Verbal Speed Research Articles

Особливості психопатологічної симптоматики в учасників бойових дій з непсихотичними психічними розладами, які перенесли захворювання на COVID-19

The purpose of the work was to study the peculiarities of the expressiveness of psychopathological symptoms in combatants with non-psychotic mental disorders who suffered from the COVID-19 disease. Materials and methods. 252 combatants with non-psychotic mental disorders took part in the study, based on the examination of 132 combatants who did not have COVID-19 and 120 – who had COVID-19. Results and discussion. Significantly lower indicators of expressiveness of psychopathological symptoms were found in combatants who did not suffer from COVID-19, and the basis of psychopathological manifestations are: obsessive-compulsive disorders – 2.42 ± 0.33 and 2.55 ± 0.36 points, respectively (р <0.01); depression – 2.20 ± 1.15 and 2.66 ± 1.03 points (p <0.01); anxiety – 2.18 ± 0.91 and 2.41 ± 0.89 points (p <0.05). Manifestations of somatization are: auxiliary psychopathological constructs – 1.63 ± 1.07 and 2.47 ± 0.80 points (р <0.01); interpersonal sensitivity – 1.23 ± 0.96 and 1.52 ± 0.97 points, respectively (p <0.05); hostility – 1.31 ± 0.38 and 1.42 ± 0.39 points (p <0.05) and phobic anxiety – 1.23 ± 0.49 and 1.28 ± 0.48 points (p>0.05), with insignificant expressiveness of paranoid symptoms and psychoticism. It was established that combatants who suffered from the disease of COVID-19 had significantly higher levels of post-traumatic stress – 88.9 ± 16.6 and 97.8 ± 15.7 points, respectively (p <0.01), invasion symptoms – 24.5 ± 4.4 and 26.3 ± 4.9 points (p <0.01); avoidance – 23.1 ± 5.8 and 25.7 ± 5.0 points (p <0.01); excitability – 21.6 ± 5.1 and 23.8 ± 4.5 points (p <0.01); guilt – 19.7 ± 5.4 and 22.0 ± 5.0 points (p <0.01), and post-traumatic depression – 5.3 ± 4.1 and 8.2 ± 5.1 points; anxiety – 4.9 ± 3.7 and 6.8 ± 3.8 points (p <0.01), and stress – 8.1 ± 4.2 and 10.3 ± 4.1 points (p <0.01). Deterioration of cognitive functioning with a decrease in the speed and efficiency of cognitive processes was established, which did not reach the level of severe cognitive dysfunction, more pronounced in patients who suffered from COVID-19, which was manifested by a decrease in performance indicators of the TMT-A test – respectively, 37.0 ± 12.2 and 45.9 ± 14.8 sec. (p <0.01); TMT-B – 147.4 ± 37.6 and 164.4 ± 53.8 sec. (p <0.05); indicators of semantic verbal speed: number of words for letter “K” – 18.2 ± 5.4 and 16.8 ± 5.4 words (p <0.01); words for letter “P” – 16.6 ± 5.7 and 15.2 ± 5.6 words (p <0.05); words “Male names” – 17.1 ± 5.1 and 15.7 ± 5.1 words (p <0.01); words “Fruits/furniture” – 16.0 ± 5.3 and 14.7 ± 5.2 words (p <0.05), as well as slowing down the Stroop test: reading the names of colors printed in black – 51.5 ± 9.6 and 57.6 ± 8.9 sec. (p <0.01), color naming – 77.0 ± 16.9 and 86.7 ± 17.4 sec. (p <0.01), reading the names of colors where the color of the font differs from the meaning of the word – 131.2 ± 20.4 and 142.1 ± 19.9 sec., naming the color of a word where the color of the font differs from the meaning of the word – 50.5 ± 9.6 and 56.6 ± 8.9 sec. (p <0.01), stiffness/flexibility indicators of control – 54.2 ± 10.3 and 55.4 ± 7.9 sec. and verbality – 1.5 ± 0.1 and 1.5 ± 0.1 sec. Conclusion. The revealed regularities allow considering COVID-19 as an actual risk factor for the deterioration of psychopathological and post-traumatic symptoms, as well as cognitive disorders in combatants with non-psychotic mental disorders

