scholarly journals Cognitive impairments in patients with treatment resistant epilepsy and complex rehabilitation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-129
Author(s):  
Volodymyr Korostiy ◽  
Iryna Blazhina
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy

Background. The study of features of comorbid pathology in patients with epilepsy is of particular interest due to the high prevalence of this pathology and a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their social adaptation. Aim. The aim of the research was to detect versatile cognitive impairments and affective disorders in epilepsy, and to study the results of cognitive training and psychoeducation. Materials and methods. The theoretical analysis of modern scientific researches in the field of cognitive and affective impairments during epilepsy was carried out. We studied the features of clinical and psychopathological manifestations in patients, suffering from epilepsy. The study covered 146patients (85 men and 61 women) who were in inpatient care. The following psychodiagnostic techniques were used: the MOCA test, the Toronto Cognitive Assessment (TorCA), the MiniMult test, the Münsterberg test, the quality of life scale, the Hamilton scale of depression and anxiety. Results. This publication offers the results of a study of cognitive and affective disorders the quality of life in patients who suffer from epilepsy and the results of online cognitive training and psychoeducation. We found cognitive decline in 88% of patients with epilepsy and improvement of cognitive functions by methods of non-pharmacological correction. Conclusions. Affective and cognitive disorders significantly affects the quality of life of patients, their ability to work and socialization. The conducted research showed that compared to the control group of healthy persons, patients with epilepsy showed improvement in their cognitive decline, anxiety and depressive disorders. Cognitive online training appeared to be effective for the patients with epilepsy.

scholarly journals Model of personalized non-pharmacological program of cognitive disorder correction in patients with epilepsy and the assessment of its efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-221
Author(s):  
I. Blazhyna
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Montreal Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Statistical Research ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy

Cognitive dysfunction shows higher incidence in people, suffering from epilepsy, than in general population and most likely they are related to common patho-biological processes. The use of medication in patients with epilepsy for treating cognitive functions is limited due to the potential risk of more frequent seizures. Therefore, non-pharmacological methods of cognitive correction are becoming especially important for this category of patients.Aim. The aim of the research is to study the specifics of non-dementia cognitive disorders in patients with epilepsy and to develop a set of activities for their prevention and non-pharmacological correction.Materials and methods. The study included 146 patients (61 women and 85 men), their average age was 40,73. We applied clinical anamnestic, sociodemographic, clinical-psychopathological, psycho-diagnostic and statistical research methods. The following psycho-diagnostic techniques were used: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Munsterberg test, MiniMult test, Hamilton depression and anxiety rating scales (HRDS, HARS) and the quality of life scale. 63 patients completed a 3-month computerized online cognitive training with daily sessions, out of which 33 patients also participated in psychoeducational activities.Results. The findings of studying patients with epilepsy using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) showed low levels of all parameters while the total score in the patients with epilepsy with cognitive non-dementia disorders was 20,72 versus27,36 in healthy persons; the analysis of HRDS, HARS showed high anxiety and depression symptoms levels, lower quality of life level was also observed, the average indicator was 69,45, whereas in the control group the level of life quality was 78,60. There was marked adherence to cognitive training in the patients with epilepsy compared to the healthy group.Conclusion. Reliable improvement of cognitive functioning was found in the patients under consideration after 3 months of the training. The computerized cognitive functions training in current conditions showed its benefits owing to the opportunity to complete it online. It may be advised to be introduced as a part of the social rehabilitation system for patients with epilepsy, who have cognitive non-dementia disorders.

