Assessment of Attentional Processes in Patients with Anxiety-Depressive Disorders Using Virtual Reality

To characterize the attention deficits in one-hundred-fifteen participants, comprising two types of clinical profiles (affective and anxiety disorder), through a test of continuous VR execution. Method: Three tests (i.e., Nesplora Aquarium, BDI, and STAI) were used to obtain a standardized measure of attention, as well as the existence and severity of depression and anxiety, respectively. Results: Significant differences (CI = 95%) were found between the control group and the group with depression, in variables related to the speed of visual processing (p = 0.008) in the absence of distractors (p = 0.041) and during the first dual execution task (p = 0.011). For scores related to sustained attention, patients with depression and those with anxiety did not differ from controls. Our results suggest attentional deficits in both clinical populations when performing a continuous performance test that involved the participation of the central executive system of working memory.

Download Full-text

Comparing the Mathematics Continuous Performance Test With Other Measures of Tests of Attention

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000261 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 291-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dubi Lufi ◽

Shachar Pan

Keyword(s):

Performance Test ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Clinical Population ◽

Control Group ◽

Continuous Performance ◽

Adhd Assessment ◽

Research Reporting ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Continuous Performance Tests ◽

Better Than

Abstract. Several studies have shown that Continuous Performance Tests (CPT) can diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) better than other tests. Research reporting comparisons of two or more CPT-type tests is scarce. The purpose of the study was to compare the Mathematics Continuous Performance Test (MATH-CPT) with another CPT-type test (CPT II) and a questionnaire (the Brown Scale). The comparison was carried out by looking at correlations among subscales and checking the precision of detecting ADHD. Ninety-five high school and college students participated in the study, 41 with ADHD were the research group and 54 were the control group. The participants performed the two tests and answered the questionnaire. The results showed that the MATH-CPT correctly identified 74.50% of the participants of both groups as compared to the 71.60% of the CPT II. Correlations between the two CPT-type tests were moderate; however, they were similar to correlations found in other studies comparing similar tools. The MATH-CPT, final attention formula, showed significant correlations with the Brown scales, while the CPT II, confidence index associated with ADHD assessment, showed nonsignificant correlations with the questionnaire. The study indicated that MATH-CPT can be used with a clinical population of ADHD and for research purposes.

Download Full-text

Sustained Attention in Brain Damaged Children

Council review ◽

10.1177/001440297003600502 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 317-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Peter A. Campanelli

Keyword(s):

Sustained Attention ◽

Performance Test ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Specific Site ◽

Control Group ◽

Continuous Performance ◽

Convulsive Disorders

This study explored sustained attention in children with convulsive disorders diagnosed as having cortical and subcortical lesions by means of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Significant differences were found between and within these 2 groups and a control group. Results support other findings concerning specific site of lesion on sustained attention in brain damaged children when measured by the CPT. Implications for learning are discussed.

Download Full-text

Executive Functioning, Response Inhibition and Attentional Process Impairments in Impulsive Children

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1930 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S125-S125

Author(s):

F. Mozaffarinejad ◽

N. Nazarboland

Keyword(s):

Executive Functions ◽

Response Inhibition ◽

Performance Test ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Teacher Rating ◽

Novelty Seeking ◽

Attentional Processes ◽

Impaired Performance ◽

Research Areas ◽

General Performance

Impulsivity is a multidimensional concept that incorporates failure of response inhibition, rapid processing of information, novelty seeking, and inability to delay gratification. Aggressive, suicidal and violent behaviors have been shown to be associated with impulsivity and difficulty in inhibiting responses. As explorers of executive function (EF) and impulsivity research areas believe this two are generally considered conceptually distinct, and suggest that they may be antipodes (i.e., widely separated on a common continuum, upon which they are related), We selected subjects with high (n = 25) and low (n = 25) levels of impulsivity among 537 students of ages 8 to 10 years-old, who were measured by Conners Teacher Rating impulsivity Scale. Using computerized versions, response inhibition was examined by their performance in a Go/No Go task, general performance in executive functions (EF) was measured by tower of London Test and continuous performance test (CPT) was used to assess their attentional processes. Using independent t- test and ANOVA, the results revealed that overall performance of executive functions in impulsive children in all three areas were remarkably damaged: they had impaired performance regarding Go/No Go task results; also have consumed more time and committed more errors and a worse general performance; and had more errors and weaker performance in attentional processes. The results of this study along with similar results would be effective in achieving a brighter image of impulsive children's cognitive problems in order to provide efficient treatments focused on improving their executive functions.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the supervisory system in elderly subjects with and without disinhibition

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(00)00511-3 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 407-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

E Gokalsing ◽

P.H. Robert ◽

V Lafont ◽

I Medecin ◽

C Baudu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Performance Test ◽

Neuropsychological Test ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

The Elderly ◽

Test Sequence ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Control Group ◽

