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Davison AS, Hughes G, Harrold JA, Clarke P, Griffin R, Ranganath LR. Long-term low dose nitisinone therapy in adults with alkaptonuria shows no cognitive decline or increased severity of depression. JIMD Rep 2022; 63:221-230. [PMID: 35433173 PMCID: PMC8995840 DOI: 10.1002/jmd2.12272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is documented on whether nitisinone-induced hypertyrosinaemia alters cognitive functioning or leads to worsening depression in alkaptonuria (AKU). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) assessments were performed before and annually following treatment with nitisinone 2 mg daily to assess the impact on cognitive functioning and severity of depression. Serum tyrosine concentrations were also measured annually. WAIS-IV: 63 patients (27 females/36 males: mean age[years] [±standard deviation, range] 55.7[13.7, 26-79]; 60.3[9.6, 19-75]) were included at baseline for assessment of: verbal comprehension (VC), perceptual reasoning (PR), working memory (WM), and processing speed (PS) using separate indices. Over the 6-year period studied 43, 39, 36, 29, 26 and 15 patients had annual assessments. Using a longitudinal model (age and sex adjusted) no significant differences were observed in any of the indices over this period, apart from VC which showed a significant increase after adjustment for sex (p < 0.05). BDI-II: 74 patients (32 females/42 males: mean age[years] [±standard deviation, range] 56.1[13.2, 26-79]; 42 males, 51.5[16.3, 19-70]) were included at baseline. Over the 7-year period studied 48, 47, 38, 34, 32, 24 and 12 patients had annual assessments. No significant differences in BDI-II scores were observed when compared to baseline. Hypertyrosinaemia was observed in all patients following treatment with nitisinone (p < 0.001, at all annual visits). Serum tyrosine was not correlated with WAIS-IV sub-test indices or BDI-II scores pre- or post-nitisinone therapy. These findings suggest that treatment with nitisinone does not affect cognitive functioning and or lead to increased severity of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Davison
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, Liverpool Clinical LaboratoriesRoyal Liverpool University HospitalLiverpoolUK
| | - Gin Hughes
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | - Pam Clarke
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Rebecca Griffin
- Liverpool Cancer Trials UnitUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Lakshminarayan R. Ranganath
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, Liverpool Clinical LaboratoriesRoyal Liverpool University HospitalLiverpoolUK
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Trifilio E, Tanner JJ, Butterfield L, Mangal P, Maye JE, Marsiske M, Price CC, Bowers D. A tale of two stories: Validity of an alternative story memory test in a sample of older adults. Clin Neuropsychol 2020; 34:158-173. [PMID: 30638137 PMCID: PMC6625924 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2018.1538428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Many patients require repeat neuropsychological evaluations to determine change over time. Repeat evaluations lead to practice effects, which can impact the validity of the assessment. The current study assessed, in older adults, the validity of an alternative set of verbal memory stories created by Newcomer and colleagues.Method: A total 154 of non-demented adults, ages 60-92, completed the WMS-III logical memory (LM) stories and two Newcomer stories (Carson-Jones) as part of a larger battery of neurocognitive tests. The Carson-Jones stories were scored for: (1) verbatim (traditional) and (2) thematic (developed for this study) accuracy. Story memory variables were compared to each other and additional neurocognitive measures using bivariate correlations. A subset of participants (n = 133) completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and various structural regions (e.g. thickness and volume of medial temporal lobe structures) were used to assess external validity of Carson-Jones stories with hierarchical multiple regression analyses.Results: There was a strong positive correlation between WMS-III LM and Carson-Jones stories for both verbatim and thematic scoring. Both scoring types showed convergent validity with other verbal memory measures (e.g. WMS-III LM and HVLT-R Delay/Learning) and divergent validity with Stroop Word Reading and JOLO. Regarding neuroimaging correlates, Carson-Jones verbatim scoring was significantly associated with left subiculum and left whole hippocampal volume whereas thematic scoring was significantly associated only with left subiculum.Conclusions: Newcomer stories appear to be a valid alternative to WMS-III LM stories in terms of assessing verbal memory in healthy older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Trifilio
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jared J Tanner
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - London Butterfield