Features of affective disorders correction in patients with epilepsy (therapy, rehabilitation, prevention)

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
H. Kozhyna ◽  
I. Strelnikova ◽  
M. Khaustov
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Epileptic Seizures ◽  
Psychosocial Adaptation ◽  
Keywords Epilepsy ◽  
Constant Attention ◽  
Clinical Prognosis ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy

For many decades, epilepsy has remained a serious medical and social problem that requires constant attention not only from neurologists, psychiatrists, but also from medical psychologists and social workers. The priority in the treatment of epilepsy is not only to prevent seizures, but also to help the patient maintain social functioning and restore quality of life. Achieving drug remission of epileptic seizures is only part of the management of the disease, it is necessary to help restore the patient's psychosocial adaptation and form a correct understanding of their disease and related limitations in daily functioning. A comprehensive examination which involved 65 patients with epilepsy of both sexes aged 18–40 years was conducted in compliance with the principles of bioethics and medical deontology. The mean age of the subjects ranged from (34.0±1.6) years, duration of the disease in patients did not exceed 10 years. All subjects had disorders of the emotional sphere of non-psychotic level, which were recorded in the interictal period of the disease. Selected comprehensive system of correction of affective disorders in patients with epilepsy helped to achieve following results, especially: reduction of anxiety and depressive disorders (73.5 %), reducing the level of motor and ideational inhibition (65.2 %), reducing the intensity and duration of depressive affect (72.5 %), restoration of interest in activities that previously interested patients (69.5 %), improvement of psychosocial adaptation (81.3 %), managed to achieve the transition of maladaptive types of attitudes to the disease to adaptive (66.5 %) and improve quality of life (83.2 %). A study of affective disorders in patients with epilepsy allowed us to make following conclusions: epilepsy is often combined with affective disorders. Depressive disorders are more common among all affective disorders. Epilepsy and affective disorders interact with each other and complicate clinical prognosis. Keywords: epilepsy, affective disorders, rehabilitation, psychoeducation.

scholarly journals Cognitive Training in Fully Immersive Virtual Reality Improves Visuospatial Function and Frontal-Occipital Functional Connectivity in a Pre-Dementia State: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Myeong Kang ◽  
Nambeom Kim ◽  
Sook Young Lee ◽  
Soo Kyun Woo ◽  
Geumjin Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Visuospatial Function

BACKGROUND Cognitive training can potentially prevent cognitive decline. However, the results of recent studies using semi-immersive virtual reality (VR)-assisted cognitive training are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the hypothesis that cognitive training using fully immersive VR, which may facilitate visuospatial process, could improve visuospatial function, comprehensive neuropsychological function, psychiatric symptoms, and functional connectivity (FC) in the visual brain network in pre-dementia state. METHODS Participants over 60 years old with subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment from a memory clinic were randomly allocated to the VR (n=23) or the control group (n=18). The VR group participants received multi-domain and neuropsychologist-assisted cognitive training in a fully immersive VR environment twice a week for 1 month and control group participants did not undergo any additional intervention except for their usual therapy such as cognitive-enhancing medication. Both group participants were evaluated for cognitive function using face-to-face comprehensive neuropsychological tests including the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) copy task, for psychiatric symptoms, such as depression, apathy, affect, and quality of life, as well as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) at baseline and after training. Repeated measures analyses of variance were used to compare the effect of cognitive training between groups. Seed-to-voxel based analyses were used to find the cognitive improvement-related FC in the visual network of the brain. RESULTS After VR cognitive training, the VR group showed significant improvement in total score (F=14.69, P=.001) and basic components score of RCFT copy task (F=9.27, P=0.005) compared to the control group. The VR group showed a trend in improvement in naming ability (F=3.55, P=0.68), verbal memory delayed recall (F=3.03, P=.09), and phonemic fluency (F=3.08, P=.09). Improvements in psychiatric symptoms such as apathy (F=7.02, P=.01), affect (F=14.40, P=.001 for positive affect; F=14.40, P=.001 for negative affect), and quality of life (F=4.49, P=.04) were also found in the VR group compared to the control group. rsfMRI revealed that improvement in the RCFT copy task was associated with frontal-occipital FC increase in the VR group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS Fully immersive VR cognitive training had positive effects on the visuospatial function, apathy, affect, quality of life, and increased frontal-occipital FC in older adults in pre-dementia state. Future trials using VR cognitive training with larger sample sizes and more sophisticated design over a longer duration may observe greater improvements in cognition, psychiatric symptoms, and brain FC. CLINICALTRIAL Clinical Research Information Service, conforming to the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO-ICTRP), KCT0005243. https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_en.jsp?seq=17055<ype=&rtype=

scholarly journals Cognitive training interventions for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease - A cochrane review summary with commentary

