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Neurocognitive Functioning (neurocognitive + functioning)
Selected AbstractsNeurocognitive Functioning in Bipolar DisorderCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2009Aude Henin Neuropsychological processes may have direct bearing on the emotional dysregulation and functional impairments characteristic of bipolar disorder. Neuropsychological deficits that have been identified in adults and children with bipolar disorder include impairments in executive functions, declarative memory, attentional processes, and possibly working memory. Structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of adults and children with bipolar disorder also indicate abnormalities in regions thought to underlie these neuropsychological deficits, including the basal ganglia, amygdala, and dorsolateral, orbitofrontal, and anterior cingulate cortices. Study of this area is made challenging by the heterogeneity of bipolar disorder, the heterogeneity of neuropsychological deficits among groups of patients with different clinical characteristics, the lack of specificity of neurocognitive deficits for bipolar disorder, and difficulty ascertaining whether deficits are inherent in the disorder, predate the disorder, or are influenced by mood state, course, treatment, and comorbidity with other disorders. In this review, we integrate the literature on neuropsychological functioning and neuroimaging in both children and adults with bipolar disorder, propose a nascent integrative model of cognitive function in bipolar disorder, and make suggestions for future studies and model development. [source] Neurocognitive correlates of socioeconomic status in kindergarten childrenDEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005Kimberly G. Noble Socioeconomic status (SES) is strongly associated with cognitive ability and achievement during childhood and beyond. Little is known about the developmental relationships between SES and specific brain systems or their associated cognitive functions. In this study we assessed neurocognitive functioning of kindergarteners from different socioeconomic backgrounds, using tasks drawn from the cognitive neuroscience literature in order to determine how childhood SES predicts the normal variance in performance across different neurocognitive systems. Five neurocognitive systems were examined: the occipitotemporal/visual cognition system, the parietal/spatial cognition system, the medial temporal/memory system, the left perisylvian/language system, and the prefrontal/executive system. SES was disproportionately associated with the last two, with low SES children performing worse than middle SES children on most measures of these systems. Relations among language, executive function, SES and specific aspects of early childhood experience were explored, revealing intercorrelations and a seemingly predominant role of individual differences in language ability involved in SES associations with executive function. [source] Executive function assessment of patients with schizophrenic disorder residual type in olanzapine treatment: an open studyHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 6 2005Paolo Stratta Abstract Cognitive deficits are a fundamental feature of the schizophrenic disorder, but the effect of antipsychotic treatment is still debated. The study assesses the effect of olanzapine on neurocognitive functioning and symptomatology of patients with schizophrenic disorder residual type. Executive function evaluation by the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) was performed on 39 patients treated with olanzapine (5,20,mg/day); the efficacy of drug in improving symptomatology, safety and quality of life was also evaluated. After 7 months of treatment, the mean number of WCST categories tended to increase. Correct responses increased with a statistically significant change from the baseline. The total and unique errors decreased significantly. At all post-baseline visits a decrease from baseline in the PANSS total, positive and negative scores was seen. The proportion of patients with less severe illness (CGI), increased over the course of the study with a corresponding decrease of patients with more severe illness. The quality of life scores also tended to improve during treatment. The Simpson Angus scale, Barnes-akathisia and abnormal involuntary movement scale scores decreased consistently. The most common treatment emergent drug related adverse events were weight gain, insomnia, agitation and anxiety. Neurocognitive functioning in terms of executive performance and symptomatology improved in people with schizophrenia residual type. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Patients with problematic opioid use can be weaned from codeine without pain escalationACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2010H. K. NILSEN Background: Brief treatments for chronic non-malignant pain patients with problematic opioid use are warranted. The aims of the present study were to investigate (1) whether it is possible to withdraw codeine use in such patients with a brief cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), (2) whether this could be done without pain escalation and reduction in quality of life and (3) to explore the effects of codeine reduction on neurocognitive functioning. Methods: Eleven patients using codeine daily corresponding to 40,100 mg morphine were included. Two specifically trained physicians treated the patients with six CBT sessions, tapering codeine gradually within 8 weeks. Codeine use, pain intensity, quality of life and neuropsychological functioning were assessed at pre-treatment to the 3-month follow-up. Results: Codeine use was significantly reduced from mean 237 mg [standard deviation (SD) 65] pre-treatment to 45 mg (SD 66) post-treatment and to 48 mg (SD 65) at follow-up without significant pain escalation or reductions in quality of life. Moreover, neuropsychological functioning improved significantly on some tests, while others remained unchanged. Conclusion: The promising findings of codeine reduction in this weaning therapy programme for pain patients with problematic opioid use should be further evaluated in a larger randomized control trial comparing this brief CBT with both another brief treatment and attention placebo condition. [source] Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Older AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2010Sebastian Köhler PhD OBJECTIVES: To examine the temporal association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning and estimate the effect measure modification of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ,4 allele on this relationship. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: Population-based sample of 598 cognitively intact older adults aged 60 and older, with re-assessments after 3 (N=479) and 6 years (N=412). MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms (Symptom Checklist) and neurocognitive functioning (memory, Visual Verbal Learning Test; attention, Stroop Color,Word Test; processing speed, Letter Digit Substitution Test; general cognition, Mini-Mental State Examination). Longitudinal associations were assessed using linear mixed models. The risk for cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) was examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Adjusting for age, sex, education, and baseline cognition, the rate of change in memory z -scores was 0.00, ,0.11, ,0.20, and ,0.37 for those in the lowest (reference group), second, third, and highest depressive symptom quartiles at baseline, respectively (P<.001 for highest vs lowest quartile). The odds ratios for developing CIND with amnestic features were 1.00, 0.87, 0.69, and 2.98 for the four severity groups (P=.05 for highest vs lowest quartile). Associations were strongest for those with persistent depressive symptoms, defined as high depressive symptoms at baseline and at least one follow-up visit. Results were similar for processing speed and global cognitive function but were not as strong for attention. No APOE interaction was observed. CONCLUSION: Depression and APOE act independently to increase the risk for cognitive decline and may provide targets for prevention and early treatment. [source] The Associations Between Basal Salivary Cortisol and Illness Symptomatology in Chronic Fatigue SyndromeJOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008Susan Torres-Harding Hypocortisolism has been reported in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), with the significance of this finding to disease etiology unclear. This study examined cortisol levels and their relationships with symptoms in a group of 108 individuals with CFS. CFS symptoms examined included fatigue, pain, sleep difficulties, neurocognitive functioning, and psychiatric status. Alterations in cortisol levels were examined by calculation of mean daily cortisol, and temporal variation in cortisol function was examined by means of a regression slope. Additionally, deviation from expected cortisol diurnal pattern was determined via clinical judgment. Results indicated that fatigue and pain were associated with salivary cortisol levels. In particular, variance from the expected pattern of cortisol was associated with increased levels of fatigue. The implications of these findings are discussed. [source] Sensory Processing and Adaptive Behavior Deficits of Children Across the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ContinuumALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2010Joshua L. Carr Background:, Prenatal alcohol exposure can have detrimental effects on a child's development of adaptive behaviors necessary for success in the areas of academic achievement, socialization, and self-care. Sensory processing abilities have been found to affect a child's ability to successfully perform adaptive behaviors. The current study explored whether significant differences in sensory processing abilities, adaptive behavior, and neurocognitive functioning are observed between children diagnosed with partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), or children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol (PEA), but did not meet criteria for an FASD diagnosis. The influence of IQ on adaptive behavior as well as further exploration of the relationship between sensory processing and adaptive behavior deficits among these children was also examined. Methods:, A secondary analysis was conducted on some of the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) scores, Adaptive Behavior Assessment System,Second Edition (ABAS-II) scores, and Wechsler Intelligence Scale,Fourth Edition/Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence,Third Edition (WISC- IV/WPPSI,III) scores of 46 children between 3 and 14 years of age with pFAS, ARND, or who were PEA. Results:, Greater sensory processing deficits were found in children with a diagnosis of pFAS and ARND compared to those in the PEA group. Children with an ARND diagnosis scored significantly worse on measures of adaptive behavior than the PEA group. Children with pFAS scored significantly lower than children with ARND or PEA on perceptual/performance IQ. No correlation was found between IQ scores and adaptive behaviors across the FASD diagnostic categories. A significant positive correlation was found between SSP and ABAS-II scores. Conclusions:, Regardless of the diagnosis received under the FASD umbrella, functional difficulties that could not be observed using traditional measures of intelligence were found, supporting guidelines that a broad range of standardized assessments be included when screening children for FASD. [source] Anesthetic considerations for the pediatric oncology patient , Part 3: pain, cognitive dysfunction, and preoperative evaluationPEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 6 2010GREGORY J. LATHAM md Summary In part three of this three-part review, we continue with discussion of the effects of tumor and its therapy as they impact neurocognitive functioning, psychosocial issues of the patient and family, and the mechanisms and experience of pain in the child with cancer. A discussion of preanesthetic testing and evaluation in this patient population is next presented for the reader, focusing on the factors which pose the commonest and greatest risks to the child undergoing surgery. Lastly, an algorithmic approach to evaluating and managing key components of the medical history of pediatric patients is presented. [source] A quantitative meta-analysis of neurocognitive sequelae in survivors of pediatric brain tumors,,PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 3 2010Kristen E. Robinson MS Abstract Background Deficits in neurocognitive functioning are an important area of late effects in survivors of pediatric brain tumors, but a quantitative analysis of the magnitude of these deficits has yet to be conducted. Procedure The purpose of the current article is to provide a comprehensive meta-analysis of the literature on long-term neurocognitive effects found in these survivors. Results Results indicated significant deficits in both narrow and broad indices of neurocognitive functioning, and the overall magnitude of the effects across all domains ranged from small to large in magnitude (g,=,,0.45 to ,1.43) with a large mean overall effect size of g,=,,0.91. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of monitoring the neurocognitive late effects in survivors of pediatric brain tumors, and the need for more consistent consideration of demographic, diagnostic, and treatment-related variables in future research to allow for examination of factors that may moderate these deficits. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:525,531. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Influence of depression and HIV serostatus on the neuropsychological performance of injecting drug usersPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 4 2005DRENNA WALDROP-VALVERDE phd Abstract, Depression is common in injecting drug users (IDUs), a group at significant risk for HIV infection. Moreover, both HIV infection and depression have been shown to adversely effect neurocognitive abilities. Understanding the effects of depression and HIV infection on the neurocognitive functioning of drug users is essential for appropriate management and/or treatment of these deficits in this population. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of depression and HIV status on cognitive functioning in 100 male and female IDUs. Participants were categorized into three groups of depression severity based on their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory: no depression, mild depression, and moderate to severe depression. The effects of depression and HIV serostatus as well as their interaction were assessed. Results indicated that regardless of serostatus, those with moderate to severe depression had lower scores on cognitive measures. These findings suggest that although depression contributes to poor neuropsychological performance in IDUs, this effect was not exacerbated by HIV infection. The finding also illustrates the importance of addressing depression-related neurocognitive deficits in IDUs. [source] Maternal Transmission of Nicotine Dependence: Psychiatric, Neurocognitive and Prenatal FactorsTHE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 1 2001Raymond Niaura Ph.D. This paper reviews the literature on maternal influences on smoking behaviors of offspring from the perspective of neuropsychiatric deficits that may be transmitted from mother to child. In particular, we review what is known regarding associations between: (1) in-utero exposure to smoking, (2) adolescent neurocognitive functioning and psychiatric comorbidity, and (3) the patterns of smoking and progression of nicotine dependence. Furthering our knowledge of these differences in susceptibility to nicotine dependence among youth will provide additional avenues for prevention and intervention efforts targeted toward those at high risk for dependence. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||