scholarly journals Cognitive variability in psychotic disorders: a cross-diagnostic cluster analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (15) ◽  
pp. 3239-3248 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Lewandowski ◽  
S. H. Sperry ◽  
B. M. Cohen ◽  
D. Öngür
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Remediation ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Cognitive Profiles ◽  
Cluster Approach ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
Neurocognitive Profiles ◽  
Cluster Methods

Background.Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of psychotic disorders; however, substantial variability exists both within and between subjects in terms of cognitive domains of dysfunction, and a clear ‘profile’ of cognitive strengths and weaknesses characteristic of any diagnosis or psychosis as a whole has not emerged. Cluster analysis provides an opportunity to group individuals using a data-driven approach rather than predetermined grouping criteria. While several studies have identified meaningful cognitive clusters in schizophrenia, no study to date has examined cognition in a cross-diagnostic sample of patients with psychotic disorders using a cluster approach. We aimed to examine cognitive variables in a sample of 167 patients with psychosis using cluster methods.Method.Subjects with schizophrenia (n = 41), schizo-affective disorder (n = 53) or bipolar disorder with psychosis (n = 73) were assessed using a battery of cognitive and clinical measures. Cognitive data were analysed using Ward's method, followed by a K-means cluster approach. Clusters were then compared on diagnosis and measures of clinical symptoms, demographic variables and community functioning.Results.A four-cluster solution was selected, including a ‘neuropsychologically normal’ cluster, a globally and significantly impaired cluster, and two clusters of mixed cognitive profiles. Clusters differed on several clinical variables; diagnoses were distributed amongst all clusters, although not evenly.Conclusions.Identification of groups of patients who share similar neurocognitive profiles may help pinpoint relevant neural abnormalities underlying these traits. Such groupings may also hasten the development of individualized treatment approaches, including cognitive remediation tailored to patients' specific cognitive profiles.

Reproducibility of Cognitive Profiles in Psychosis Using Cluster Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Lewandowski ◽  
Justin T. Baker ◽  
Julie M. McCarthy ◽  
Lesley A. Norris ◽  
Dost Öngür
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Cognitive Profiles ◽  
Affective Psychosis ◽  
Community Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Dimension ◽  
Clinical Measures ◽  
Community Variables

AbstractObjectives:Cognitive dysfunction is a core symptom dimension that cuts across the psychoses. Recent findings support classification of patients along the cognitive dimension using cluster analysis; however, data-derived groupings may be highly determined by sampling characteristics and the measures used to derive the clusters, and so their interpretability must be established. We examined cognitive clusters in a cross-diagnostic sample of patients with psychosis and associations with clinical and functional outcomes. We then compared our findings to a previous report of cognitive clusters in a separate sample using a different cognitive battery.Methods:Participants with affective or non-affective psychosis (n=120) and healthy controls (n=31) were administered the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, and clinical and community functioning assessments. Cluster analyses were performed on cognitive variables, and clusters were compared on demographic, cognitive, and clinical measures. Results were compared to findings from our previous report.Results:A four-cluster solution provided a good fit to the data; profiles included a neuropsychologically normal cluster, a globally impaired cluster, and two clusters of mixed profiles. Cognitive burden was associated with symptom severity and poorer community functioning. The patterns of cognitive performance by cluster were highly consistent with our previous findings.Conclusions:We found evidence of four cognitive subgroups of patients with psychosis, with cognitive profiles that map closely to those produced in our previous work. Clusters were associated with clinical and community variables and a measure of premorbid functioning, suggesting that they reflect meaningful groupings: replicable, and related to clinical presentation and functional outcomes. (JINS, 2018,24, 382–390)

scholarly journals Dysregulation of complement and coagulation pathways: emerging mechanisms in the development of psychosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meike Heurich ◽  
Melanie Föcking ◽  
David Mongan ◽  
Gerard Cagney ◽  
David R. Cotter
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Clinical High Risk ◽  
Blood Proteins ◽  
Episode Psychosis

