scholarly journals Cognitive Performance in Non-Psychotic Non-Suicidal Unipolar Depressed Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Marco Moniz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Neuropsychological Profile ◽  
Planning Decision

Background: Cognitive impairment is central in depression and executive dysfunctions in patients with depression are frequent. However, little attention has been paid to the specificities of executive changes in patients with unipolar depression, though these modifications may have serious implications for psychosocial functions and treatment of these patients.Goals: To compare neuropsychological performance, regarding executive functions, of two adult groups: non-psychotic non-suicide attempters with unipolar depression and healthy individuals.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with data collected in an outpatient clinic of mental health service of a general hospital. Wecompared a group of non-psychotic non-suicidal unipolar depressed patients to a group of individuals without depression. Depressed subjects were controlled for prior suicidal attempts, and their neuropsychological profile was assessed using a range of measures of attention, verbal fluency, memory, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning (planning, decision making, set shifting, response inhibition, and inhibitory control).Results: The group with depression (n=23) was significantly outperformed by the group of healthy individuals (n=23) in all measures. Also, differences in the executive functions of planning, decision making, set shifting, and inhibitory control were confirmed. We were unable to identify differences between non-suicidal individuals with depression and individuals without depression in terms of response inhibition, as has been the case in previous studies with samples with suicidal unipolar depressive patients.Discussion: These results reinforce the hypothesis that there are specific alterations in patients with depression and highlight the need to develop specific cognitive rehabilitation programs for this population.

Contribution of executive functions to eating behaviours in obesity and eating disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 725-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Segura-Serralta ◽  
Sonia Ciscar ◽  
Lorena Blasco ◽  
Javier Oltra-Cucarella ◽  
María Roncero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Iowa Gambling Task ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Central Coherence ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Eating Behaviours

AbstractBackground:Patients with eating disorders (ED) or obesity show difficulties in tasks assessing decision-making, set-shifting abilities and central coherence.Aims:The aim of this study was to explore executive functions in eating and weight-related problems, ranging from restricting types of ED to obesity.Method:Two hundred and eighty-eight female participants (75 with obesity; 149 with ED: 76 with restrictive eating, 73 with bingeing-purging symptoms; and 64 healthy controls) were administered the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Iowa Gambling Task, and the Group Embedded Figures Test to assess set-shifting, decision-making and central coherence, respectively.Results:Participants with either obesity or ED performed poorly on tests measuring executive functioning compared with healthy controls, even after controlling for age and intelligence. Both participants with obesity and participants with ED showed a preference for global information processing.Conclusions:The findings suggest that treatments for obesity and ED would benefit from addressing difficulties in cognitive functioning, in addition to the more evident clinical symptoms related to eating, body weight and shape.

scholarly journals Research on individual differences in executive functions

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi P. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Interference Control ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Multicomponent Nature

Abstract Executive functions (EFs), such as response inhibition, interference control, and set shifting, are general-purpose control mechanisms that enable individuals to regulate their thoughts and behaviors. Because bilingual individuals use EF-like processes during language control, researchers have become interested in the hypothesis that this use might train EFs, resulting in better performance on non-linguistic EF tasks. Although this bilingual advantage hypothesis seems straightforward to test, it involves a number of important decisions in terms of how to assess bilingualism and EFs. In this article, I focus on the complexity of measuring EFs, drawing on individual differences research (conducted with participants not selected for bilingualism). Specifically, I discuss issues related to (1) the measurement of EFs (particularly the effects of task impurity and unreliability) and (2) the multicomponent nature of EFs. Within each of these topics, I elaborate on consequences for research on bilingual advantages and provide some recommendations.

scholarly journals Executive Function Training in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: Study Protocol

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Krawczyk ◽  
Kihwan Han ◽  
David Martinez ◽  
Jelena Rakic ◽  
Matthew Kmiecik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Post Injury

Abstract Background: Some individuals who sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) continue to experience significant cognitive impairments chronically (months-to-years post-injury). Many tests of executive function are insensitive to these executive function impairments, as such impairments may only appear during complex daily life conditions. Daily life often requires us to divide our attention and focus on abstract goals. In the current study, we compare the effects of two one-month electronic cognitive rehabilitation programs for individuals with chronic TBI. The active program (Expedition: Strategic Advantage) focuses on improving goal-directed executive functions including working memory, planning, long-term memory, and inhibitory control by challenging participants to accomplish life-like cognitive simulations. The challenge level of the simulations increase in accordance with participant achievement. The control intervention (Expedition: Informational Advantage) is identical to the active; however, the cognitive demand level is capped preventing participants from advancing beyond a set level. We will evaluate these interventions with a military veteran TBI population. Methods: One hundred individuals will be enrolled in this double-blinded clinical trial (all participants and testers are blinded to condition). Each individual will be randomly assigned to one of two interventions. The primary anticipated outcomes are improvement of daily life cognitive function skills and daily life functions. These are measured by a daily life performance task, which tests cognitive skills, and a survey that evaluates daily life functions. Secondary outcomes are also predicted to include improvements in working memory, attention, planning, and inhibitory control as measured by a neuropsychological test battery. Lastly, neuroimaging measures will be used to evaluate changes in brain networks supporting cognition pre-intervention and post-intervention. Discussion: We will test whether electronically delivered cognitive rehabilitation aimed at improving daily life functional skills will provide cognitive and daily life functional improvements for individuals in the chronic phase of TBI recovery (greater than three months post-injury). We aim to better understand the cognitive processes involved in recovery and the characteristics of individuals most likely to benefit. This study will also address the potential to observe generalizability, or transfer, from a software-based cognitive training tool toward daily life improvement. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03704116 (retrospectively registered) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03704116?term=tbi+krawczyk&rank=1 Keywords: Cognitive rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, executive functions, daily life functions, memory, attention, planning. Support: Joint Warfighter Program; U. S. Dept. of Defense W81XWH-16-1-0053

