Psychomotor Problems Research Articles

Network Motif Detection in the Network of Inflammatory Markers and Depression Symptoms among Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease: Insights from the Heart and Soul Study

Background. Network motif analysis is a technique used to explore recurrent and statistically significant subgraphs within a network. Applying a motif analysis to the complex network of inflammation and depression may yield nuanced insight into the specific interaction mechanisms between inflammatory markers and individual depression symptoms, which is our aim. Methods. This cross-sectional study is based on patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). A partial correlation network was initially constructed to link inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), individual depression symptoms, and covariates. A network-centric approach searched all possible non-isomorphic subgraph patterns of size k = 4 in the network. Results. Although CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α displayed an insignificant association with specific depression symptoms, the motif analysis revealed various subgraph patterns of interactions between depression symptoms associated with MCP-1. Generally, MCP-1 formed a closed loop with psychomotor problems and sleep disturbances, and this configuration was connected in various forms with other symptoms, particularly cognitive (e.g., feelings of worthlessness, concentration difficulty, and suicidal ideation) and neurovegetative/somatic (e.g., appetite changes and fatigue) symptoms. Moreover, MCP-1 was frequently associated with a closed-loop triangle comprising cognitive and neurovegetative/somatic symptoms but not with mood symptoms (e.g., loss of interest and feelings of sadness). Conclusions. The findings provide insight into how MCP-1 may be involved in the pathology of depression among patients with stable CHD in a more precise manner. This study also proposes future directions for research on depression.

Relationships between psychopathological symptoms, pandemic-related stress, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history: a network analysis in Chinese college students.

Previous coronavirus, 2019 (COVID-19) research has applied network analysis to examine relationships between psychopathological symptoms but rarely extended to potential risk and protective factors or the influence of COVID-19 infection history. This study examined complex inter-relationships between psychopathological symptoms, COVID-19-related stressors, perceived social support, and COVID-19 infection history among Chinese university/college students during the peak of fifth pandemic wave using a network analysis approach. A Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator-regularized partial correlation network using Gaussian graphical model was constructed in 1,395 Chinese university/college students in Hong Kong who completed a survey between 15 March and 3 April, 2022. Depressive, anxiety, and acute/traumatic stress symptoms were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Impact of Event Scale-6, respectively. COVID-19-related stressors and perceived social support were measured. Network differences by COVID-19 infection history (COVID-network vs. no_COVID-network) and network communities were examined. Our results showed that the most influential nodes were depressed mood, uncontrollable worries, and uncontrollable thoughts about COVID-19. The main bridging symptoms were concentration problems and psychomotor problems. The COVID-network, comprising participants with a history of COVID-19 infection only, was significantly stronger than the no_COVID-network. Perceived social support and stress from conflicts with family/friends formed a unique community with negative cognition and suicidal idea in the COVID-network only. Our findings indicate that specific interventions targeting interpersonal conflicts and concentration problems as well as facilitating stress buffering effects of social support may represent effective strategies to reduce psychological distress in university/college students during COVID-19 and should be considered for future pandemic preparedness.

Hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency as a complication of Turner Syndrome: Case Report

Turner syndrome is a rare disease with a global prevalence of 64 per 100 000 live births, due to the total or partial loss of a sex chromosome of the 45X pair, mosaic karyotype. It is associated with multiple complications such as hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency and other endocrine disorders. Case presentation: female patient, 27 years old, who since childhood presented severe growth problems, in addition to psychomotor problems; with the passage of time there was no improvement in her height for age, so a genetic disorder was suspected. At 9 years of age, a genetic karyotype test was performed and the diagnosis of Turner Syndrome was confirmed. To this diagnosis was added: hypothyroidism, hypogonadism and osteopenia of the hip and spine. Therefore, her treatment was mainly based on hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone derivatives, such as estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate until she was 16 years old; in addition to growth hormone. Over the years her clinical picture improved significantly, especially in her growth, reaching her final height of 1,49 cm.Conclusion: currently the patient remains stable with a lucid neurological condition, continues with her hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism and osteopenia

Networks of C-reactive protein and depression symptoms in patients with stable coronary heart disease: Findings from the Heart and Soul Study.