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Tobias Loetscher
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Cochrane Review ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Training Interventions

BACKGROUND: The majority of people living with Parkinson’s disease will develop impairments in cognition. These impairments are associated with a reduced quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The Cochrane Review aimed to investigate whether cognitive training improves cognition in people with Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairments or dementia. METHODS: A Cochrane Review by Orgeta et al. was summarized with comments. RESULTS: The review included seven studies with a total of 225 participants. There was no evidence for improvements in global cognition when cognitive training was compared to control conditions. Observed improvements in attention and verbal memory measures after cognitive training could not be confirmed in a subsequent sensitivity analysis. There was no evidence for benefits in other cognitive domains or quality of life measures. The certainty of the evidence was low for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of cognitive training for people with Parkinson’s disease and cognitive impairments remains inconclusive. There is a pressing need for adequately powered trials with higher methodological quality.

scholarly journals Depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors after an endurance exercise program

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 266-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Karen Moreira Antunes ◽  
Sérgio Garcia Stella ◽  
Ruth Ferreira Santos ◽  
Orlando Francisco Amodeu Bueno ◽  
Marco Túlio de Mello
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Ventilatory Threshold ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fitness Program ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Experimental Group

OBJECTIVE: Mood disorders are a frequent problem in old age, and their symptoms constitute an important public health issue. These alterations affect the quality of life mainly by restricting social life. The participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way of reducing or preventing the functional decline associated with aging. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of fitness-endurance activity (at the intensity of Ventilatory Threshold 1 (VT-1)) in depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors. METHODS: The study involved 46 sedentary seniors aged 60-75 (66.97 ± 4.80) who were randomly allocated to two groups: 1) Control group, which was neither asked to vary their everyday activities nor to join a regular physical fitness program; and 2) Experimental group, whose members took part in an aerobic fitness program consisting of ergometer cycle sessions 3 times a week on alternate days for six months working at a heart rate corresponding to ventilatory threshold (VT-1) intensity. Subjects were submitted to a basal evaluation using the geriatric depression screening scale - GDS, STAI trait/state (anxiety scale) and SF-36 (quality of life scale). RESULTS: Comparing the groups after the study period, we found a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety scores and an improvement in the quality of life in the experimental group, but no significant changes in the control group. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that an aerobic exercise program at VT-1 intensity suffices to promote favorable modifications in depressive and anxiety scores to improve the quality of life in seniors.

scholarly journals M51. EFFICACY OF “PRAGMACOM TRAINING” IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: A RCT ON A NOVEL PRAGMATIC INTERVENTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S153-S153
Author(s):  
Giulia Agostoni ◽  
Elisabetta Tonini ◽  
Mariachiara Buonocore ◽  
Margherita Bechi ◽  
Maria Paola Silvestri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Daily Functioning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Abstract Thinking ◽  
Metaphor Comprehension ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale

