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Neuropsychological Test Battery (neuropsychological + test_battery)
Selected AbstractsExecutive functions as endophenotypes in ADHD: evidence from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB)THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 7 2010Susan Shur-Fen Gau Background:, Little is known about executive functions among unaffected siblings of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and there is lack of such information from non-Western countries. We examined verbal and nonverbal executive functions in adolescents with ADHD, unaffected siblings and controls to test whether executive functions could be potential endophenotypes for ADHD. Methods:, We assessed 279 adolescents (age range: 11,17 years) with a childhood diagnosis of DSM-IV ADHD, 136 biological siblings (108 unaffected, 79.4%), and 173 unaffected controls by using psychiatric interviews, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children , 3rd edition (WISC-III), including digit spans, and the tasks involving executive functions of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB): Intra-dimensional/Extra-dimensional Shifts (IED), Spatial Span (SSP), Spatial Working Memory (SWM), and Stockings of Cambridge (SOC). Results:, Compared with the controls, adolescents with ADHD and unaffected siblings had a significantly shorter backward digit span, more extra-dimensional shift errors in the IED, shorter spatial span length in the SSP, more total errors and poorer strategy use in the SWM, and fewer problems solved in the minimum number of moves and shorter initial thinking time in the SOC. The magnitudes of the differences in the SWM and SOC increased with increased task difficulties. In general, neither persistent ADHD nor comorbidity was associated with increased deficits in executive functions among adolescents with ADHD. Conclusions:, The lack of much difference in executive dysfunctions between unaffected siblings and ADHD adolescents suggests that executive dysfunctions may be useful cognitive endophenotypes for ADHD genetic studies. [source] Neuropsychological test battery in the follow-up of patients with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosisJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001S. Lamminranta Abstract The aim of the present study was to develop a neuropsychological test battery for patients with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) and to study the development of cognitive functions during the first 5 years after diagnosis. Fourteen patients with JNCL entered the study. Nine patients were homozygous for the major mutation, whereas five were compound heterozygotes. All patients were studied annually with a special neuropsychological test battery (NEPSY) adapted from Luria's neuropsychological test, and modified for the visually handicapped; the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children , Revised (WISC-R) was also included. The neurological examinations were scored. Furthermore, 1.OT magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed at the beginning of follow-up and after a mean of 5 years. A decline in verbal IQ (WISC-R) during the follow-up period was found in all subjects except one compound heterozygous male. Short-term memory and digit memory span were already impaired at an early stage of the disease. Orientation to time was found to decline more than orientation to person and place. Motor speed usually became impaired after 10 years of age. Spatial orientation was impaired only in the patients homozygous for the major mutation. The test battery was found to be reliable and easy to use, and offered valuable information on the progress of the disease. It also provided important guidelines for rehabilitation. [source] New insights into the pathophysiology of postoperative cognitive dysfunctionACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 8 2010L. KRENK There is evidence that postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a significant problem after major surgery, but the pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. The interpretation of available studies is difficult due to differences in neuropsychological test batteries as well as the lack of appropriate controls. Furthermore, there are no internationally accepted criteria for defining POCD. This article aims to provide an update of current knowledge of the pathogenesis of POCD with a focus on perioperative pathophysiology and possible benefits achieved from an enhanced postoperative recovery using a fast-track methodology. It is concluded that the pathogenesis of POCD is multifactorial and future studies should focus on evaluating the role of postoperative sleep disturbances, inflammatory stress responses, pain and environmental factors. Potential prophylactic intervention may include minimal invasive surgery, multi-modal non-opioid pain management and pharmacological manipulation of the inflammatory response and sleep architecture. [source] Memory and prefrontal functions in earthquake survivors: differences between current and past post-traumatic stress disorder patientsACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2009E. Eren-Koçak Objective:, Many studies reported deficits in cognitive functions in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most were, however, conducted on man-made trauma survivors. The high comorbidity of alcohol use and depression with PTSD in these studies