Neurocognitive criteria for predicting recovery in a primary psychotic episode

Were examined 160 patients with primary psychotic episode (49 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (F20), 59 with a diagnosis of acute polymorphic psychotic disorder (F23) and 52 with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder (F25)), who were under observation for 1 year. Were analyzed and described neurocognitive features of patients, which cause complete and incomplete exit from psychosis. It has been found that complete recovery in primary psychotic episode causes the preservation of cognitive functioning, in particular memory and verbal speed, as well as greater variability in methods of cognitive regulation of emotions and the presence of an outfit with mal- adaptive methods of adaptive regulation options, in particular positive focusing and acceptance

Когнітивні функції у пацієнтів з фібриляцією передсердь та абдомінальним ожирінням

З метою визначення та порівняння частоти й тяжкості когнітивних розладів (КР) у пацієнтів молодого й середнього віку з фібриляцією передсердь (ФП), абдомінальним ожирінням (АО) та метаболічним синдромом (МС) обстежено 196 пацієнтів. КР, що характеризувалися зниженням пам’яті, уваги, порушеннями сприйняття, вербальної швидкості й виконавчих функцій, діагностовано у 88,3 % пацієнтів з ФП і АО та у 89,5 % пацієнтів з МС. У пацієнтів з ФП, у тому числі в поєднанні з АО, додементні й тяжкі КР зустрічалися частіше, ніж у хворих з АО і синусовим ритмом. В обстежених із синусовим ритмом і нормальною окружністю талії без серцево-судинних захворювань тяжкі й помірні КР не спостерігалися. Ступінь вираженості КР у пацієнтів з ФП і АО не залежав від структурних змін сонних артерій і серця. Факторами ризику розвитку КР у пацієнтів молодого й середнього віку з ФП і АО були наявність МС та підвищений рівень С-реактивного протеїну в сироватці крові. Пацієнтам молодого й середнього віку з ФП, АО і МС необхідно оцінювати когнітивні функції для ранньої діагностики та запобігання прогресуванню КР.

Features of structure and predictors of cognitive disorders in patients after cardiac surgery

Abstract Background Cognitive disorders (CDs) are the most common neurological complications in cardiac surgery. Understanding the predictors associated with the occurrence of CDs, identifying modified risk factors, can accelerate recovery, improve prevention and treatment algorithms after cardiac surgery. The aim - to determine the structure and predictors of CDs in patients before surgery and in the early postoperative period (3rd and 7th days). Methods 56 patients were examined, including 19 (33.9%) men (p=0.02). The average age of the patients was 60.86±8.87 years. Cardiac surgery was performed for coronary heart disease in 37 (66.1%) and valvular heart disease in 19 (33.9%) patients (p=0.02). The duration of the operation ranged from 240 to 600 minutes, averaging 371.94±102.04 minutes. In 25 (44.6%) cases, the operations were performed in conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass (CB), the average duration of which didn't differ from operations without CB (389.44±116.88 vs. 355.47±86.16, p=0.34). Testing was performed before surgery, on the 3rd and 7th day of the postoperative period using Montreal Cognitive Test. Statistical processing was performed using the statistical software package SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Results 75% of the patients already had mild CDs before surgery. The structure of CDs in the early postoperative period didn't differ from the data before surgery, however, there were patients with severe CDs (3.6% and 2% vs. 0%, p=0.05). In the structure of the CDs on the 3rd day of the postoperative period there were a significant decrease of visuospatial skills (4.07 vs. 3.7, p<0.001), ability to consistent calculation (2.66 vs. 2.45, p=0.02), repetition of the phrase (1.16 vs. 1.0, p=0.02). On the 7th day of the postoperative period, there were a significant decrease of verbal speed (0.48 vs. 0.32, p=0.006) and memory improvement (1.79 vs. 2.29, p=0.01). The probable predictors of CDs in the early postoperative period are: history of stroke – r=−0.282, p=0.04; presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries according to coronary angiography – r=−0.259, p=0.05; surgery with CB – r=0.29, p=0.03 and presence signs of dyslipidemia according to the lipid profile – r=−0.227, p=0.09. Conclusions 75% of the patients already had mild CD before surgery. The structure of CDs in the early postoperative period didn't differ from the data before surgery, however, there were patients with severe CD. In the structure of the CDs on the 3rd day of the postoperative period there were a significant decrease of visuospatial, ability to consistent calculation, repetition of the phrase. On the 7th day of the postoperative period, there were a significant decrease in verbal speed and memory improvement. Probable predictors of CDs in the early postoperative period are: history of stroke; presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries; surgery with CB and presence of signs of dyslipidemia. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Structure of cognitive disorders and predictors of their occurrence in patients after cardiac surgery