Abstract Background A pragmatic disruption is observed in several clinical conditions and especially in schizophrenia. It is estimated that over 75% of patients affected by schizophrenia present a pervasive and wide impairment of pragmatic abilities, encompassing both comprehension and production abilities, thus confirming the hypothesis of a wide Pragmatic Language Disorder in schizophrenia. More specifically, the comprehension of figurative languages, such as metaphors, idioms, and irony, is the most compromised domain in schizophrenia. Poor pragmatics has a relevant impact on daily functioning, by contributing to social isolation and lower quality of life. Only few pragmatic treatments have been developed and tested in schizophrenia, focusing only on specific pragmatic features and without using a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design. This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of PragmaCom Training (PT), a novel 12-weeks intervention specifically developed to enhance pragmatics in schizophrenia. Methods 30 patients with schizophrenia, according to DSM 5, were randomly assigned to PT to an active control group (ACG). All patients were assessed for global pragmatics with the Assessment of Pragmatic Abilities and Cognitive Substrates test, APACS), metaphor comprehension (Physical and Mental Metaphors task, PMM), executive functions (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, Tower of London score, BACS), abstract thinking (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia, N5 score, PANSS), and daily functioning (Quality of Life Scale, QLS). To quantify the magnitude of changes after the PT, effect sizes were estimated using Cohen’s d (Cohen, 1988) for APACS, PMM, PANSS N5 Score, and QLS only in PT Group. The effect of PT in enhancing pragmatic abilities, the abstract thinking and daily functioning was tested between groups by means of several ANCOVA, entering post-training measures as dependent variables, measures at the baseline and executive functions as covariates, and treatment (PT vs ACG) as grouping variables. Results Patients treated with PT showed small to medium-large effect-sizes in global pragmatics (0.25), metaphors comprehension (0.72), functioning (0.23), and abstract thinking (-0.18). ANCOVAs revealed a significant effect of PT in enhancing global pragmatic abilities (F=5.4, p=.03), metaphor comprehension (F=8.94, p=.007) and abstract thinking (F=8.1, p=.01). No significant effect was found for functioning. Discussion This is the first study using a RCT design to test the efficacy of a pragmatic training. PT is a novel training specifically developed to target the pragmatic impairments that characterize schizophrenia. This study confirms the efficacy of PT in improving multiple domains, encompassing global pragmatics, the comprehension of figurative language, and abstract thinking in schizophrenia. Impact on functioning is also expected. However, in line with literature, it is likely to occur at later time points, since it requires the chance to apply the enhanced abilities in ecological contexts.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a Novel Quality of Life Scale for Schoolchildren with Nonstrabismic Binocular Vision Anomalies

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jiali Hu ◽  
Guokun Wang ◽  
Zhe Zhou ◽  
Yan Sun ◽  
Qingling Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Binocular Vision ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Life Scale

Background. The professional Quality of Life Scale (QLS) can provide a valuable reference for the diagnosis of visual function anomalies. In the present study, we aimed to design a novel QLS to specially quantify the life quality of schoolchildren with nonstrabismic binocular vision anomalies (NSBVAs) in China. Methods. The novel QLS, named QOL-CVF20, was established based on classical vision-related scales and the administration of the questionnaire to 116 schoolchildren with NSBVAs and 100 healthy schoolchildren in China. The diagnostic reference value between QOL-CVF20 and VF-14 was evaluated on the questionnaires to 240 schoolchildren with NSBVAs and 238 healthy schoolchildren. Results. All the subjects could complete the QOL-CVF20 questionnaires independently. QOL-CVF20 had good structural validity, content validity, and discriminant validity, when it was applied in Chinese schoolchildren. The average score of the NSBVA group was significantly lower than that of the control group (49.0±6.9 vs. 69.7±6.7, respectively; P<0.01). Moreover, the average score of cured NSBVA schoolchildren after treatment (61.8±22.6) was significantly improved (P<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that QOL-CVF20 reflected strong separation between the NSBVA and healthy groups (AUC=0.901). Meanwhile, QOL-CVF20 could detect individuals with NSBVAs with specificity of 0.847 and sensitivity of 0.846. The critical value of 58.50 in QOL-CVF20 could be effectively applied for quality of life assessment in schoolchildren with NSBVAs. Conclusions. QOL-CVF20 could quantify the life quality of schoolchildren with NSBVAs and might be served as a valuable reference for early diagnosis and clinical evaluation of NSBVAs.

The Use of Art Therapy in Complex Treatment on the Quality of Remission in Patients with Melancholy in Major Depressive Disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s777-s777 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kozhyna ◽  
V. Korostiy ◽  
S. Hmain ◽  
V. Mykhaylov
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Complex Treatment ◽  
Major Depressive