General Context ◽

Boston Naming Test ◽

Supervisory System

Disinhibition and irritability, defined as loss of behavioral and emotional control, are frequent in the elderly. The working hypothesis for this study was that these disorders are associated with a cognitive alteration of control processes that manifests as non-routine behavior because of the dysfunction of a general executive component known as the supervisory attentional system (SAS).MethodsA total of 28 elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment were recruited and divided into two groups using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Fourteen subjects were allocated to the disinhibited group and 14 subjects matched for age, sex and educational level formed a disinhibition-free control group. The neuropsychological battery included the following tests: Mini Mental Score Evaluation, Boston Naming test, Token test, Trail Making and Verbal Fluency. Two tasks were specifically designed to stress the SAS: 1) A specific verbal sentence arrangement task in which subjects had to use sequential reasoning with verbal material. Each test sequence consisted of a series of words shown in jumbled order. The construction of some sequences had to be done by using familiar routine associations (valid conditions). In contrast, other sequences required the overriding selection of familiar routine associations, which were inappropriate within the general context of the task (invalid conditions). 2) Using the Continuous Performance Test, four aspects were evaluated: sustained, selective, preparation and suppressive attention.ResultsThe only group differences in neuropsychological test results were the following: 1) the sentence arrangement task. In comparison with the control group, the disinhibited group was impaired in invalid conditions and the calculated difference between the number of correct responses in invalid conditions minus that in valid conditions was significantly higher; and 2) the CPT. Disinhibited subjects had a significantly lower number of hits, exclusively in the ‘suppressive attention’ paradigm.These results suggest that subjects with disinhibition have impaired supervisory system function.

Download Full-text

Randomized Controlled Trial of Probiotic PS128 in Children with Tourette Syndrome

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13113698 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 3698

Author(s):

Chang-Chun Wu ◽

Lee-Chin Wong ◽

Chia-Jui Hsu ◽

Chianne-Wen Yang ◽

Ying-Chieh Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Performance Test ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Social Environmental

Tourette syndrome results from a complex interaction between social–environmental factors, multiple genetic abnormalities, and neurotransmitter disturbances. This study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial using probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 as an intervention to examine if probiotics improve symptoms of children with Tourette syndrome. This study enrolled children aged 5 to 18 years old who fulfilled DSM-V diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome. Patients were assessed before initiating the trial, at one month, and at two months after randomization. The primary outcome was evaluated by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), and the secondary outcome studied the possible comorbidities in these children. The results revealed no significant difference in improvement in YGTSS between the control group and the PS128 group. As for secondary endpoints, an analysis of Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) showed improvement in commission and detectability in the PS128 group. In conclusion, although probiotics may not have tic-reducing effects in children with Tourette syndrome, it may have benefits on comorbidities such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of probiotics on the comorbidities of Tourette syndrome children.

Download Full-text

The Relationship Between Facial Expression and Cognitive Function in Patients With Depression

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648346 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Ma Ruihua ◽

Guo Hua ◽

Zhao Meng ◽

Chen Nan ◽

Liu Panqi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Facial Expression ◽

Facial Expression Recognition ◽

Performance Test ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Expression Recognition ◽

Spatial Span ◽

The Difference ◽

The Relationship

Objective: Considerable evidence has shown that facial expression recognition ability and cognitive function are impaired in patients with depression. We aimed to investigate the relationship between facial expression recognition and cognitive function in patients with depression.Methods: A total of 51 participants (i.e., 31 patients with depression and 20 healthy control subjects) underwent facial expression recognition tests, measuring anger, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, and surprise. The Chinese version of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), which assesses seven cognitive domains, was used.Results: When compared with a control group, there were differences in the recognition of the expressions of sadness (p = 0.036), happiness (p = 0.041), and disgust (p = 0.030) in a depression group. In terms of cognitive function, the scores of patients with depression in the Trail Making Test (TMT; p < 0.001), symbol coding (p < 0.001), spatial span (p < 0.001), mazes (p = 0.007), the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT; p = 0.001), category fluency (p = 0.029), and continuous performance test (p = 0.001) were lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The accuracy of sadness and disgust expression recognition in patients with depression was significantly positively correlated with cognitive function scores. The deficits in sadness expression recognition were significantly correlated with the TMT (p = 0.001, r = 0.561), symbol coding (p = 0.001, r = 0.596), maze (p = 0.015, r = 0.439), and the BVMT (p = 0.044, r = 0.370). The deficits in disgust expression recognition were significantly correlated with impairments in the TMT (p = 0.005, r = 0.501) and symbol coding (p = 0.001, r = 0.560).Conclusion: Since cognitive function is impaired in patients with depression, the ability to recognize negative facial expressions declines, which is mainly reflected in processing speed, reasoning, problem-solving, and memory.