Research addressing the associations between C-reactive protein (CRP) and depression among patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) has produced inconsistent results. This might be attributable to varying associations of CRP with specific depression symptom profiles. We responded to this challenge using various network analysis techniques. A total of 967 outpatients with documented CHD were drawn from the baseline cross-sectional data of the Heart and Soul Study. We first estimated mixed graphical models that included CRP and individual depression symptoms, before and after adjusting for relevant covariates, to explore whether CRP is correlated with specific facets of depression. We also investigated whether CRP levels moderated the associations between specific depression symptoms using moderated network models. Finally, we performed a network comparison test and compared the symptom network properties between non-elevated and elevated CRP groups. In the network model without covariates, CRP was positively associated with fatigue, appetite changes, and psychomotor problems. CRP maintained its negative association with concentration difficulty regardless of covariate adjustment. Few symptom-symptom associations, especially those involving appetite changes, were moderated by CRP. Further, the elevated CRP group showed greater overall symptom connectivity as compared to the non-elevated group. This study segues into CRP-depression relationship with sophisticated methodology.

Clinical Manifestations Associated with the Domain-Containing Protein 2 Gene Mutation in an Iranian Family with Spastic Paraplegia 54

Introduction: Spastic paraplegia type 54 (SPG54) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by bi-allelic mutations in the DDHD-domain-containing protein 2 (DDHD2) gene. Worldwide, over 24 SPG54 families and 24 pathogenic variants have been reported. Our study aimed to describe the clinical and molecular findings of a pediatric patient from a consanguineous Iranian family with significant motor development delay, walking problems, paraplegia, and optic atrophy. Methods: The patient was a 7-year-old boy with severe neurodevelopmental and psychomotor problems. Neurological examinations, laboratory tests, electroencephalography, computed tomography scan, and brain magnetic resonance scan (MRI) were carried out for clinical evaluation. Whole-exome sequencing and in silico analysis were undertaken to identify the genetic cause of the disorder. Results: The neurological examination showed developmental delay, spasticity in the lower extremities, ataxia, foot contractures, and deep tendon reflexes in the extremities. The computed tomography scan was normal, but MRI revealed corpus callosum thinning with atrophic changes in the white matter. The genetic study reported a homozygous variant (c.856 C>T, p.Gln286Ter) in the DDHD2 gene. The homozygous state was confirmed by direct sequencing in the proband and his 5-year-old brother. This variant was not reported as a pathogenic variant in the literature or genetic databases and was predicted to affect the function of the DDHD2 protein. Conclusion: The clinical symptoms in our cases were similar to the previously reported phenotype of SPG54. Our results deepen the molecular and clinical spectrum of SPG54 to facilitate future diagnoses.