Objective — to determine the presence and severity of moderate cognitive disorders (CD) in patients before and after cardiac surgery in the early postoperative period
 Methods and subjects. 56 patients were examined, including 19 (33.9 %) men and 37 (66,1 %) women , mean age 60.86 ± 8.86. Cardiac surgery was performed for ischemic heart disease in 37 (66.1 %) patients, for valvular heart disease — in 19 (33.9 %, p = 0.02). Assessment of cognitive functions was performed before surgery, on the 3rd and 7th day of the postoperative period using the Montreal Cognitive Test.
 Results. Before surgery, most patients (75.0 %) had mild CRs, 5.4 % had moderate CRs (p <0.01), and 19.6 % had no CRs (p = 0.02). In general, the distribution by the severity of CR in the early postoperative period did not differ from that before surgery, but there were patients with severe CR (3.6 and 1.8 %, respectively, on the 3rd and 7th days, p = 0.05) ...In the structure of CD, on the 3rd day of the postoperative period, there was a significant decrease in visually constructive skills (4.07 versus 3.7; p < 0.001), a deterioration in the ability to consistently calculate (2.66 versus 2.45; p = 0.02), repetition phrases (1.16 versus 1.0; p = 0.02). On the 7th day of the postoperative period, there was a significant decrease in verbal speed (0.48 versus 0.32; p = 0.006) and an improvement in memory (1.79 versus 2.29; p = 0.01). Probable predictors of the onset of cognitive disorders in the early postoperative period are: a history of stroke — r = –0.282; p = 0.04. There was a correlation with the presence of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries according to coronary angiography (r = –0.259; p = 0.05), surgery performed under cardiopulmonary bypass (r = 0.29; p = 0.03), and a tendency towards statistical significance of correlation with the presence of signs of dyslipidemia according to lipid profile data (r = –0.227; p = 0.09).
 Conclusions. It was found that 75 % of patients had mild CR before surgery. The distribution according to the severity of CR in the early postoperative period differed from that before surgery by the appearance of patients with severe CR. In the CR structure, on the 3rd day of the postoperative period, a statistically significant decrease in visual‑constructive skills, a deterioration in the ability to consistently calculate and repeat a phrase were observed. On the 7th day, a statistically significant decrease in verbal speed and an improvement in memory were noted. Probable predictors of CR in the early postoperative period are a history of acute cerebrovascular accident, atherosclerotic lesion of the coronary arteries according to coronary angiography, surgery performed under cardiopulmonary bypass, the presence of signs of dyslipidemia according to lipid profile data.

The relationships between cognitive control and psychological symptoms in patients with somatic symptom disorder: a pilot longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Introduction The present study explored how neurocognitive function correlated with the clinical symptoms of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) by evaluating changes in cognitive abilities according to differences in relevant factors. Methods A total of 44 patients with SSD and 30 healthy controls completed tests assessing various neurocognitive domains, including verbal memory, psychomotor speed, executive function, working memory, and sustained and divided attention. They also completed questionnaires for psychological assessment. The same tests and questionnaires were completed by 26 SSD patients 6 months later. Results The SSD patients had significantly lower scores on the attentional and verbal memory tests than did the healthy controls. Performance on the attentional test was significantly associated with the level of somatic symptoms and anxiety. The follow-up assessment results of the SSD patients revealed improved performance on the verbal learning and fluency tests as well as improvements in somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression. It was also observed that changes in verbal learning and attentional functions were significantly associated with improvements in somatic symptoms. Conclusions The present study suggests that neurocognitive dysfunctions are subtle and not specific to SSD, but certain cognitive functions may be related to the clinical symptoms and improvements of patients with SSD.

