson called late delinquents, and Moffitt adolescent delinquents. In the case of early starters, behavior problems begin in the early years of development; early behavior problems give way to serious juvenile delinquency in the adolescent years, which evolves into a chronic and lifelong offending. Late starters, on the other hand, do not begin offending until middle to late adolescence and they typically desist from delinquent behavior by their early twenties. Regarding early-onset delinqunt behavior, Patterson's and Moffitt's theory emphasize the importance of parental behavior in development of this type of delinquent behavior. However, Moffitt's theory in development of early-onset delinquent behavior adds a role of biological factors, specifically neuropsychological deficits. According to Moffitt, neuropsychological deficits and disrupted family environment work together in a transactional process to produce life-persistent offending. Regarding late-onset delinquent behavior, a development of this type of delinquent behavior Patterson attributes to association with deviant peers that occurs because of reduced parental monitoring, while Moffitt attributes it to increased desire for autonomy that occurs during adolescence and association with deviant peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]