further complicated the interpretation of their results. We compared prefrontal lobe functions and memory in three earthquake survivor groups: current PTSD, past PTSD and no PTSD. We hypothesized that prefrontal performances of the current and past PTSD groups would be worse than that of control group. Method:, Survivors of the 1999 earthquakes in Turkey were evaluated for current and lifetime PTSD. Memory and prefrontal functions were assessed by a neuropsychological test battery. Results:, Current PTSD patients performed worse on attention, verbal memory, verbal fluency, and psychomotor speed. Past PTSD group was similar to the controls on most cognitive measures, except for their vulnerability to proactive interference and low performance in verbal fluency for animal names. Conclusion:, Our findings indicate that the prefrontal organization and monitorization of verbally processed information are defective in earthquake-related PTSD patients, more so in the current PTSD group. [source] Executive functions in children with dyslexiaDYSLEXIA, Issue 2 2005Astrid Reiter Abstract There is little data available concerning the executive functions of children with dyslexia. The small number of existing studies in this field focus on single aspects of these functions such as working memory. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess a variety of aspects of executive functioning in children with dyslexia. Forty-two children with dyslexia and 42 non-dyslexic children were examined using a neuropsychological test battery. The test battery consisted of standardised tests examining the assessment of working memory, concept formation, inhibition, flexibility, problem solving and fluency functions. Comparison between the test performance of non-dyslexic children and children with dyslexia revealed obvious difficulties of children with dyslexia in tests measuring working memory. Inhibition of inappropriate reactions was impaired in children with dyslexia in more demanding tests, but not in simple ones. Furthermore, children with dyslexia displayed impairments of both verbal and figural fluency functions. While in comparison to non-dyslexic children no disturbances of concept formation were observed, problem solving seemed to be partially impaired. The present findings suggest that children with dyslexia demonstrate impairments in a variety of executive functions. This should be considered in the development of new concepts in the treatment of dyslexia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Neural correlates of verbal episodic memory in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease,,a VBM studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 11 2008Dirk T. Leube Abstract Objective The hippocampus is a key area for episodic memory processes. Hippocampal atrophy is a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We used a new and automatized morphometric technique to better characterize brain atrophy in subjects with different levels of cognitive deficit. Methods In this study 21 participants with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), 12 patients with early AD and 29 elderly control subjects were subjected to high resolution MRI and a neuropsychological test battery. Brain volume across participants, measured by voxel-based morphometry (VBM), was correlated with verbal memory capacity, measured with a verbal memory test (VLMT). Results Atrophy in the anterior hippocampus, the ento- and perirhinal cortex as well as the parahippocampal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex correlated closely with episodic memory performance. Conclusions These brain areas are known to subserve episodic encoding of verbal material. The data contribute to a better understanding of atrophic brain processes in subjects at risk for AD. A combination of neuropsychological testing and voxel-based morphometry may serve as a diagnostic tool in the future. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Depth of anaesthesia and post-operative cognitive dysfunctionACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2010J. STEINMETZ Background: A deep level of anaesthesia measured by the bispectral index has been found to improve processing speed as one aspect of cognitive function after surgery. The purpose of the present study was to assess the possible effect of the level of anaesthesia on post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) 1 week after surgery, as assessed by a neuropsychological test battery. Methods: We included 70 patients >60 years of age scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery with general anaesthesia. The depth of anaesthesia was monitored using the cerebral state monitor, which provided a cerebral state index (CSI) value. Cognitive function was assessed by the ISPOCD neuropsychological test battery before and at 1 week (or hospital discharge) after surgery and POCD was defined as a Z score above 1.96. Results: Five patients were not assessed after surgery. The mean CSI was 40 and 43 in patients with (N=9) and without POCD (N=56), respectively (P=0.41). The cumulated time of both deep anaesthesia (CSI<40) and light anaesthesia (CSI>60) did not differ significantly, and no significant correlation was found between the mean CSI and the Z score. Conclusion: We were unable to detect a significant association between the depth of anaesthesia and the presence of POCD 1 week after the surgery. [source] Neuropsychological test battery in