The functional impairment of different subtypes and occupational states in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

BackgroundThe aim was to explore the associations between clinical symptoms, demographic variables, social and neurocognitive functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) stratified by subgroups of DSM-IV BD (type I (BD-I) and type II (BD-II)) and occupational status (employed/unemployed), and to highlight the significance of occupational status when assessing social and neurocognitive functioning in euthymic BD patients.MethodsA total of 81 euthymic BD patients were participated in the study. The severity of the depressive and manic/hypomanic symptoms was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), respectively. Social functioning and neurocognitive functioning were evaluated by the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and neurocognitive measures, respectively.ResultsEmployed BD patients displayed greater social functioning (autonomy, occupational functioning, interpersonal relationship domain) and better verbal learning performance and speed of processing than unemployed BD patients. The correlation between neurocognitive functioning and social functioning was stronger in the employed group than in the unemployed group. There were no significant differences in neurocognitive and social functioning between the BD-I and BD-II groups, and the correlation between neurocognitive functioning and social functioning was similar between the BD-I and BD-II groups.ConclusionEmployed BD patients may present greater occupational functioning and interpersonal relationships, as well as better verbal learning performance and speed of processing.

Neuropsychological Function and Quality of Life after Resection of Suspected Lower-Grade Glioma in the Face Primary Motor Area.

The negative side effects of neurosurgical resection of the lower third of the primary motor cortex (M1) are often described as relatively mild. However, detailed descriptions of how these resections affect neurocognitive function, speech, mental health and quality of life (QoL) are sparse. In the present study, seven patients with suspected lower-grade glioma (WHO II-III) in the inferior M1 were assessed for facial motor function, cognitive function, anxiety and QoL before and after awake surgical resections. The main finding was that after surgery, six of the seven patients experienced a mild facial motor dysfunction, mainly affecting the mouth, tongue and throat. At the group level, we were also able to observe a significant postoperative decline in maximum verbal speed, whereas no negative effects on measures of word production (i.e., verbal fluency) were seen. Self-reported QoL data suggest that some patients experienced increased social isolation postoperatively but do not lend support to the interpretation that this was caused by direct neurological side effects of the surgery. The results appear to support the general notion that awake surgery in the lower M1 can be performed safely and with postoperative deficits that are most often perceived by the patient as tolerable.

Off-topic verbosity: Relationships between verbal abilities and speech characteristics among young and older adults

Off-topic verbosity (OTV) refers to extended speech lacking in relevance and focus. Previous research has found that older adults have higher levels of OTV, and some contend that OTV is indicative of cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between verbal cognitive abilities and OTV speech characteristics among young adults (n = 62; age 18–28, M = 20.69) and older adults (n = 76; age 60–98, M = 76.46). Older adults had slower verbal speed and verbal set-shifting than young adults, and they displayed more tangentiality and egocentrism in their speech. Slower set-shifting was associated with increased tangentiality and decreased quantity of speech, particularly in older adults. These results provide some support for the age-related cognitive decline explanation of OTV, as posited by the inhibitory deficit hypothesis.

A-28 Updated Baselines Show Improvement, Even When Athletes Sustain A Concussion Between Assessments