Pycnodysostosis- A Rare Diagnosis Not to Miss

Introduction: Pycnodysostosis derived from the Greek words pycnos-density, dys-defect, ostosis-bone is a rare inherited disorder of the bone with an incidence of 1.7 per million births. It is one of the lysosomal storage disorders with a deficiency of enzyme cathepsin K. Along with a history of repeated fractures of the bones, patients with Pycnodysostosis have a short stature, dolichocephalic skull, obtuse mandibular angle, short terminal phalanx. They also have dental abnormalities such as the delayed eruption of permanent teeth, and double rows of teeth. Mild psychomotor problems were noted in a few individuals. Pycnodysostosis is diagnosed by clinical and radiological features as there is no diagnostic criterion. Skulls show open fontanels, generalized osteosclerosis, loss of the normal angle of the jaw, and hypoplasia of facial bones. Social and occupational support needed to prevent recurrent fractures. Orthopaedic and orthodontic cares are needed. Case: A non-diabetic normotensive male of 63 years presented to the medicine outpatients department (OPD) with complaints of burning type, non-radiating moderate intensity pain in the epigastric region for three months following taking of NSAIDs. He gave a history of fractures of different bones following minimal trauma since his childhood and used to take NSAIDs every now and then. He did take orthopaedic consultation for those fractures but the underlying pathophysiology was not explored. Malunion of long bones resulted in a deformed limb. The rest of his past medical history and family history was unremarkable. On clinical examination, we found the patient had short stature with proportionately short limbs. He had dysmorphic features with a large head, small facial structures, frontal and bilateral parietal bossing. Examination of the oral cavity revealed a narrow high arched palate and hypoplastic, overcrowded teeth. His digits were short and stubby. The lower limbs of the patient have angular deformities that resulted from malunion of bones from previous fracture. Haematological and biochemical investigations were normal. Chest X-ray showed multiple ribs fracture on the right side. The patient's clavicle was normal in X-ray. Both tibia and fibula showed a malunited fracture in diaphysis. Computed tomography (CT) of the skull, as well as 3D reconstruction of CT, found open fontanelles and widening of sutures (Figure). Frontal and parietal bossing was noted. There was hypoplasia of the air sinuses. CT scans showed dysplasia of the bones of the face and hands. Hypoplasia was noted in the terminal phalanx of fingers. An endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract found multiple erosion around the antrum of the stomach. Considering the clinical and radiological feature diagnosis of Pycnodysostosis with NSAIDs-induced antral erosion was made. The patient and his caregivers were briefed about the diagnosis. Consultation from a multidisciplinary team was done concerning his treatment. Conclusion: It is important to diagnose Pycnodysostosis early as it allows proper planning to prevent future fractures. While assessing a patient with short stature with a history of repeated bone fracture Pycnodysostosis should be considered along with other differentials.

OBSERVATION OF THE NORMAL DEVELOPMENTAL PATTERN OF FETAL CEREBRAL SULCI BETWEEN 18 TO 32 WEEKS OF GESTATIONAL AGE BY USING ULTRASONOGRAPHY - A CORRELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN TWO MATERNAL AGE GROUPS

Background: Anomalous or absent fetal sulci and gyri may be associated with abnormal brain development and increased incidence of the neurological and psychomotor problems like refractory epilepsy or developmental delay, later in the infant life. Lissencephaly, is a condition with "smooth brain," with the absence of normal convolutions (folds) in the cerebral cortex. Neuronal migration disorders result when the post mitotic neurons fail to migrate from the ventricular zone to the cortical plate, resulting in a wide spectrum of cortical malformations. The most common clinical manifestations include severe psychomotor retardation, developmental delay, refractory seizures, and failure to thrive.
 Aim. The research aims at observing normal developmental pattern of fetal cerebral sulci between 18 to 32 weeks of gestational age by using ultrasonography.
 Material and Methods. This is a Cross-sectional observational study, performed among 110 antenatal women investigated under the Department of Radio Diagnosis, Shri Sathya Sai medical college and research institute, Ammapettai. The appearance and complete formation of sulci and fissures such parieto-occipital sulci, cingulate sulci, calcarine sulci and convexity sulci and also the insula/sylvian fissure were identified.
 Results and Discussion. Parietooccipital fissure wass identified as dot pattern by 18-19 weeks and complete by 24 weeks. Calcarine fissure identified as dot pattern by 18 -19 weeks and almost complete by 22 weeks. Cingulate sulci were identified as dot pattern by 23-24 weeks, with Y pattern appearing by 27-28 weeks and complete by 31-33 weeks. By 19-20 weeks Smooth surface Sylvian fissure was present and predominant till 20-21 weeks. By 22-23 weeks Obtuse angle Sylvian fissure was predominant and by 29-30 weeks Acute angle Sylvian fissure was complete. Convexity sulci was absent till 23 weeks 6 days and started appearing after 24 weeks. The Convexity sulci fully appeared after 28 weeks. The mean Period of Gestation (weeks) of the appearance of Dot, V and Y patterns of each fissure and sulci between the mother of below and above 35 years were not statistically significant.
 Conclusion. Parietooccipital fissure, Sylvian fissure and Calcarine fissure started appearing by 18-19 weeks, and complete by 24 weeks (except Sylvian fissure which was complete by 30 weeks). Convexity and Cingulate sulci started appearing early by 23 weeks, complete by 28 weeks and 33 weeks respectively.