the follow-up of patients with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosisJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2001S. Lamminranta Abstract The aim of the present study was to develop a neuropsychological test battery for patients with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) and to study the development of cognitive functions during the first 5 years after diagnosis. Fourteen patients with JNCL entered the study. Nine patients were homozygous for the major mutation, whereas five were compound heterozygotes. All patients were studied annually with a special neuropsychological test battery (NEPSY) adapted from Luria's neuropsychological test, and modified for the visually handicapped; the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children , Revised (WISC-R) was also included. The neurological examinations were scored. Furthermore, 1.OT magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed at the beginning of follow-up and after a mean of 5 years. A decline in verbal IQ (WISC-R) during the follow-up period was found in all subjects except one compound heterozygous male. Short-term memory and digit memory span were already impaired at an early stage of the disease. Orientation to time was found to decline more than orientation to person and place. Motor speed usually became impaired after 10 years of age. Spatial orientation was impaired only in the patients homozygous for the major mutation. The test battery was found to be reliable and easy to use, and offered valuable information on the progress of the disease. It also provided important guidelines for rehabilitation. [source] Toward a Neurobehavioral Profile of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisordersALCOHOLISM, Issue 9 2010Sarah N. Mattson Background:, A primary goal of recent research is the development of neurobehavioral profiles that specifically define fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which may assist differential diagnosis or improve treatment. In the current study, we define a preliminary profile using neuropsychological data from a multisite study. Methods:, Data were collected using a broad neurobehavioral protocol from 2 sites of a multisite study of FASD. Subjects were children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and unexposed controls. The alcohol-exposed group included children with and without fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). From 547 neuropsychological variables, 22 variables were selected for analysis based on their ability to distinguish children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure from nonexposed controls. These data were analyzed using latent profile analysis (LPA). Results:, The results indicated that a 2-class model best fit the data. The resulting profile was successful at distinguishing subjects with FAS from nonexposed controls without FAS with 92% overall accuracy; 87.8% of FAS cases and 95.7% of controls were correctly classified. The same analysis was repeated with children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure but without FAS and nonexposed controls with similar results. The overall accuracy was 84.7%; 68.4% of alcohol-exposed cases and 95% of controls were correctly classified. In both analyses, the profile based on neuropsychological variables was more successful at distinguishing the groups than was IQ alone. Conclusions:, We used data from 2 sites of a multisite study and a broad neuropsychological test battery to determine a profile that could be used to accurately identify children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. Results indicated that measures of executive function and spatial processing are especially sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. [source] Working and Episodic Memory in HIV Infection, Alcoholism, and Their Comorbidity: Baseline and 1-Year Follow-Up ExaminationsALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2009Rosemary Fama Background:, Selective memory deficits occur in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and those with chronic alcoholism, but the potential compounded effect of these conditions is seldom considered, despite the high prevalence of alcohol use disorders in HIV infection. Methods:, Here, we examined component processes of working and episodic memory in HIV infection and chronic alcoholism (ALC) in 4 subject groups (HIV, ALC, HIV + ALC, and normal controls) at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Accuracy scores, response times, and rate of information processing were assessed with subtests of the computerized neuropsychological test battery, the MicroCog. Results:, Although individuals with either HIV infection or alcoholism generally performed at normal levels, individuals comorbid with HIV infection and alcoholism were impaired relative to controls and to the single diagnosis groups on selective memory processes. Immediate episodic memory was impaired, whereas working memory remained intact. Ability to retain information over time was not impaired in the clinical groups. Little performance change between groups was detected over 1 year. Results could not be explained by amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime, CD4 cell count, AIDS diagnosis, or HAART medication. Conclusions:, This study provides behavioral support for adverse synergism of HIV infection and chronic alcoholism on brain function and is consistent with neuroimaging reports of