- Suncoast Medical Clinic, BayCare Medical Group, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Paul Mangal
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jacqueline E Maye
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael Marsiske
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Catherine C Price
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dawn Bowers
- Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Dewaele P, Deffieux X, Villot A, Amarenco G, Billecocq S, Thubert T. Pelvic floor muscle activation in stress urinary incontinent women: Impact of a distraction task. Neurourol Urodyn 2019; 38:950-957. [PMID: 30779380 DOI: 10.1002/nau.23936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Our purpose was to explore the involvement of cognition in voluntary and involuntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction in stress urinary incontinent women. METHODS PFM contraction monitored by surface electromyography (EMG) was measured without a mental distraction task (DT), and with a DT called "paced auditory serial additional test" (PASAT). Forty stress incontinent women performed voluntary contractions of the external anal sphincter (EAS), and reflex EAS contractions induced by means of coughing were studied using the external intercostal muscle (EIC) EMG pattern. RESULTS A DT altered PFM pre-activation when coughing: the reaction time between EIC muscle contraction and EAS contraction (called RT3) was respectively -54.94 ms (IQR -87.12; 3.12) without the PASAT and -3.99 ms (IQR: -47.92; 18.69) with a DT (P = 0.02, Wilcoxon's test). Concerning voluntary contraction, women activated their PFM sooner without than with a DT. CONCLUSION The PASAT altered voluntary and reflex contractions of the PFM in stress urinary incontinent women. Our study suggests that cognition plays a role in urinary pathophysiology. Future studies should investigate rehabilitation programs that consider the role of cognition in stress urinary incontinent women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Dewaele
- GRC-UPMC 01, GREEN (Group of Clinical Research in Neuro-Urology, University Pierre and Marie Curie), Paris, France.,APHP, Hopital Antoine Béclère, Service de gynécologie obstétrique et biologie de la reproduction, Clamart, France
| | - Xavier Deffieux
- GRC-UPMC 01, GREEN (Group of Clinical Research in Neuro-Urology, University Pierre and Marie Curie), Paris, France.,APHP, Hopital Antoine Béclère, Service de gynécologie obstétrique et biologie de la reproduction, Clamart, France
| | - Anne Villot
- GRC-UPMC 01, GREEN (Group of Clinical Research in Neuro-Urology, University Pierre and Marie Curie), Paris, France
| | - Gérard Amarenco
- GRC-UPMC 01, GREEN (Group of Clinical Research in Neuro-Urology, University Pierre and Marie Curie), Paris, France.,Neuro-Urology Department, Tenon Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Billecocq
- GRC-UPMC 01, GREEN (Group of Clinical Research in Neuro-Urology, University Pierre and Marie Curie), Paris, France.,Cabinet de rééducation périnéale, Paris, France
| | - Thibault Thubert
- GRC-UPMC 01, GREEN (Group of Clinical Research in Neuro-Urology, University Pierre and Marie Curie), Paris, France.,Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Hôtel Dieu, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique Nantes, Nantes, France
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Lam M, Wang M, Huang W, Eng GK, Rapisarda A, Kraus M, Kang S, Keefe RSE, Lee J. Establishing the Brief Assessment of Cognition - Short form. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 93:1-11. [PMID: 28549241 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The study aims to identify and validate a parsimonious subset of tests in the commonly used Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) that allows the evaluation of global cognitive ability. Several permutations of subtests from the BACS were examined to identify the best subset of tests to compose the short form measure. The Brief Assessment of Cognition-Short Form (BAC-SF) was evaluated for convergent validity in healthy and psychiatric samples (N = 3718). Verbal Memory, Digit Sequencing, and Symbol Coding subtests were found to best summarize the variance of composite scores in both Asian and US Norming samples (r = 0.91) indicating that BAC-SF is an appropriate approximation of cognitive deficits. Test re-test reliability of the BAC-SF was adequate (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.73) and showed sufficient separation between healthy controls and schizophrenia (Average Predictive Accuracy = 79.9%; replication = 76.5%). Findings indicate that the BAC-SF an could be used as a cognitive screener for large-scale clinical and epidemiological studies. The short form does not replace the need for comprehensive neuropsychological batteries purposed for detailed neuropsychological and clinical investigation of cognitive function. Further replication of the construct might be necessary in other clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Lam
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore.