The backbone symptoms of depression: a network analysis after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Macao.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the working lives of Macau residents, possibly leading to mental health issues such as depression. The pandemic served as the context for this investigation of the network structure of depressive symptoms in a community sample. This study aimed to identify the backbone symptoms of depression and to propose an intervention target.MethodsThis study recruited a convenience sample of 975 Macao residents between 20th August and 9th November 2020. In an electronic survey, depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Symptom relationships and centrality indices were identified using directed and undirected network estimation methods. The undirected network was constructed using the extended Bayesian information criterion (EBIC) model, and the directed network was constructed using the Triangulated Maximally Filtered Graph (TMFG) method. The stability of the centrality indices was evaluated by a case-dropping bootstrap procedure. Wilcoxon signed rank tests of the centrality indices were used to assess whether the network structure was invariant between age and gender groups.ResultsLoss of energy, psychomotor problems, and guilt feelings were the symptoms with the highest centrality indices, indicating that these three symptoms were backbone symptoms of depression. The directed graph showed that loss of energy had the highest number of outward projections to other symptoms. The network structure remained stable after randomly dropping 50% of the study sample, and the network structure was invariant by age and gender groups.ConclusionLoss of energy, psychomotor problems and guilt feelings constituted the three backbone symptoms during the pandemic. Based on centrality and relative influence, loss of energy could be targeted by increasing opportunities for physical activity.

Manganese mining in Corral Quemado: extractivism Processes that resulted in manganese madness among miners (Coquimbo region, Chile, 1941–1969)

ABSTRACT This study reviews the working conditions of the miners of Corral Quemado, near Andacollo in the Coquimbo region of northern Chile, during the extraction and processing of manganese between 1941 and 1969. The extractivism’s extraction techniques, mineral processing methods, and mining policies are presented and discussed. The poor working conditions in the mines led to significant manganese overexposure, resulting in a condition known as ‘manganese madness’ in the miners. Prolonged exposure to manganese causes several health complications that affect the central nervous system, resulting in psychomotor problems, body stiffness, involuntary movements, and facial spasms, in addition to psychological issues (compulsive behavior, emotional lability, and hallucinations, among others). Given that the negative effects of manganese poisoning, which were first reported in Europe in 1837, were already well known, the historiography and health condition of the Andacollo miners require attention. The Andacollo miners’ precarious working conditions and the manganese toxicity created lasting mining and economic issues, and left a permanent imprint on the miners’ bodies. At the time, miners’ dramatic working conditions and disabling injuries prompted a series of parliamentary petitions aimed at improving their working conditions.

Which Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Matter Most? An Investigation of Subjective Importance Ratings With College Students in India

One goal of clinical psychological science is to help people with problems that matter to them. However, little is known about which kinds of symptoms are viewed as most important, particularly among individuals in non-western settings. We examined the extent to which young adults in India rated individual symptoms of depression and anxiety as important, concerning, and undesirable. Participants were college students at Indian Universities (n = 283). They received a measure of depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener-7). For each of the 16 symptoms, they provided three judgments relating to the extent to which they found the symptom important, harmful, and undesirable. These judgments were averaged to form a “subjective importance rating” (SIR) for each symptom. Anxiety symptoms were viewed as more important than depressive symptoms (d = 0.34), and nonsomatic symptoms were viewed as more important than somatic symptoms (d = 0.83). Females rated symptoms as more important than males (d = 0.32), and individuals with higher self-reported symptoms rated symptoms as more important. Sad mood, suicidal ideation, and controlling worries were rated as the most important symptoms, whereas concentration problems, appetite problems, and psychomotor problems were rated as the least important. Overall, some symptoms are viewed as more important and concerning than others. We discuss how this understanding can affect our conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of mental disorders around the world.