Download Full-text

Kriya Yoga in Patients with Depressive Disorders: A Pilot Study

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1726618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (02) ◽

pp. 362-367

Author(s):

Ananya Srivastava ◽

Pooja P. Kuppili ◽

Tanu Gupta ◽

Naresh Nebhinani ◽

Ambika Chandani

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Remission Rate ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Yoga Intervention ◽

Severity Of Depression

Abstract Background and Objectives Despite the easy acceptability and holistic nature of Kriya yoga, there are no studies evaluating the role of Kriya yoga intervention on depression. The objective of the current study was to assess the feasibility and effect of adjunctive Kriya yoga on depression. Methods Patients with major depressive disorder who opted for Kriya yoga were recruited into the intervention group (adjunctive Kriya yoga) and those on psychotropic medication alone were enrolled into the control group. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) measurements were recorded at baseline, end of 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Results HDRS scores of the intervention group (n = 29) were found to be significantly lesser than that of the control group (n = 52) by the end of 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The remission rate was also significantly greater in the intervention group. Conclusion Kriya yoga intervention was found to be feasible, as well as improved the severity of depression.

Download Full-text

The Effects of School-based Physical Exercise With Different Cognitive Loads on Executive Functions

Journal of Exercise Science and Medicine ◽

10.32598/jesm.12.1.5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 179-188

Author(s):

Shohre Mardasangi Dulabi ◽

◽

Mohammadreza Ghasemian ◽

Mohammadali Aslankhani ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Exercise ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Performance Test ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

School Based ◽

Cognitive Exercise ◽

And Control

Introduction: The present study aimed to compare the effects of 3 school-based physical exercises with different levels of cognitive engagement on executive functions. Materials and Methods: In total, 47 students aged 13-14 years were randomly divided into 3 groups, as follows: the Integrated Physical and Cognitive (IPC) exercise, peer physical exercise group (with the same physical challenge), and control group (the routine physical education program). A Continuous Performance Test (CPT), the N-back test, and the Stroop test were used to evaluate executive functions in pretest and posttest. Results: The obtained results indicated that the IPC group significantly improved more than the other groups on the executive functions. Accordingly, physical exercise with a higher cognitive load benefitted both speed and accuracy on cognitive tasks significantly more than the same physical activity alone. Conclusion: Therefore, in the integrated physical and cognitive exercise, the cognitive and physiological effects of this training style interact with each other; therefore, their beneficial effects can be gradually increased, while interventions that only focus on the physical dimension would be less effective in promoting cognitive functions.

Download Full-text

Inflammatory versus Anti-Inflammatory Profiles in Major Depressive Disorders—The Role of IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, IL-35 and Foxp3

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11020066 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 66

Author(s):

Małgorzata Gałecka ◽

Katarzyna Bliźniewska-Kowalska ◽

Agata Orzechowska ◽

Janusz Szemraj ◽

Michael Maes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Inflammatory Factors ◽

Control Group ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Major Depressive Disorders ◽

Severity Of Depression

Background: The authors of this research study intended to verify whether there are any changes in gene expression in depressed patients without coexisting inflammatory diseases for selected immune-inflammatory factors that are particularly important in autoimmune disease pathogenesis (IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, IL-35, Foxp3). Methods: The study was carried out on a group of 190 patients with depression and 100 healthy volunteers. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale. RT-PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression and ELISA was used to measure protein expression of these genes. Results: The level of gene expression for IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, and IL-35 was substantially higher in the group of patients with depression compared to the control group. The mean mRNA expression of Foxp3 was considerably reduced in patients suffering from depressive disorders. There was a statistically significant correlation between the number of hospitalizations and the expression of specific inflammatory factors. Conclusions: Expression of specific inflammatory genes may be a factor in the etiopathogenesis of depressive disorders. The duration of the disease seems to be more important for the expression of the genes in question than the severity of depression. These cytokines may affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine functions in the brain as well as be a marker and a new potential therapeutic target for recurrent depressive disorders.

Download Full-text

Attention Patterns in Children with Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2003.94 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 1093-1107 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gil Zalsman ◽

Orat Pumeranz ◽

Gabriel Peretz ◽

David H. Ben-Dor ◽

Sharon Dekel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit ◽

Attention Deficit Disorder ◽

Performance Test ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Continuous Performance ◽

Normal Children ◽

Equal Degree ◽

Before And After

The objective of this study was to differentiate the attention patterns associated with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity using continuous performance test (CPT). The diagnoses were based on the DSM-III, III-R, and IV criteria and of the 39 children who participated in the study, 14 had attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) and 11 had attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity (ADDWO), while 14 normal children served as a control group. Attention patterns were examined according to the performance of subjects on the CPT and parental scores on the ADHD Rating Scale, the Child Attention Profile, and the Conners Rating Scale. CPT performances were assessed before and after administration of 10 mg methylphenidate. We found as hypothesized that the CPT differentiated between the ADDH and ADDWO groups. However, contrary to our expectations, the ADDH children made more omission errors than the ADDWO children; they also showed more hyperactivity and impulsivity. The performance of both groups improved to an equal degree after the administration of methylphenidate. It is conluded that different subtypes of the attention deficit disorders are characterized by different attention profiles and that methylphenidate improves scores on test of continuous performance.

Download Full-text