Executive function in cancer patients with posttraumatic stress disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Yang ◽  
Juncheng Guo ◽  
Xiangling Jiang

Background Cancer patients with posttraumatic stress disorder can lead to their noncompliant behaviors. However, less is known about the neurocognitive functioning of posttraumatic stress disorder in general cancer types or patient populations. The current study attempted to examine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and their relationships with executive function in individuals with cancer. Methods A total of 285 cancer patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and 150 healthy individuals were recruited for the present study. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, Tower of Hanoi, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Chinese revision were administered to all participants. Results Significant differences in the score of Tower of Hanoi, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Chinese revision were observed between the posttraumatic stress disorder group and the healthy control group ( p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between all posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and executive function. Conclusions These findings suggest that individuals with cancer-related posttraumatic stress disorder exhibit more severe impairment in executive function than healthy controls do.

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 152-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan B. Fountain

Frontal Cognitive Dysfunction in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. Piazzini A, Turner K, Vignoli A, Canger R, Canevini M P. Epilepsia 2008;49(4):657–662. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible frontal cognitive dysfunction in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and to compare the results with those of patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), as well as with controls. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with JME, 40 patients with FLE, 40 patients with TLE, and 40 normal controls, all matched for age, education, and IQ, were administered tests to assess frontal functions (the Word Fluency Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST]). All participants had a normal intelligence level based on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and did not take medications other than antiepileptics (AEDs) or have a psychiatric history. RESULTS: Patients with JME had severe impairment in all administered tasks, similar to that of patients with FLE; TLE patients and controls followed in order. Multiple regression analysis did not disclose any significant effect of clinical variables on the cognitive deficits. DISCUSSION: These results clearly suggest that JME patients can show some frontal dysfunction, which may affect both epileptogenic features and cognitive processes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.


2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maida Koso ◽  
Stefan Hansen

AbstractThe present study assessed neuropsychological functions related to attention, executive function and everyday memory in a group of men with a diagnosis of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Twenty Bosnian male combat veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD were tested using the Sustained Attention to Response Task, the Hayling Sentence Completion Test, the Trail Making Test, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (verbal scales). Their performance was compared with age- and IQ-matched male war veterans with no PTSD. The study disclosed pervasive cognitive impairments with large effect sizes pertaining to attention, working memory, executive function, and memory. The effects did not appear to be attributable to alcohol abuse, loss of consciousness, or educational level. We speculate that, in the present group of combat veterans, PTSD was associated with dysfunction of a higher-level attentional resource which in turn affected the activity in other systems concerned with memory and thought.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edilson Ramiro Freitas ◽  
Rui Mateus Joaquim ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Merighi Tabaquim ◽  
Ana Paula Camargo

Introdução: O funcionamento executivo preservado para a manutenção de comportamentos adaptativos é condição necessária para obtenção de desfechos clínicos favoráveis no tratamento de sujeitos em dependência química. A confirmação da hipótese de disfunção executiva pode fornecer subsídios ao tratamento comportamental, do sujeito com dependência química. Objetivo: O estudo consistiu na realização de uma avaliação neuropsicológica das funções executivas de mulheres dependentes químicas de cocaína ou crack. Método: A avaliação se deu através de anamnese/exame clínico, entrevistas e testes neuropsicológicos. Para a caracterização da amostra foi utilizado o Protocolo de Anamnese Neuropsicológica. A avaliação neuropsicológica das funções executivas consistiu da aplicação do Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Subteste Dígitos - Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Blocos de Corsi, Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Test e o Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a fim de investigar oito componentes executivos, a saber: memória operacional, flexibilidade cognitiva, categorização, fluência verbal, atenção seletiva e alternada, rastreamento visuomotor e controle inibitório. Resultados: Os resultados permitiram concluir que mulheres com dependência química, pelo uso de cocaína e <em>crack,</em>apresentam disfunção executiva. Foram encontradas relações clinicamente significativas entre tempo de uso e déficits do funcionamento executivo, indicando que quanto maior o tempo de dependência, mais expressiva a disfunção executiva.<p><strong>Descritores:</strong><strong> </strong>Função Executiva; Neuropsicologia; Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolfazl Ghoreishi ◽  
Saeed Granpy ◽  
Alireza Armani

This study was conducted to compare the neurocognitive changes in an episode of primary psychosis in a group treated with minocycline and control. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 40 patients with schizophrenia were randomized into two groups and underwent eight weeks of treatment with either minocycline (100 mg twice per day) or placebo in addition to routine treatment. Patients were evaluated using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8. General linear model repeated measures showed a significant effect for time treatment interaction on the scores of WAIS, PANSS, and WCST of patients in the minocycline group (P>0.05). Regardless of the type of intervention, there was a remarkable difference between the mean scores of WAIS, PANSS, and WCST measured on three stages. Minocycline seems to be a safe and effective adjuvant in the management of patients with schizophrenia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 956-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Clifford ◽  
Caitlin Hitchcock ◽  
Tim Dalgleish

AbstractBackgroundThis study examined the structure of the self-concept in a sample of sexual trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to healthy controls using a self-descriptive card-sorting task. We explored whether individuals with PTSD possess a highly affectively-compartmentalized self-structure, whereby positive and negative self-attributes are sectioned off into separate components of self-concept (e.g. self as an employee, lover, mother). We also examined redundancy (i.e. overlap) of positive and negative self-attributes across the different components of self-concept.MethodParticipants generated a set of self-aspects that reflected their own life (e.g. ‘self at work’). They were then asked to describe their self-aspects using list of positive or negative attributes.ResultsResults revealed that, relative to the control group, the PTSD group used a greater proportion of negative attributes and had a more compartmentalized self-structure. However, there were no significant differences between the PTSD and control groups in positive or negative redundancy. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the key findings were not accounted for by comorbid diagnosis of depression.ConclusionFindings indicated that the self-structure is organized differently in those with PTSD, relative to those with depression or good mental health.


2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rosaura Polak ◽  
Anke B. Witteveen ◽  
Johannes B. Reitsma ◽  
Miranda Olff

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