| | - Mingyuan Wang
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore
| | - Wanping Huang
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, 308433, Singapore
| | - Goi Khia Eng
- Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Attilio Rapisarda
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore
| | - Michael Kraus
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 8 Duke University Medical Center Greenspace, Durham, NC 27703, USA
| | - Sim Kang
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore; General Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore
| | - R S E Keefe
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 8 Duke University Medical Center Greenspace, Durham, NC 27703, USA
| | - Jimmy Lee
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore; General Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View, 539747, Singapore
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5
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Cognitive Rehabilitation for Military Service Members With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2017; 32:E1-E15. [DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Ahonniska J, Ahonen T, Aro T, Tolvanen A, Lyytinen H. Practice Effects on Visuomotor and Problem-Solving Tests by Children. Percept Mot Skills 2016; 92:479-94. [PMID: 11361312 DOI: 10.2466/pms.2001.92.2.479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Practice effects on a visuomotor test (the Developmental Test of Visuo-Motor Integration), a timed visual discrimination test (the Underlining Test), and two problem-solving tests (the Porteus Mazes Test and the Tower of Hanoi Test) were analyzed. Children of two age groups ( Ms: 7.7 and 11.6 yr.) were chosen to study the effect of age on practice effects. The tests were repeated nine times with test-retest intervals of 2 mo. The Developmental Test of Visuo-Motor Integration showed no practice effects, while the Porteus Mazes Test, the Underlining Test, and the Tower of Hanoi Test showed significant practice effects. Practice effects were larger for the older age group on all the tests, except the Developmental Test of Visuo-Motor Integration. The Developmental Test of Visuo-Motor Integration and the Underlining Test showed good reliability, but those of the problem-solving tasks were less satisfactory. The stability of all the tests, except the Tower of Hanoi Test, was good.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ahonniska
- Niilo Mäki Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
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Calamia M, Markon K, Tranel D. The robust reliability of neuropsychological measures: meta-analyses of test-retest correlations. Clin Neuropsychol 2013; 27:1077-105. [PMID: 24016131 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2013.809795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Test-retest reliability is an important psychometric property relevant to assessment instruments typically used in neuropsychological assessment. This review presents a quantitative summary of test-retest reliability coefficients for a variety of widely used neuropsychological measures. In general, the meta-analytic test-retest reliabilities of the test scores ranged from adequate to high (i.e., r=.7 and higher). Furthermore, the reliability values were largely robust across factors such as age, clinical diagnosis, and the use of alternate forms. The values for some of the memory and executive functioning scores were lower (i.e., less than r=.7). Some of the possible reasons for these lower values include ceiling effects, practice effects, and across time variability in cognitive abilities measured by those tests. In general, neuropsychologists who use these measures in their assessments can be encouraged by the magnitude of the majority of the meta-analytic test-retest correlations obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Calamia
- a Department of Psychology , University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA
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8
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Hamidi F, Noorafkan Roohi N. Manufacture and Validation of New Negative Priming Measurement for Studying Individual Differences in Working Memory. EUROPES JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.5964/ejop.v8i2.457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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9
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Testosterone improves verbal learning and memory in postmenopausal women: Results from a pilot study. Maturitas 2011; 70:307-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2011] [Revised: 08/15/2011] [Accepted: 08/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Reaction time and rapid serial processing measures of information processing speed in multiple sclerosis: complexity, compounding, and augmentation. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2011; 17:1113-21. [PMID: 22040901 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617711001135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Information processing speed is frequently cited as the primary cognitive domain impacted by multiple sclerosis (MS) and is usually evaluated with reaction time (RT) or rapid serial processing (RSP) measures. The present study compared the efficacy of RT and RSP measures to distinguish between patients with MS (N = 42) and healthy controls (N = 40). The RT measure was patterned after the Computerized Tests of Information Processing and included measures of simple, choice, and semantic RT. The RSP measures consisted of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Stroop Test. Substantial differences in information processing speed between patients and controls were found on all tests, with slightly larger effect sizes for RSP measures than RT measures and for the SDMT than the Stroop Test. Binary logistic regression analyses showed RSP measures performed better than RT measures at distinguishing patients from controls, and likewise, the SDMT score performed better than the scores derived from the Stroop Test. Results are discussed in the context of three effects associated with common measures of processing speed: complexity, compounding, and augmentation.
