Putative Alcohol-Related Dementia as an Early Manifestation of Right Temporal Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia

Diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia is challenging in the early stages. Various psychiatric and neurological diseases are misdiagnosed as frontotemporal dementia and vice versa. Here we present a case with right temporal variant of frontotemporal dementia who presented with alcohol dependency and remarkable behavioral symptoms and was first misdiagnosed as having alcohol-related dementia. He then revealed symptoms related to right temporal variant of frontotemporal dementia, such as prosopagnosia, difficulty recognizing his housemates, loss of empathy, ritualistic behaviors, and difficulty finding and comprehending words. Retrospectively, his alcohol dependency itself was considered an early manifestation of right temporal variant of frontotemporal dementia.

Compulsive behaviors in the workplace

Compulsive behaviors are psychiatric challenges that interfere with the regular life practices of those who exhibit them. This study qualitatively identified compulsive behaviors within three organizations located in no.2 major cities from Romania, aiming to explore their effects on workers' productivity and extended community, including coworkers and employers. To understand the exact behaviors, a literature search was done from Google Scholar to understand examples of compulsive behaviors in the workplace before gathering data from the participants. Using three organizations, from construction materials and adjacent industries, 15 participants were selected and agreed to be interviewed. Further, a survey questionnaire was used to explore the severity and effect of the behaviors on productivity at work. The main results noted workplace compulsive behaviors like repetitive cleanliness, ritualistic behaviors like repetitive ordering or organizing things in a particular manner, persistent repetition of certain words or actions for the perfection of the work assigned, and isolation from other members. The findings from the results entailed an understanding that most compulsive behaviors conflict with established workplace code of conduct. Also, employees confirmed their continued struggle to control the exhibited behaviors. The effects of the behaviors on the employees' productivity and time management were also highlighted. Importantly, most participants confirmed that most employers and coworkers understand their situations and provide social support.

Compulsive Behaviors in the Workplace

Compulsive behaviors are psychiatric challenges that interfere with the regular life practices of those who exhibit them. This study qualitatively identified compulsive behaviors within three organizations located in no.2 major cities from Romania, aiming to explore their effects on workers' productivity and extended community, including coworkers and employers. To understand the exact behaviors, a literature search was done from Google Scholar to understand examples of compulsive behaviors in the workplace before gathering data from the participants. Using three organizations, from construction materials and adjacent industries, 15 participants were selected and agreed to be interviewed. Further, a survey questionnaire was used to explore the severity and effect of the behaviors on productivity at work. The main results noted workplace compulsive behaviors like repetitive cleanliness, ritualistic behaviors like repetitive ordering or organizing things in a particular manner, persistent repetition of certain words or actions for the perfection of the work assigned, and isolation from other members. The findings from the results entailed an understanding that most compulsive behaviors conflict with established workplace code of conduct. Also, employees confirmed their continued struggle to control the exhibited behaviors. The effects of the behaviors on the employees' productivity and time management were also highlighted. Importantly, most participants confirmed that most employers and coworkers understand their situations and provide social support.

Increasing the Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder with Training of Pre-School Teachers and School Counselors in Turkey

Training programs for the awareness of autism for professions are supported under the leadership of the United Nations. Misinformation can cause socially destructive results as that which is incorrect is assumed to be known correctly. This study included a total of 308 participants comprising 226 (73.4%) preschool teachers and 82 (26.6%) school counselors. The basic questions related to the awareness and knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were selected based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). It was attempted to categorize the questions into four fields: (1) social interaction, (2) social communication and speech, (3) limited interest pattern with stereotypical and ritualistic behaviors, and (4) comorbidities, etiological characteristics, and the relationship between vaccinations and autism. The results of the study indicate that the awareness of ASD, including core symptoms, was extremely lacking in preschool teachers and school counselors. Moreover, they had extreme prejudice to information known to be incorrect.

A Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Research on Embedding Interests of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Restricted interests of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can act as a barrier to learning important life skills. Embedding the interests of individuals into their learning environment can act to establish motivation to participate. A meta-analysis of 20 single-case studies on embedding interests of individuals with ASD was conducted to determine overall effects and potential moderating variables. Data were aggregated across domains of variables including dependent variables, participant characteristics, and learning contexts. The correlation between self-stimulatory or ritualistic behaviors and primary outcomes was evaluated. Publication bias and consistency of the Tau/Tau- U nonoverlap effect size with visual analysis were tested via moderator analyses. The literature suggests that embedding interest for learners with ASD can either be beneficial or distractible. Effects ranged from negative to strong, with several moderators identified. Practitioners should take caution when using this intervention with students who display self-stimulatory or ritualistic behaviors when their interests are present.

ICTs For Emotional and Social Skills Development for Children with ADHD And ASD Co-existence

ADHD and autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to the DSM-5, are both two of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood although they can continue into adolescence. ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and Autism by problems with social interactions and stereotyped (repetitive or ritualistic) behaviors. Many studies have proved that the two conditions can occur together and furthermore, that children with ADHD and or autism disorder can have or develop a co-morbid psychiatric disorder. In this paper we review research on the presentation of these two behavioral and emotional disorders as ADHD and Autism ,their common symptoms and characteristics as well as the significant and major contribution of ICT’s who shows magnificent promise to improve the quality of life for children with ADHD and ASD.

Habits and Goals in OCD

This chapter gives a broad overview of the “habit hypothesis” of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Most patients with OCD recognize that becoming trapped in seemingly never-ending streams of repetitive ritualistic behaviors defies reason. Importantly, this recognition is not enough to put a halt to these behaviors. It has been proposed that these compulsions are “bad habits”: that external cues trigger an urge to perform a familiar response, which the patient cannot resist. The chapter presents the basics of what habits are, and how they relate to what we call “goal-directed control” over action. Next, an in-depth analysis of a series of empirical investigations that tested this hypothesis will be presented. In the final section, the habit hypothesis of OCD will be put into the broader context of “compulsivity” as a putative trans-diagnostic trait that is relevant for many psychiatric disorders.

Extinction of Conditioned Fear and Avoidance: Relevance for OCD

The compulsions seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often reflect a state of elevated fear and anxiety; ritualistic behaviors and/or avoidance may arise as a strategy to manage this anxiety. Treatment for OCD can include exposure-based therapies that attempt to extinguish compulsions. Exposure with response prevention(ERP) is an effective therapy, but approximately 40% of patients fail ERP or drop out. This chapter reviews the role of the medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices in the extinction of conditioned fear and avoidance, in both rodents and humans. Special emphasize is given to how the rodent literature can provide new insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of OCD.