Abstract Objective To explore change across repeated baseline assessments using raw scores and percentile scores, for athletes sustaining and not sustaining a concussion between baselines. Method Athletes (12–23 years) completed two valid, baseline neurocognitive test sessions using ImPACT. Participants were divided into independent groups based on having sustained a concussion between annual baselines (CONCUSSION; N = 269) or no concussion (NO CONCUSSION; N = 270) between baselines. Raw change scores were calculated between the first and follow-up baseline for both groups by subtracting the first baseline score from the updated baseline score on the four ImPACT composite scores. Age- and gender-based percentile scores were then applied for all participants, and percentile change scores were calculated in the same manner. Raw change scores and percentile change scores between groups were compared using 4 ANOVAs with a Bonferroni-corrected p-value of (p < .0125). Results Using raw scores ANOVAs revealed that athletes in the CONCUSSION group showed significantly greater improvement on follow-up testing than athletes in the NO CONCUSSION group on Verbal Memory (p < .001) and Visual Motor Speed (p = .001), but not on Visual Memory (p = .41) and Reaction Time (p = .04). Using percentile ranks, ANOVAs revealed significantly greater improvement in CONCUSSION group on Verbal Memory (p < .001), but not on Visual Memory (p = .34), Visual Motor Speed (p = .03), or Reaction Time (p = .014). Conclusions Athletes sustaining a concussion between annual baseline assessments show increases on Verbal Memory and Visual Motor Speed follow-up testing when using raw composite scores, but only on Verbal Memory when using age- and gender-based percentile ranks.

Consistent use of proactive control and relation with academic achievement in childhood

As children become older, they better maintain task-relevant information in preparation of upcoming cognitive demands. This is referred to as proactive control, which is a key component of cognitive control development. However, it is still uncertain whether children engage in proactive control consistently across different contexts and how proactive control relates to academic abilities. This study used two common tasks—the AX Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) and the Cued Task-Switching Paradigm (CTS)—to examine whether proactive control engagement in 102 children (age range: 6.91–10.91 years) converges between the two tasks and predicts academic abilities. Proactive control indices modestly correlated between tasks in higher but not lower working-memory children, suggesting that consistency in proactive control engagement across contexts is relatively low during childhood but increases with working memory capacity. Further, working memory (but not verbal speed) predicted proactive control engagement in both tasks. While proactive control as measured by each task predicted math and reading performance, only proactive control measured by CTS additionally predicted reasoning, suggesting that proactive control can be used as a proxy for academic achievements.

Clinical and Biological Correlates of Preoperative Cognitive Functioning of Glioma and Meningioma Patients.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) serum concentrations with cognitive functions of glioma and meningioma patients. Methods 177 brain tumor patients awaiting for brain tumor surgery participated in the study. Patients were assessed preoperatively, using neuropsychological tests for verbal memory, psychomotor speed, mental flexibility, and verbal fluency. The functional status of patients was evaluated using the Karnofsky Performance Index. Blood samples were drawn for evaluation of serum hsCRP and NT-proBNP concentrations upon hospital admission. Results The highest NT-proBNP concentration was observed in meningioma patients. Glioma and meningioma patients did not differ in hsCRB concentration. Patients in the highest hsCRP tertile were older and more frequently reported cardiovascular comorbidity. Patients in the highest NT-proBNP tertile were older, more frequently with cardiovascular comorbidity, females, and diagnosed with a meningioma. hsCRP was significantly related to slower psychomotor speed in high-grade glioma patients (rho = 0.30, p < 0.05). In meningioma sample, NT-proBNP correlated with decreased psychomotor speed (rho = 0.38, p < 0.01), mental flexibility (rho = 0.33, p < 0.01), worse cumulative learning (rho = −0.27, p < 0.05), and delayed recall (rho = 0.30, p < 0.01). However, the relationship between the NT-proBNP and cognitive functions became nonsignificant when demographic and clinical covariates were included into analysis. Higher hsCRP concentration remained significantly related to slower psychomotor speed (p = 0.02) and worse mental flexibility (p = 0.05) in glioma patients, independently from demographic and clinical covariates. Preoperative cognitive functioning was also predicted by older age, gender, side and location of the tumor, and tumor malignancy, and general functional status of a patient. Conclusions NT-proBNP was not associated with memory, language, and attention/executive cognitive domains of glioma and meningioma patients. Increased hsCRP was related to slower psychomotor speed and worse mental flexibility in glioma patients, indicating that inflammation processes are important for cognitive functioning in glial tumors.