Investigating executive functions in youth with OCD and hoarding symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-357
Author(s):  
Melissa Elgie ◽  
Duncan H. Cameron ◽  
Karen Rowa ◽  
Geoffrey B. Hall ◽  
Randi E. McCabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Executive functions (EF) deficits are hypothesized to be a core contributor to hoarding symptoms. EF have been studied in adult hoarding populations, but studies in youth are lacking. The current study compared multiple EF subdomains between youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and youth with OCD and hoarding symptoms. Forty youth (8–18 years old) with a primary diagnosis of OCD were recruited. Participants were divided by hoarding severity on the Child Saving Inventory (CSI) into either the “hoarding group” (upper 33.3%) or the “low-hoarding group” (lower 66.7%). Groups were compared on EF tasks of cognitive flexibility, decision-making, and inhibitory control. Youth in the hoarding group exhibited significantly higher cognitive flexibility and lowered perseveration than the low-hoarding group. Hoarding and low-hoarding groups did not differ in any other EF subdomain. Hoarding symptoms in youth with OCD were not associated with deficits in EF subdomains; instead, youth who hoard exhibited higher cognitive flexibility compared to youth with low hoarding symptoms.

Exercise for Cognitive Improvement and Rehabilitation (EXCIR) Improves Attention and Executive Functions in Children with ADHD

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahid Nejati
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Cognitive Improvement ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background: Physical activities improves cognitive functioning. The purpose of the present study is to effect of physical activity with progressive cognitive demands on attention and executive functions in children with ADHD. Methods: Thirty children with ADHD were randomly assigned into two equal experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 12 sessions of exercise for cognitive improvement and rehabilitation (EXCIR). Working memory, selective attention, sustained attention, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility were administered pre- and post-intervention through 1-back test, Stroop test, attention registration test, go no go test and trial making test in order. The repeated measure ANOVAs were used for analysis.Results: The results showed that experimental group has a greater performance in selective attention, sustained attention, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility compared to control group. Conclusions: These findings implicate that the cognitive rehabilitation program is advantageous for improvement of attention and executive functions in children with ADHD.

scholarly journals The influence of planning and response inhibition on cognitive functioning of non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Moniz ◽  
Saul Neves de Jesus ◽  
Andreia Pacheco ◽  
Eduardo Gonçalves ◽  
João Viseu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Tower Of London ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
Neuropsychological Profile ◽  
Increased Risk

Depression is one of the main risk factors for suicide. However, little is known about the intricate relationships among depressive symptomatology in unipolar depression, suicide risk, and the characteristics of executive dysfunction in depressed patients. We compared 20 non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters to 20 matching depressed non-attempters and to 20 healthy controls to further investigate the possible differences in neuropsychological performance. Depressed subjects were controlled for current suicidal ideation, and their neuropsychological profile was assessed using a range of measures of executive functioning, attention, verbal memory, processing speed, and psychomotor speed. Depressed groups were outperformed by healthy controls. Depressed attempters presented more cognitive impairment than depressed non-attempters on a simple Go/No-go response inhibition task and performed better than non-attempters on the Tower of London planning task. Depressed attempters were clearly distinguished by a deficit in response inhibition (Go/No-go commission errors). The normative planning performance (Tower of London extra moves) of the suicide attempters was unexpected, and this unanticipated finding calls for further research. Normative planning may indicate an increased risk of suicidal behavior.

scholarly journals Similar or Different Neuropsychological Profiles? Only Set Shifting Differentiates Women With Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Michopoulos ◽  
Kalliopi Tournikioti ◽  
Antonios Paraschakis ◽  
Anna Karavia ◽  
Rossetos Gournellis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Stepwise Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Neuropsychological Profile ◽  
Patient Groups