AbstractEarly identification and treatment significantly improve clinical outcomes of psychotic disorders. Recent studies identified protein components of the complement and coagulation systems as key pathways implicated in psychosis. These specific protein alterations are integral to the inflammatory response and can begin years before the onset of clinical symptoms of psychotic disorder. Critically, they have recently been shown to predict the transition from clinical high risk to first-episode psychosis, enabling stratification of individuals who are most likely to transition to psychotic disorder from those who are not. This reinforces the concept that the psychosis spectrum is likely a central nervous system manifestation of systemic changes and highlights the need to investigate plasma proteins as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and pathophysiological mediators. In this review, we integrate evidence of alterations in proteins belonging to the complement and coagulation protein systems, including the coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolytic pathways and their dysregulation in psychosis, into a consolidated mechanism that could be integral to the progression and manifestation of psychosis. We consolidate the findings of altered blood proteins relevant for progression to psychotic disorders, using data from longitudinal studies of the general population in addition to clinical high-risk (CHR) individuals transitioning to psychotic disorder. These are compared to markers identified from first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia as well as other psychosis spectrum disorders. We propose the novel hypothesis that altered complement and coagulation plasma levels enhance their pathways’ activating capacities, while low levels observed in key regulatory components contribute to excessive activation observed in patients. This hypothesis will require future testing through a range of experimental paradigms, and if upheld, complement and coagulation pathways or specific proteins could be useful diagnostic or prognostic tools and targets for early intervention and preventive strategies.

Contour clustering: A field-data-driven approach for documenting and analysing prototypical f0 contours

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Constantijn Kaland
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
User Interfaces ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Language Documentation ◽  
Cluster Number ◽  
Automatic Data ◽  
Speaker Variability ◽  
The Core ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
Confirmatory Analysis

ABSTRACT This paper reports an automatic data-driven analysis for describing prototypical intonation patterns, particularly suitable for initial stages of prosodic research and language description. The approach has several advantages over traditional ways to investigate intonation, such as the applicability to spontaneous speech, language- and domain-independency, and the potential of revealing meaningful functions of intonation. These features make the approach particularly useful for language documentation, where the description of prosody is often lacking. The core of this approach is a cluster analysis on a time-series of f0 measurements and consists of two scripts (Praat and R, available from https://constantijnkaland.github.io/contourclustering/). Graphical user interfaces can be used to perform the analyses on collected data ranging from spontaneous to highly controlled speech. There is limited need for manual annotation prior to analysis and speaker variability can be accounted for. After cluster analysis, Praat textgrids can be generated with the cluster number annotated for each individual contour. Although further confirmatory analysis is still required, the outcomes provide useful and unbiased directions for any investigation of prototypical f0 contours based on their acoustic form.

Computer-assisted cognitive remediation program for adolescents at high risk of psychosis or with psychotic disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. e85-e86
Author(s):  
Raffaella Torrisi ◽  
Laurent Holzer ◽  
Sandrine Pihet ◽  
Sonja Suter ◽  
A. Aeberhard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Remediation ◽  
Computer Assisted

scholarly journals An Analysis of Heterogeneity in German Speaking Birdwatchers Reveals Three Distinct Clusters and Gender Differences

Birds ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-260
Author(s):  
Christoph Randler
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Social Bonding ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Novice Group ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Bird Group ◽  
And Gender

The purpose of this study was to segment birdwatchers into clusters. Members from a wide range of bird related organizations, from highly specialized birders as well as Facebook bird group members were studied to provide a diverse dataset (n = 2766; 50.5% men). Birding specialization was measured with a battery of questionnaires. Birding specialization encompassed the three constructs of skill/competence, behavior, personal and behavioral commitment. Additionally, involvement, measured by centrality to lifestyle, attraction, social bonding, and identity, was used. The NbClust analyses showed that a three-cluster solution was the optimal solution. Then, k-means cluster analysis was applied on three groups: casual/novice, intermediate, and specialist/advanced birdwatchers. More men than women were in the specialist/advanced group and more women than men in the casual/novice group. As a conclusion, this study confirms a three-cluster solution for segmenting German birdwatchers based on a large and diverse sample and a broad conceptualization of the construct birding specialization. These data can be used to address different target audiences (novices, advanced birders) with different programs, e.g., in nature conservation.