ConNEcT: A Novel Network Approach for Investigating the Co-occurrence of Binary Psychopathological Symptoms Over Time

Network analysis is an increasingly popular approach to study mental disorders in all their complexity. Multiple methods have been developed to extract networks from cross-sectional data, with these data being either continuous or binary. However, when it comes to time series data, most efforts have focused on continuous data. We therefore propose ConNEcT, a network approach for binary symptom data across time. ConNEcT allows to visualize and study the prevalence of different symptoms as well as their co-occurrence, measured by means of a contingency measure in one single network picture. ConNEcT can be complemented with a significance test that accounts for the serial dependence in the data. To illustrate the usefulness of ConNEcT, we re-analyze data from a study in which patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder weekly reported the absence or presence of eight depression symptoms. We first extract ConNEcTs for all patients that provided data during at least 104 weeks, revealing strong inter-individual differences in which symptom pairs co-occur significantly. Second, to gain insight into these differences, we apply Hierarchical Classes Analysis on the co-occurrence patterns of all patients, showing that they can be grouped into meaningful clusters. Core depression symptoms (i.e., depressed mood and/or diminished interest), cognitive problems and loss of energy seem to co-occur universally, but preoccupation with death, psychomotor problems or eating problems only co-occur with other symptoms for specific patient subgroups.

Psychomotor Problems in Children: Early Detection of Sensory Disorders and Treatment

This article discusses psychomotor disorders in children, namely when developmental delays in terms of physical, emotional, social and slow communication skills. Disorders of child development can actually be detected from an early age, the development of gross motor skills, fine, cognitive, and language. As for the symptoms that occur when experiencing developmental disorders in children, the body and brain have difficulty processing and responding to sensory stimuli from the environment. Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) often overreact or overreact in response to touch, sound, or food texture. However, sensory disturbances in children can be reduced and even treated with appropriate therapy. Generally, therapy sessions will focus on ways to help the child engage in activities that they are not normally better at. It also helps them to get used to and accept things that they cannot tolerate.

A Child's Perception of Their Developmental Difficulties in Relation to Their Adult Assessment. Analysis of the INPP Questionnaire.

This study involved a comparison of the perception of developmental difficulties in a child by the parents, the teacher, and through the child’s self-assessment. Based on the Institute for Neuro-Psychological Psychology (INPP) questionnaire according to S. Goddard Blythe, three groups were examined: schoolchildren, parents, and teachers. Each of them answered a set of 21 questions and assessed the degree of occurrence of a given difficulty for the child on a scale from 0 to 4. The questions concerned psychomotor problems related to balance, motor coordination and concentration, as well as school skills. In total, 49 questionnaires from children and parents and 46 from teachers were used for the study. The mean answer to each question was calculated within the following groups: child–parent, child–teacher, and parent–teacher. The sum of the children’s answer points was significantly higher than the sum of the parents’ answer points (p = 0.037). Children assessed their developmental difficulties more strongly than teachers, but this difference was not statistically significant. The individual difficulties of the children were assessed significantly more seriously or more gently than by the National Scientific Conference “Human health problems—causes, present state, ways for the future” speeches by 44 teacher participants on 5 June 2020. Parents and teachers also assessed the children’s difficulties significantly differently (p = 0.044). The biggest difference in answers concerned the question of maintaining attention. The obtained results indicate a significant difference in the perception of difficulties occurring in the same child by the teacher and the parent. The child’s behavior in school and home environments may be different and, depending on the requirements, assessed differently. Children perceive their difficulties much more seriously than adults. Talking and the support of adults can make it easier for a child to overcome developmental difficulties.

Cadets’ Psychomotor Development as a Prerequisite for their Personal Readiness to Act in Conditions of Uncertainity

The problem of psychomotor development of a personality belongs to the category of those problems, that do not become relevant with time; nevertheless, these simply do not lose their relevance. Physical training at the military lyceum should be directed towards the development of professionally important psychomotor abilities of the students. Two series of a psychological experiments were conducted. Indicators of sensorimotor response of the investigated sample and the level of development of locomotor agility in the conditions of temporary and alternative uncertainty were established. The study used two patented devices "DIAGNOST-1 M" and a device for investigating human behaviour under stochastic conditions. The collected and analysed data were used to support the quantitative design adopted for this study. The study revealed that teenagers who attend only physical education classes at school and do not have sufficient physical activity, compared to their more active peers, cadets, are not as fast in the decision-making process, particularly in their reaction to the choice of a moving object. A high level of energy potential is the key to effective psychomotor actions in times of temporary and alternative uncertainty. Conditions of temporal and alternative uncertainty increase the effectiveness of the psychomotor actions of the students. We have shown that physical education classes, conducted in the aesthetic atmosphere of harmony, symmetry, rhythm, at the military lyceum enable the students to better develop their ability to overcome conditions of temporary and alternative uncertainty. Success in solving psychomotor problems depends on the anticorruption, sensory-perceptual and intellectual sphere of the students.