compromised hippocampal and associated memory structures related to episodic memory processes in these 2 conditions. [source] Olanzapine treatment for dopaminergic-induced hallucinationsMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 5 2002William G. Ondo MD Abstract Atypical antipsychotic medications with lower affinities for D2 receptors are considered useful alternatives to treat drug-induced hallucinations in Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, unforced titration, parallel design study (2:1 drug to placebo randomization ratio) using olanzapine (2.5,10 mg/day to effect) in 30 PD patients with drug-induced hallucinations. We performed an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), assessments of on and off time at baseline and at 9 weeks after starting the medication. Sixteen patients on olanzapine (mean dose, 4.6 mg/night) and 11 on placebo completed the study. Compared with placebo, performance on the UPDRS item 2 (thought disorder), and a structured interview for hallucinations, both tended to improve on drug but neither reached statistical significance. A neuropsychological test battery did not show any significant differences. Total on UPDRS motor scores (P < 0.05) and timed tapping (P < 0.01) worsened while on drug compared to placebo. Bradykinesia (P < 0.01) and gait (P < 0.001) items on the UPDRS largely accounted for this deterioration. After completion of the study, 8 of 16 patients randomly assigned to drug continued olanzapine at a mean dose of 2.4 mg/day. However, at the last recorded visit only 5 of 24 (20.8%) of all patients exposed to drug (including those originally randomly assigned to placebo) remained on olanzapine. In patients with PD, low-dose olanzapine did not significantly improve hallucinations but did worsen motor function. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society [source] Cognitive dysfunction 1,2 years after non-cardiac surgery in the elderlyACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 10 2000H. Abildstrom Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a well-recognised complication of cardiac surgery, but evidence of POCD after general surgery has been lacking. We recently showed that POCD was present in 9.9% of elderly patients 3 months after major non-cardiac surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether POCD persists for 1,2 years after operation. Methods: A total of 336 elderly patients (median age 69 years, range 60,86) was studied after major surgery under general anesthesia. Psychometric testing was performed before surgery and at a median of 7, 98 and 532 days postoperatively using a neuropsychological test battery with 7 subtests. A control group of 47 non-hospitalised volunteers of similar age were tested with the test battery at the same intervals. Results: 1,2 years after surgery, 35 out of 336 patients (10.4%, CI: 7.2,13.7%) had cognitive dysfunction. Three patients had POCD at all three postoperative test sessions (0.9%). From our definition of POCD, there is only a 1:64 000 likelihood that a single subject would have POCD at all three test points by chance. Logistic regression analysis identified age, early POCD, and infection within the first three postoperative months as significant risk factors for long-term cognitive dysfunction. Five of 47 normal controls fulfilled the criteria for cognitive dysfunction 1,2 years after initial testing (10.6%, CI: 1.8,19.4%), i.e. a similar incidence of age-related cognitive impairment as among patients. Conclusion: POCD is a reversible condition in the majority of cases but may persist in approximately 1% of patients. [source] Neurocognitive profiles in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: differences in pattern and magnitude of dysfunctionBIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 2 2008Carmen Simonsen Objectives:, Studies on neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder, reporting deficits in memory, attention, and executive functioning, have primarily focused on bipolar I disorder. The aim of this study was to examine whether patients with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder have different neurocognitive profiles. Methods:, Forty-two patients with bipolar I disorder, 31 patients with bipolar II and 124 healthy controls, from a large ongoing study on psychotic disorders, were included. Neurocognitive function was measured with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Results:, The bipolar I group performed significantly poorer than the healthy control group and the bipolar II group on all measures of memory. Compared with the control group, the bipolar I group also had significantly reduced performance on most measures of attention and executive functioning, while the bipolar II group only had a significantly reduced performance on a subset of these measures. On average, 24% of the bipolar I group had clinically significant cognitive impairment (,1.5 SD below the control group mean) across measures, compared with 13% of the bipolar II group. Conclusions:, Patients with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder in this study have different neurocognitive profiles. Bipolar I patients have more widespread cognitive dysfunction both in pattern and magnitude, and a higher proportion has clinically significant cognitive impairments compared with patients with bipolar II. This may suggest neurobiological differences between the two bipolar subgroups. [source] | |||||||||||||