A taxonomy of the scope and organization of local sexually transmitted disease services for policy and practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (14) ◽  
pp. 1375-1383
Author(s):  
Hector P Rodriguez ◽  
Summer Starling ◽  
Zosha Kandel ◽  
Robert Weech-Maldonado ◽  
Nicholas J Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

Local health departments (LHDs) and their organizational partners play a critical role in controlling sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. We examine variation in the differentiation, integration, and concentration (DIC) of STD services and develop a taxonomy describing the scope and organization of local STD services. LHD STD programs (n = 115) in Alabama (AL) and California (CA) responded to surveys assessing STD services available in 2014. K-means cluster analysis identified LHD groupings based on DIC variation. Discriminant analysis validated cluster solutions. Differences in organizational partnerships and scope of STD services were compared by taxonomy category. Multivariable regression models estimated the association of the STD services organization taxonomy and five-year (2010–2014) gonorrhea incidence rates, controlling for county-level sociodemographics and resources. A three-cluster solution was identified: (1) low DIC (n = 74), (2) moderate DIC (n = 31), and (3) high DIC (n = 10). In discriminant analysis, 95% of jurisdictions were classified into the same types as originally assigned through K-means cluster analysis. High DIC jurisdictions were more likely (p < 0.001) to partner with most organizations than moderate and low DIC jurisdictions, and more likely (p < 0.001) to conduct STD needs assessment, comprehensive sex education, and targeted screening. In contrast, contact tracing, case management, and investigations were conducted similarly across jurisdictions. In adjusted analyses, there were no differences in gonorrhea incidence rates by category. Jurisdictions in CA and AL can be characterized into three distinct clusters based on the DIC of STD services. Taxonomic analyses may aid in improving the reach and effectiveness of STD services.

scholarly journals A Literatur Review of Common Outcome in Cognitive Remediation for Schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-35
Author(s):  
Sadarwati Sadarwati ◽  
Warih Andan Puspitosari
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Functional Ability ◽  
Social Skill ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Cognitive Remediation ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Cost Utility ◽  
Cognitive Remediation Therapy

Background: People with schizophrenia experience a change especially in the cognitive aspect, and therefore require immediate intervention to improve their cognitive and other aspects. Cognitive remediation is a program that has been developed with promising results. Objective: to review the literature on outcomes in general from the provision of cognitive remediation in people with schizophrenia.Method: Searching relevant literature on relevant databases, i.e., Pubmed, Ebsco, Cochrane, JSTOR, and the Google Scholar search engine, using keywords: cognitive remediation, schizophrenia, therapy.Result: Taken from reviewing 21 relevant articles. Cognitive remediation affects cognitive function, functional ability and problem-solving, social skill and cognition, clinical symptoms, neural outcome, quality of life, self-esteem, and cost-utility analysis.Conclusions: Common outcomes in CRT (Cognitive Remediation Therapy) administration in people with schizophrenia have been identified. Improvement of cognitive function was defined to be the most commonly measured outcome in the study.

scholarly journals Using Clustering as a Tool: Mixed Methods in Qualitative Data Analysis

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Macia
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Similarity Measures ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Clustering Methods ◽  
Qualitative Data Analysis ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Detailed Explanation

In this article I discuss cluster analysis as an exploratory tool to support the identification of associations within qualitative data. While not appropriate for all qualitative projects, cluster analysis can be particularly helpful in identifying patterns where numerous cases are studied. I use as illustration a research project on Latino grievances to offer a detailed explanation of the main steps in cluster analysis, providing specific considerations for its use with qualitative data. I specifically describe the issues of data transformation, the choice of clustering methods and similarity measures, the identification of a cluster solution, and the interpretation of the data in a qualitative context.

“Money Worlds” and Wellbeing

2018 ◽  
pp. 74-101
Author(s):  
Leisa Reinecke Flynn ◽  
Ronald Earl Goldsmith ◽  
Michael Brusco
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Consumer Culture ◽  
The Other ◽  
Price Sensitivity ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Status Consumption ◽  
Brand Engagement ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
And Behaviors

Tatzel proposed a theory of money worlds and wellbeing comprised of four prototypical consumer patterns based on whether consumers are high/low on materialism and simultaneously tight or loose with money. Tatzel proposes that the four prototypes (value-seekers, non-spenders, big-spenders, and experiencers) differ strikingly along many values, attitudes, and behaviors. This study uses data from 1,016 U.S. student consumers to test empirically the typology and differences. A cluster analysis confirmed that a four-cluster solution best represented the data, supporting Tatzel's model. Subsequent ANOVAs showed that two of the four groups differed predictably in the hypothesized directions. Significant differences between big-spenders and non-spenders appeared in levels of price sensitivity, status consumption, generosity, brand engagement, worry about debt, and spending. The other two groups, value-seekers and experiencers, fell between them. The findings partially confirm Tatzel's theory and suggest that “money worlds” are one way of conceptualizing consumer culture.

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