DUAL DECLINE IN MEMORY AND GAIT UNIQUELY IDENTIFIES OLDER PERSONS AT HIGH RISK OF DEMENTIA

Recent study has shown that incident dementia risk is higher among older persons who decline in both cognition and gait. This study assesses whether this relationship exists in multiple other aging populations. Data are from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (n=662, 51%women,22%blacks), Health, Aging and Body Composition Study (n=746, 51%women,44%blacks), and Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (n=2771, 48%women,0.3%blacks). Participants were at least 60, initially free of cognitive impairment, dementia, and dismobility (gait speed≤0.6m/s), with repeated measures of verbal memory and gait speed before dementia diagnosis (average follow-up 5.8-12.1 years). Within each cohort, participants were divided into four groups: memory decliners alone, gait decliners alone, dual decliners, or neither (healthy agers). Gait speed decline was defined as a loss of ≥0.05m/sec/year; memory decline was defined as cohort specific bottom slope tertile. Incident dementia risk was examined by Cox regression with healthy agers as reference, adjusted for sex, race, baseline age, gait speed and memory. Across studies, incident dementia ranged from 3% to 17%. Compared to healthy agers, memory decliners alone had 3.4 to 4.3 times higher risk for developing dementia (p<0.01). Gait decliners alone had 2.1-5.6 times higher risk for dementia (p<0.05). Dual decliners had 7.6-10.8 times the risk (p<0.001). Dual decline signifies a more rapid progression to dementia. These consistent findings suggest that dual decliners might be a potentially valuable target group for both preventive interventions and mechanistic studies. Whether dual decline identifies a particular subtype or multiple subtypes of dementia remains to be investigated.

Cognitive functioning and predictors thereof in patients with 1\u201310 brain metastases selected for stereotactic radiosurgery

PurposeInformation on predictive factors of cognitive functioning in patients with (multiple) brain metastases (BM) selected for radiosurgery may allow for more individual care and may play a role in predicting cognitive outcome after radiosurgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive performance, and predictors thereof, in patients with 1–10 BM before radiosurgery.MethodsCognition was measured before radiosurgery using a standardized neuropsychological test battery in patients with 1–10 BM (expected survival > 3 months; KPS ≥ 70; no prior BM treatment). Regression formulae were constructed to calculate sociodemographically corrected z scores. Group and individual cognitive functioning was analyzed. Multivariable regression was used to explore potential predictors.ResultsPatients (N = 92) performed significantly worse than controls (N = 104) on all 11 test variables (medium-large effect sizes for 8 variables). Percentages of impairment were highest for information processing (55.3%), dexterity (43.2%) and cognitive flexibility (28.7%). 62% and 46% of patients had impairments in at least two, or three test variables, respectively. Models including combinations of clinical and psychological variables were predictive of verbal memory, psychomotor speed, information processing and dexterity. Neither number nor volume of metastases predicted patients’ test performance.ConclusionsAlready before radiosurgery, almost half of the patients suffered from severe cognitive deficits in at least three test variables. At group and individual level, information processing, cognitive flexibility, and dexterity were most affected. These cognitive impairments may impair daily functioning and patients’ ability to make (shared) treatment decisions. Both clinical (symptomatic BM; timing of BM diagnosis) and psychological (mental fatigue) characteristics influenced cognitive performance.Clinical trial informationCognition and Radiation Study A (CAR-Study A; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02953756; Medical Ethics Committee file number: NL53472.028.15/P1515).

B-44 An Examination of Balance Measurements in Predicting Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Dysfunction

Abstract Objective Previous research indicates that athletes experiencing concussions demonstrate acute balance deficits (Guskiewicz, 2011). Although it is hypothesized that balance performance is related to neurocognitive function in athletes experiencing a concussion (Guskiewicz, Ross, &amp; Marshall, 2001; Broglio, Sosnoff, Ferrara, 2009), limited research exists regarding the clinical utility of baseline measures. Method 68 collegiate athletes (ages 18-23; M = 19.62, SD = 1.44) were evaluated using the Balance error scoring system (BESS) and ImPACT at baseline and post-concussion. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine how BESS performance change across evaluations predicted post-concussion neurocognitive dysfunction compared to post-concussion performance alone. Results BESS performance changes from baseline to post-concussion significantly predicted post-concussion Verbal Memory (R² = .06, p = .05), Visual Memory (R² = .135, p = .002), Visual-Motor Speed (R² = .146, p = .001), Reaction Time (R² = .156, p = .001), and Total Symptom Scores (R² = .112, p = .005); while post-concussion BESS scores predicted Visual Memory (R² = .138, p = .002), Visual-Motor Speed (R² = .137, p = .002), and Reaction Time (R² = .145, p = .001). Therefore, assessing change in BESS performance is a more comprehensive predictor of neurocognitive dysfunction than solely post-concussion BESS performance. Conclusions Changes in BESS performance from baseline to post-concussion was found to be a more comprehensive predictor of neurocognitive dysfunction than post-concussion BESS scores alone. Therefore, our results support the clinical utility of evaluating balance at pre-participation to better understand neurocognitive risk factors.

