Chronic Neuropsychiatric Sequelae II: Behavioral Disturbances

Introduction: Peripheral and central nervous system inflammation have been linked to the classic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it remains unclear whether the analysis of routine systemic inflammatory markers could represent a useful prediction tool to identify clinical subtypes in patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s at higher risk of dementia-associated symptoms, such as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Methods: We performed a multivariate logistic regression using the 2016 and 2017 National Inpatient Sample with International Classification of Diseases 10th edition codes to assess if pro-inflammatory white blood cells (WBCs) anomalies correlate with dementia and BPSD in patients with these disorders. Results: We found that leukocytosis was the most common WBC inflammatory marker identified in 3.9% of Alzheimer’s and 3.3% Parkinson’s patients. Leukocytosis was also found to be an independent risk factor for Parkinson’s dementia. Multivariate analysis of both cohorts showed that leukocytosis is significantly decreased in patients with BPSD compared to patients without BPSD. Conclusions: These results suggest a link between leukocytosis and the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in both PD and AD. A better understanding of the role of systemic neuroinflammation on these devastating neurodegenerative disorders may facilitate the development of cost-effective blood biomarkers for patient’s early diagnosis and more accurate prognosis.

Download Full-text

The Role of Flexibility in the Realization of Inclusive Education

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13084452 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 4452

Author(s):

Laura Lübke ◽

Martin Pinquart ◽

Malte Schwinger

Keyword(s):

Social Skills ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

Learning Difficulties ◽

Social Benefits ◽

Direct Effects ◽

Behavioral Disturbances ◽

Teachers Attitudes ◽

And Behavior ◽

Mainstream Students

This study focused on associations between teachers’ flexibility and their use of evidence-based strategies in inclusive education in a sample of N = 119 teachers. Flexibility showed direct effects on teachers’ attitudes towards the achievement of mainstream students and students with learning difficulties, attitudes towards social benefits of inclusion for students with emotional and behavioral disturbances, and on teachers’ self-efficacy regarding the support of students’ social skills. Furthermore, indirect effects of flexibility on intentions and behavior regarding the support of social skills were found. The findings emphasize the importance of teachers’ flexibility in the realization of inclusive education.

Download Full-text

Anosognosia in People with Cognitive Impairment: Association with Cognitive Deficits and Behavioral Disturbances

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra ◽

10.1159/000367987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 42-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Antonella De Carolis ◽

Virginia Cipollini ◽

Valentina Corigliano ◽

Anna Comparelli ◽

Micaela Sepe-Monti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Motor Behavior ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Early Stage ◽

Functional Anatomy ◽

Night Time ◽

Behavioral Disturbances ◽

The Relationship

Aims: To investigate, in a group of subjects at an early stage of cognitive impairment, the relationship between anosognosia and both cognitive and behavioral symptoms by exploring the various domains of insight. Methods: One hundred and eight subjects affected by cognitive impairment were consecutively enrolled. The level of awareness was evaluated by means of the Clinical Insight Rating Scale (CIRS). Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using the Italian version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), whereas memory (memory index, MI) and executive (executive index, EI) functions were explored using a battery of neuropsychological tests and qualified by means of a single composite cognitive index score for each function. Results: A significant positive correlation between the total NPI score and global anosognosia score was found. Furthermore, both the MI and EI scores were lower in subjects with anosognosia than in those without anosognosia (p < 0.001 and p < 0.007, respectively). When the single domains of the CIRS were considered, anosognosia of reason of visit correlated with the EI score (r = -0.327, p = 0.01) and night-time behavioral disturbances (r = 0.225; p = 0.021); anosognosia of cognitive deficit correlated with depression (r = -0.193; p = 0.049) and the MI score (r = -0.201; p = 0.040); anosognosia of functional deficit correlated with the MI score (r = -0.257; p = 0.008), delusions (r = 0.232; p = 0.015) and aberrant motor behavior (r = 0.289; p = 0.003); anosognosia of disease progression correlated with the MI score (r = -0.236; p = 0.015), agitation (r = 0.247; p = 0.011), aberrant motor behavior (r = 0.351; p = 0.001) and night-time behavioral disturbances (r = 0.216; p = 0.027). Conclusions: Our study suggests that, in the early stage of cognitive impairment, anosognosia is associated with both cognitive deficits and behavioral disorders according to the specific functional anatomy of the symptoms.

Download Full-text

Dissociation In Non-clinical And Clinical Sample Of Czech Adolescents. Reliability And Validity Of The Czech Version Of The Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.03.011 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (7) ◽

pp. 390-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. Soukup ◽

H. Papežová ◽

A.A. Kuběna ◽

V. Mikolajová

Keyword(s):

Clinical Sample ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Behavioral Disturbances ◽

Dissociative Experiences Scale ◽

Language Version ◽

Somatoform Dissociation ◽

Dissociative Experiences

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of the Czech language version of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) [2].Method653 non-clinical participants and 162 adolescent psychiatric inpatients completed Czech versions of the A-DES and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20), and provided further information (data regarding demographic variables, diagnoses, further psychopathology).ResultsThe Czech A-DES has very good internal consistency, test-retest reliability and a good validity, though its predictive power is limited. The ADES scores significantly correlate with the measure of somatoform dissociation, a presence of clinician-observed dissociative symptoms, reported traumatic experiences, self injurious behavior, and polysymptomatic diagnostic picture. A-DES scores were significantly higher in ADHD group, but not in a group with a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder.ConclusionThe authors stress that all adolescent psychiatric patients who show more complex behavioral disturbances, have histories of trauma, show self-injurious behaviors or have ADHD diagnosis should be screened for dissociation.

Download Full-text