There is ongoing debate about the similarities and differences between bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Very few studies have concurrently assessed their neuropsychological profile and only on a narrow array of neuropsychological tests. We aimed to investigate the differences of these two patient groups on visual memory, executive function, and response inhibition. Twenty-nine BD patients, 27 BPD patients and 22 controls (all female) were directly compared on paired associates learning (PAL), set shifting (ID/ED), problem solving (SOC), and response inhibition (SSRT) using Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Rank-normalized outcomes were contrasted in one-way ANOVA tests. Discriminant analysis was finally performed to predict BD or BPD patient status. BD patients performed significantly worse than controls on all tasks. BPD patients performed significantly worse than HC on all tests except SST. Significant differences between the two patient groups were recorded only on ID/ED, where BPD patients performed worse (p = 0.044). A forward stepwise discriminant analysis model based on ID/ED and SOC predicted correctly patients' group at 67.9% of cases. In conclusion, BD and BPD female patients appear to be more similar than different as regards their neuropsychological functions. This study is the first to show that BPD patients display more deficits than BD patients when directly compared on the set shifting executive function test, a marker of cognitive flexibility. Discerning BD from BPD patients through neuropsychological performance is promising but would improve by using additional subtler tests and psychometric evaluation.

scholarly journals Maternal Parenting Attitudes and Preschoolers’ Hot and Cool Executive Functions

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-246
Author(s):  
Anna Kamza ◽  
Adam Putko ◽  
Agata Złotogórska
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Autonomy Support ◽  
Verbal Ability ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Parenting Attitudes ◽  
Unique Variance ◽  
Maternal Parenting ◽  
Mother Child Relationships

Abstract The relationships between maternal parenting attitudes and preschoolers’ hot and cool executive functions (EF) were examined. Forty-eight children aged 3 to 4 years and their mothers took part in the study. Self-report questionnaire concerning parenting attitudes was obtained from the mothers of children who performed a set of EF tasks. Additionally, both maternal and child verbal ability were controlled. It was found that maternal parenting attitudes were related only to child cool EF. Protecting attitude was positively related to child inhibitory control and autonomy support was negatively related to child set-shifting ability. Further analyses revealed that maternal autonomy support accounted for unique variance in child set-shifting, above and beyond the child’s age. On the other hand, protecting attitude accounted for unique variance in child inhibitory control, above and beyond child verbal ability. The findings provide further evidence for the importance of mother-child relationships in children’s EF development.

scholarly journals Differences in executive functioning between violent and non-violent offenders

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1784-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Meijers ◽  
J. M. Harte ◽  
G. Meynen ◽  
P. Cuijpers
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Partial Correlation ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Violent Offenders ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Neuropsychological Test Battery

BackgroundA growing body of neuropsychological and neurobiological research shows a relationship between functioning of the prefrontal cortex and criminal and violent behaviour. The prefrontal cortex is crucial for executive functions such as inhibition, attention, working memory, set-shifting and planning. A deficit in these functions – a prefrontal deficit – may result in antisocial, impulsive or even aggressive behaviour. While several meta-analyses show large effect sizes for the relationship between a prefrontal deficit, executive dysfunction and criminality, there are few studies investigating differences in executive functions between violent and non-violent offenders. Considering the relevance of identifying risk factors for violent offending, the current study explores whether a distinction between violent and non-violent offenders can be made using an extensive neuropsychological test battery.MethodMale remand prisoners (N = 130) in Penitentiary Institution Amsterdam Over-Amstel were administered an extensive neuropsychological test battery (Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery; CANTAB) measuring response inhibition, planning, attention, set-shifting, working memory and impulsivity/reward sensitivity.ResultsViolent offenders performed significantly worse on the stop-signal task (partial correlation r = 0.205, p = 0.024), a task measuring response inhibition. No further differences were found between violent and non-violent offenders. Explorative analyses revealed a significant relationship between recidivism and planning (partial correlation r = −0.209, p = 0.016).ConclusionViolent offenders show worse response inhibition compared to non-violent offenders, suggesting a more pronounced prefrontal deficit in violent offenders than in non-violent offenders.

Neuropsychological Differences Between Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S208-S208
Author(s):  
I. Michopoulos ◽  
K. Tournikioti ◽  
R. Gournellis ◽  
P. Ferentinos ◽  
K. Vassilopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Neuropsychological Profile ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionThere is a continuing debate about the differences and similarities between bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD).ObjectivesOnly few studies have focused on the neuropsychological profile of these two disorders.AimsWe studied the differences on memory, executive function and inhibitory control between BD and BPD patients.MethodsTwenty-nine patients with BD in euthymia, 27 patients with BPD and 22 healthy controls matched for age and education were included in the study. All of them were female. BD patients who could also be diagnosed with BPD were excluded from the study. Participants were administered a series of tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), accessing memory, executive function and inhibitory control.ResultsBD and BPD patients performed worse than controls in general. Significant differences were found in the PAL test; BD patients had 46.71, BPD patients had 36.56 and controls had 15.77 errors (P = 0.004). BPD patients performed worse in the IE/ED set-shifting test; they made 48.16 errors while BD patients made 23.64 and controls 16.14 (P = 0.001). BPD patients performed better in the problem-solving task (SOC), they solved 10.0, BD patients 6.32 and controls 8.32 problems (P < 0.001).BD and BPD patients had similar performance in the SST inhibition task but worse than controls (P = 0.03).ConclusionsBD and BPD seem to have differences in neuropsychological performance. BD patients show more deficits in memory learning and problem solving while BPD patients show more deficits in set shifting.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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