F73. Effectiveness and neurophysiological changes of neurocognitive restructuring

Abstract

Behavioral states have different brain wave patterns, this was studied by several researchers such as, Kam et al. (2013), who in his research with patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (TB) and schizophrenia (EZ) found a specific pattern of gamma and beta waves in TB and delta and theta waves in EZ. Other authors measured brain activity during the performance of cognitive tasks in patients and observed specific variations during them (Finnigan and Robertson, 2011; Ward, 2003). Furthermore, we can not ignore the fact that brain processing mechanisms in the modification of emotions and behaviors, such as the activation of the left frontal pole related to positive thoughts and approximation behaviors, and the activation of the right frontal pole which is related to negative thoughts and avoidance behaviors. In relation, the Dr. Davidson and his team investigated in depth and also concluded that the way of thinking strengthens or weakens certain groups or networks of neurons in our brain involved in the thoughts we choose (Davidson et al., 2003, Lutz et al., 2008). A longitudinal intrasubject design was used to determine if neurocognitive restructuring (NR) produced changes in brain function recorded by EEG in five patients with psychiatric diagnoses, in three times 1. At the beginning (before starting treatment), 2. After three years of pharmacological treatment (FT), and 3. After six months of dual treatment (FT and RN). The data were analyzed qualitatively. The intervention of the present study consists of the systematic application of the cognitive-behavioral psychology technique, the cognitive restructuring and has appropriated the use of the term “neurocognitive restructuring” taking into account the existence of studies that support the modification cerebral after the use of the technique. Some modifications were observed after of pharmacological treatment alone, in 2 of the 5 patients. However, this was much more pronounced after the dual treatment, in 4 of the 5 patient studied increased voltage, as well as alphas waves, were detected, mostly in middle and posterior areas of the brain.The detected modifications coincided with the clinical improvement. In addition, the result of one of them with recurrent symptoms and unfavorable clinical evolution is exposed, which also the EEG was able to identify. This study provides data that support the need for combined treatment and the important role of neurocognitive techniques based on evidence, it also highlights the importance of including neurophysiological measures that provide us with data on brain functionality in patients with psychopathologies to have knowledge deeper and establish intervention protocols in line with cerebral affectation addition to clinical symptoms. In future studies a larger sample size is suggested, also more homogenous samples would contribute to a more specific knowledge of the effects of the intervention in each psychopathological disorder.