The impact of sex hormones and metabolic markers on depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning in PCOS patients

The aim of the study was to analyze associations between cognitive deficits and such factors like hormone levels and metabolic risk factors in PCOS women. Fifty-five PCOS patients aged 17–30 underwent analyses for FSH, LH, 17-beta-estradiol, DHEAS, androstenedione, SHBG, lipid profile during the follicular phase. Fasting glucose and insulin concentrations were also measured, as well as their levels after oral-glucose administration. All participants underwent an assessment with: Trail Making Test A and B, Stroop Test, Verbal and Categorical Fluency Test. The intensity of depressive symptoms was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We observed a positive correlation of the depression scores with the OGTT 120′ and triglycerides, and a negative correlation of the depression scores with serum HDL. The higher were the insulin levels at 120 min; the more pronounced were the deficits of the verbal psychomotor speed. Higher free testosterone correlated with better verbal psychomotor speed. Androstenedione level was associated with worse scores in executive functions assessment. 17-OH-P levels positively correlated with phonology verbal fluency scores and higher plasma cortisol level at 10 p.m. correlated with worse verbal processing speed. Endocrine and metabolic parameters seem to be important factors mediating cognitive deficits in PCOS.

Cognitive functions in a mixed episode of bipolar affective disorder

Summary. According to various meta-analyzes, most patients with bipolar affective disorder have neurocognitive dysfunction even in remission. In recent studies, moderate to severe impairments have been found in attention, verbal learning and memory, and executive function. Whereas premorbid intelligence remains unchanged. The main body of research is devoted to the study of cognitive impairment in the first episode of bipolar affective disorder, in manic, depressive episodes, and euthymia. At the same time, the features of cognitive dysfunction in mixed forms of bipolar affective disorder remain poorly understood. The aim of the study was to study the characteristics of cognitive functions in patients with a mixed episode of bipolar affective disorder. Materials and methods. With the help of a battery of tests (a test for remembering ten unrelated words; a Ray-Osterritz test; a verbal speed test; a digital character substitution test; a symbol linking test), the cognitive features of 25 patients with a mixed episode, 16 patients with a manic episode, and 15 patients with a depressive episode of bipolar affective disorder. Results and conclusions. Deviations in cognitive function were found in all patients regardless of the type of affective symptomatology. In the form of a wide range of psychopathological phenomena which manifested themselves to a greater extent in patients with a mixed episode of bipolar affective disorder. The peculiarities of the phenomenological structure of cognitive impairment in patients with mixed phase of bipolar affective disorder are manifested in the form of a more pronounced deterioration of verbal memory, information processing speed; more pronounced violations of spatial representations, deterioration of visual memory, verbal associative performance and executive functions; a decrease in attention and a violation of its distribution. The findings suggest that the leading role in the formation of these disorders is played by the presence of depressive symptoms in the clinical structure of affective disorders.