Haurdunaldian amak izandako bizi-ohiturak, ingurumen-esposizioak, osasun-sistemaren ekimenak eta haurraren garapen neuropsikologikoa. INMA (Haurtzaroa eta Ingurumena-Infancia y Medio Ambiente) proiektuan argitaratutako lanen errebisioa

Osasunaren esparruan oro har, eta zehazki Osasun Publikoarenean, azken bi mendeetan ingurumenak osasunean duen eragina aztertzeak interesa piztu du. Marc Lalondek, 1974. urtean osasun-eredua garatu zuen, eta azpimarratu zuen bizi-ohiturek eta inguruko faktoreek osasunean zuten eragina. Artikulu honen helburu orokorra da faktore hauek haurraren garapen neuropsikologikoan nola eragiten duten aztertzea helburutzat duten INMA proiektuko hainbat lanen emaitza esanguratsuenak azpimarratzea. Hala nola, emakumeen bizi-estiloekin erlazionatutako gainpisu/obesitateak eta erretze-ohiturak asoziazio negatiboa erakutsi zuten haurraren garapen neuropsikologikoarekin. Elikadura-ohiturei dagokienez, ikusi zen arraina osasunerako onuragarriak zein kaltegarriak diren substantzien garraio dela. Emakume haurdunek jarraitzen zituzten ekimenei dagokienez, gure proiektuko emaitzek erakutsi zuten azido folikoaren dosi altuegi zein baxuegiek haurren garapen neuropsikologikoan eragin positiboak zituztela. Edoskitze naturalak autismoa bezalako jokabide-arazoentzat eragin babesgarria zuela erakutsi zuten gure ikerketek. Ingurumen faktoreek haurraren garapenean eta osasunean kalteak dakartzatela ikusi da. Berdeguneek duten eragina, ordea, onuragarria dela ikusi da. Lan honek haurdunaldian emakumeak jarraitzen dituen bizi-ohiturak eta osasun-sistemaren aholkuak zein emakumeak dituen ingurumen-esposizioak haurraren garapen neuropsikologikoan duen eragina erakutsi du.

Evaluating Stress in Dogs Involved in Animal-Assisted Interventions.

Simple SummaryDogs are widely involved in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), but little information is available to determine if AAIs are stressful for dogs. Maintaining the animal wellness is ethically crucial and it is decisive for the success of the AAIs. This study wanted to assess if dogs were stressed during the sessions. Nine dogs, belonging to the A.N.U.C.S.S. (the National Association for the Use of Dogs for Social Aims) association, were observed before, during, and after AAIs with patients—who had mental and/or physical disabilities—to underline any signs of stress. Our results suggested that our dogs were not stressed, as the level of anxious behaviour was low and similar in all three kinds of sessions (before, during, and after sessions). Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are co-therapies in which the animal is an integral and active part of the treatment process. Dogs are widely involved in AAI projects, but little data are available to determine if AAI sessions are a source of stress for the dogs. Understanding the emotional state of animals and highlighting any signal of stress is crucial maintaining the wellness of the animals and in enhancing the probability of success of the AAI. The purpose of this study is to assess if dogs present signs of stress during animal assisted therapies sessions. The sample consisted of nine dogs, belonging to the members of the A.N.U.C.S.S. (the National Association for the Use of Dogs for Social Aims) association. Dogs lived with their owners and their health was checked by a vet once a week. Patients involved in the AAI project had disabilities due to mental disorder and/or psychomotor problems. During the therapeutic sessions, patients had to guide the dog along facilitated agility routes and/or perform the activities of cuddling and brushing the dog. When a dog accomplished a task, the patient gave him/her a reward (throwing a ball or a biscuit). Dogs were observed for a total of 174 h, 47 h before, 81 h during, and 46 h after AAI sessions. Each session of observation lasted 10–30 min. The differences of behavioural patterns in the three contexts were analysed by mean of the non-parametric Friedman test. Dogs never showed aggressive and stereotyped behaviour; the level of anxious behaviour was low and similar in all three kinds of sessions. During therapeutic sessions, attention, affiliative behavioural patterns, and sniffing behaviour increased. The highest level of attention of dogs was directed toward their conductor, rather than to the patient and to the other operator present. The results suggest that the amount of work dogs went through was adequate and that dogs did not show behavioural signs of stress.