IntroductionAccording to studies done in recent years regarding the treatment of patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder, a shift of interest from studies evaluating the effectiveness of therapy to the study of remission is seen. Despite significant progress in the development of pharmacotherapy of depressive disorders, difficulty in achieving rapid reduction in depressive symptoms and stable remission in patients with melancholic depression necessitated the search for new approaches to the treatment of this pathology.AimsEvaluating the effectiveness of art therapy in treatment in patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder on the quality of remission.MethodsThe study involved 135 patients – 60 male and 75 female patients aged from 18 to 30 years old. The main group of patients apart the combined treatment also participated in group art therapy with the use of drawing techniques, while the control group – statutory standard therapy.ResultsThe results of the use of art therapy in complex treatment in patients with major depressive disorder is detected primarily in reducing of the level of anxiety at the early stages of treatment (60% of patients have noticed decreasing of melancholic state), as well as improving the quality of life in remission period.ConclusionThese results support the use of art therapy in treatment in patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder during period of active treatment, and after achieving clinical remission contributes to achieving and maintaining high-quality and stable remission with full restoration of quality of life and social functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Correlation between sleep and quality of life in cerebral palsy

CoDAS ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 447-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Melloni Zuculo ◽  
Cintia Cristina Fadini Knap ◽  
Luciana Pinato
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Child Health Questionnaire ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Sleep Habits ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale

PURPOSE: To investigate and correlate the sleep pattern and quality of life in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy-eight subjects (aged 4-18 years, both genders) comprised two groups: CP, composed of 43 individuals with CP, and control, composed of 35 individuals without neurodevelopmental disorders. General Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, sleep diary, Child Health Questionnaire, and Children's Quality of Life Scale were used. RESULTS: This study identified that 60.5% individuals with CP had sleep disorders. The respiratory disorders (25.6%) and the sleep hyperhidrosis (34.9%) were the most common disturbances in the group with CP. Moreover, 23.2% individuals of the group with CP reported awaking in the middle of the night and 37.2% of them snore, both percentages were higher than those in the control group. The sleep diary showed that individuals in the group with CP spend more time to initiate sleep (around 21 minutes). The group with CP also showed deficits in all parameters analyzed by the Child Health Questionnaire, except in family activity and the sleep-wake pattern, and quality of life showed negative correlation in several respects. CONCLUSION: The altered pattern of sleep in individuals with CP directly affects their physical and emotional well-being.

scholarly journals Decreasing postoperative cognitive deficits after heart surgery: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial on cognitive training

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Butz ◽  
Jasmin El-Shazly ◽  
Gebhard Sammer ◽  
Marlene Tschernatsch ◽  
Sabrina Kastaun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Heart Surgery ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Training Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background The occurrence of postoperative cognitive deficits, especially after heart surgery, has been demonstrated in several studies. These deficits can clearly be noticed by the patients as well as by their close relatives in daily life. Furthermore, postoperative cognitive deficits can decrease quality of life in social functioning and earning capacity. The aim of this study is to investigate whether early postoperative cognitive training can reduce subjective and objective postoperative cognitive deficits Methods The proposed study is a multicenter, 2-arm randomized controlled trial involving 144 elderly patients undergoing elective heart valve surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Patients will be assigned to either a training group or a control group. The intervention involves a paper-and-pencil-based cognitive training, which is conducted for 36 minutes over a period of 18 days. The training starts about 1 week after surgery and is carried out during the hospitalized rehabilitation phase. The control group will not receive a cognitive training or a placebo intervention. A detailed assessment of psychological functions and health-related quality of life prior to surgery at discharge from rehabilitation and 3 and 12 months after discharge will be performed. The Primary outcome of this trial is the training effect on objective cognitive functions at discharge from rehabilitation. Secondary outcomes are the training effect on objective and subjective cognitive functions (3 and 12 months after discharge), depression, health-related quality of life, and the impact of perioperative cerebral ischemia on the training effect. Perioperative cerebral ischemia will be measured with postoperative magnetic resonance imaging including diffusion-weighted sequences. Discussion Should it be shown that our cognitive training can improve postoperative cognitive deficits as well as quality of life, one possibility could be to integrate this intervention into early rehabilitation. Furthermore, we hope that the investigation of perioperative ischemia by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging will improve our understanding of neurobiological factors influencing the course of postoperative cognitive plasticity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document