Cognitive Functioning After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancy: Results From a Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Purpose Cognitive impairment is well-recognized after myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, cognitive functioning after reduced-intensity allogeneic or autologous HCT remains unclear. Methods A total of 477 HCT recipients (236 autologous, 128 reduced-intensity allogeneic, 113 myeloablative allogeneic) underwent standardized neuropsychologic testing before HCT and at 6 months and 1, 2, and 3 years after HCT. Ninety-nine frequency-matched healthy controls underwent testing at commensurate time points. Primary outcomes of the study were practice effect-adjusted domain-specific T scores and global deficit scores. Piecewise generalized estimating equation models were used to compare groups and to identify associated variables and post-HCT trends of cognitive impairment. Results Median age was 52 years (range, 18 to 74 years) for HCT recipients and 55 years (range, 19 to 73 years) for controls. Post-HCT scores were comparable between controls and autologous and reduced-intensity HCT recipients. Myeloablative HCT recipients had significantly lower ( P < .001) post-HCT scores than controls for executive function, verbal speed, processing speed, auditory memory, and fine motor dexterity. Pre-HCT to 6 months post-HCT scores did not change after reduced-intensity HCT but declined significantly for fine motor dexterity ( P < .001) after myeloablative HCT. However, pre-HCT to 3 years post-HCT scores declined significantly ( P < .003) in reduced-intensity HCT recipients for executive function, verbal fluency, and working memory. Older age, male sex, and lower education, income, and cognitive reserve were associated with post-HCT cognitive impairment. At 3 years post-HCT, global cognitive impairment was present in 18.7% of autologous and 35.7% of allogeneic HCT recipients. Conclusion Myeloablative allogeneic HCT recipients showed significant cognitive decline compared with healthy controls. Reduced-intensity allogeneic HCT recipients showed evidence of delayed decline. Cognitive functioning in autologous HCT recipients generally was spared. The study identified vulnerable subpopulations that could benefit from targeted interventions.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and depression: A comparison of stability and course

ABSTRACTCognitive deficits are clinically relevant features in schizophrenia and depression, yet little comparative data on changes in both disorders is available. This study compares cognitive performance of inpatients with schizophrenia (N = 52) and unipolar major depression (N = 67) during psychiatric treatment, assessing performance twice: after admission to hospital (acute) and prior to discharge (postacute) on average seven weeks later. A group of healthy controls was tested at comparable intervals. Data was analyzed using a multivariate linear model. Patients with schizophrenia and depression showed significantly impaired performance compared to healthy controls. On follow-up both patient groups showed improved performance. Contrary to expectation, patients with schizophrenia showed greater improvement in verbal memory, visual memory, and psychomotor speed than depressive patients. Verbal fluency presented as a possible candidate to differentiate between both disorders. Similar profiles of generalized cognitive deficits were observed in both patient-groups on acute and postacute assessment, which might indicate trait-like deficits with persistent functional implications in both disorders. Findings do not support assumptions of greater cognitive impairment in schizophrenia compared to depression. A distinction of the disorders on the grounds of cognitive functioning seems to be less specific than presumed.

The Chinese version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Affective Disorders: normative data of a Mandarin-speaking population

Objective: The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Affective Disorders (BAC-A) is administered to assess the cognitive impairments in patients with affective disorders. This study aims to develop the normative data and to explore the factor structure of the Chinese version of the BAC-A in a Mandarin-speaking population. Method: This cross-sectional study consisted of 220 healthy participants (age range: 19–79 years; mean age: 51.5 ± 15.9 years, 48.2% male) in communities in Taiwan. We evaluated all participants with the BAC-A, which is a battery of tests containing verbal memory, working memory, motor speed, verbal fluency, attention & processing speed, and executive function, Affective Interference Test (AIT), Affective Interference Delayed Recognition Test (AIT-DR), and Emotional Inhibition Test (EIT). We categorized the means and standard deviations of all subtests by age group and gender. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to examine the factor structure of the BAC-A. Results: Increased age was significantly correlated with reduced performance in all subtests of the BAC-A, except non-affective correct words in the AIT-DR. Compared to females, males exhibited better performance in motor speed, verbal fluency, and executive function, but had worse performance in total non-affective words in the AIT. The results yielded by PCA showed that the indices of the AIT, AIT-DR, and EIT were all correctly categorized, accordingly. Conclusions: The normative data of the Chinese BAC-A established in this study can serve as a cognitive function reference for Mandarin-speaking populations. Nevertheless, the reliability and validity of the Chinese BAC-A need to be further verified.