The value of distinct depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) to differentiate depression severity in cancer survivors: An item response approach.

The value of distinct depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) to differentiate depression severity in cancer survivors: An item response approach.

Scoping Review of Systems to Train Psychomotor Skills in Hearing Impaired Children.

Objectives: The aim of this work is to provide a scoping review to compile and classify the systems helping train and enhance psychomotor skills in hearing impaired (HI) children. Methods: Based on an exhaustive review on psychomotor deficits in HI children, the procedure used to carry out a scoping review was: select keywords and identify synonyms, select databases and prepare the queries using keywords, analyze the quality of the works found using the PEDro Scale, classify the works based on psychomotor competences, analyze the interactive systems (e.g., sensors), and the achieved results. Results: Thirteen works were found. These works used a variety of sensors and input devices such as cameras, contact sensors, touch screens, mouse and keyboard, tangible objects, haptic and virtual reality (VR) devices. Conclusions: From the research it was possible to contextualize the deficits and psychomotor problems of HI children that prevent their normal development. Additionally, from the analysis of different proposals of interactive systems addressed to this population, it was possible to establish the current state of the use of different technologies and how they contribute to psychomotor rehabilitation.

Cannabis use and the course and outcome of major depressive disorder: A population based longitudinal study

Cannabis use has been reported to affect the course of various psychiatric disorders, however its effect on the course of major depressive disorder (MDD) is not yet clear. We used data from Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Individuals with baseline MDD (N=2,348) were included in the study. Cannabis users without a Cannabis Use Disorder (CUDs) and individuals with a CUD were compared to nonusers using linear and logistic regression analyses controlling for sociodemographics, psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders at baseline. No differences were found in rates of remission between the groups. Level of cannabis use was associated with significantly more depressive symptoms at follow-up, particularly anhedonia, changes in body weight, insomnia or hypersomnia and psychomotor problems. After adjusting for baseline confounding factors, no associations were found between cannabis use and suicidality, functionality and quality of life. We conclude that many of the associations between cannabis use and a more severe course of MDD do not seem to be attributed to cannabis use itself but to associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. Further longitudinal studies using depression severity indices are required.

Adolescent exposure to MDMA induces dopaminergic toxicity in substantia nigra and potentiates the amyloid plaque deposition in the striatum of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice

MDMA is one of the most used drugs by adolescents and its consumption has been associated with many psychobiological problems, among them psychomotor problems. Moreover, some authors described that early exposure to MDMA may render the dopaminergic neurons more vulnerable to the effects of future neurotoxic insults. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia in the elderly and a percentage of the patients have predisposition to suffer nigrostriatal alterations, developing extrapyramidal signs. Nigrostriatal dysfunction in the brain of aged APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1), a mouse model of familiar AD (FAD), has also been described. The aim of the present study was to investigate the consequences of adolescent exposure to MDMA in APP/PS1 mice, on nigrostriatal function on early adulthood. We used a MDMA schedule simulating weekend binge abuse of this substance. Our MDMA schedule produced a genotype-independent decrease in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra that remained at least 3months. Shortly after the injury, wild-type animals showed a decrease in the locomotor activity and apparent DA depletion in striatum, however in the APP/PS1 mice neither the locomotor activity nor the DA levels were modified, but a reduction in dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and a higher levels of oxidative stress were observed. We found that these disturbances are age-related characteristics that this APP/PS1 mice develops spontaneously much later. Therefore, MDMA administration seems to anticipate the striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in this FAD model. The most important outcome lies in a potentiation, by MDMA, of the amyloid beta deposition in the striatum.