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The Computerized Test of Information Processing (CTIP) Offers an Alternative to the PASAT for Assessing Cognitive Processing Speed in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis. Cogn Behav Neurol 2010; 23:192-8. [DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0b013e3181cc8bd4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Lynch SG, Dickerson KJ, Denney DR. Evaluating Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparison of Two Rapid Serial Processing Measures. Clin Neuropsychol 2010; 24:963-76. [DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2010.502128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon G. Lynch
- a Department of Neurology , University of Kansas Medical Center
| | | | - Douglas R. Denney
- b Department of Psychology , University of Kansas , Lawrence , KS , USA
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Changes in neurocognitive function in patients with schizophrenia after starting or switching to amisulpride in comparison with the normal controls. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2009; 29:117-23. [PMID: 19512972 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0b013e31819a6995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We examined short- and long-term changes in neurocognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia who were either started or switched to amisulpride in comparison with the normal controls. Fifty-seven patients treated with amisulpride and 60 normal controls completed a comprehensive neurocognitive function test battery at the baseline, the 8-week, and the 1-year follow-up. We conducted and compared the results of both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses to account for the follow-up loss. Three general results obtained were as follows: (1) the degree of the improvements in neurocognitive function was comparable to those of other second-generation antipsychotics in both ITT and PP analysis; (2) in light of the relative effect size, the composite effect size and the effect size in most measures in both ITT and PP analyses were smaller for the patient group than those of the control group, signifying that improvement in performance may be largely attributable to practice effects; and (3) nonetheless, there were evidences of both short- and long-term improvements in some cognitive tasks, such as in the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale vocabulary subtest and the Trail Making Test, that may not be accounted by practice effect. These results suggest the need to include a healthy control group to validate the medication effect of cognitive improvements in patients with schizophrenia and to consider practice effect in interpreting the results of repeated administration of neurocognitive function tests.
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Munguía-Izquierdo D, Legaz-Arrese A. Assessment of the effects of aquatic therapy on global symptomatology in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009; 89:2250-7. [PMID: 19061736 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2007] [Revised: 03/11/2008] [Accepted: 03/12/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of a 16-week exercise therapy in a chest-high pool of warm water through applicable tests in the clinical practice on the global symptomatology of women with fibromyalgia (FM) and to determine exercise adherence levels. DESIGN A randomized controlled trial. SETTING Testing and training were completed at the university. PARTICIPANTS Middle-aged women with FM (n=60) and healthy women (n=25). INTERVENTION A 16-week aquatic training program, including strength training, aerobic training, and relaxation exercises. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Tender point count (syringe calibrated), health status (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire); sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index); physical (endurance strength to low loads tests), psychologic (State Anxiety Inventory), and cognitive function (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task); and adherence 12 months after the completion of the study. RESULTS For all the measurements, the patients showed significant deficiencies compared with the healthy subjects. Efficacy analysis (n=29) and intent-to-treat analysis (n=34) of the exercise therapy was effective in decreasing the tender point count and improving sleep quality, cognitive function, and physical function. Anxiety remained unchanged during the follow-up. The exercise group had a significant improvement of health status, not associated exclusively with the exercise intervention. There were no changes in the control group. Twenty-three patients in the exercise group were exercising regularly 12 months after completing the program. CONCLUSIONS An exercise therapy 3 times a week for 16 weeks in a warm pool could improve most of the symptoms of FM and cause a high adherence to exercise in unfit women with heightened FM symptomatology. The therapeutic intervention's effects can be assessed through applicable tests in the clinical practice.
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Rosti-Otajärvi E, Hämäläinen P, Koivisto K, Hokkanen L. The reliability of the MSFC and its components. Acta Neurol Scand 2008; 117:421-7. [PMID: 18081910 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00972.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) is a multidimensional measurement tool for multiple sclerosis (MS) including a measure of ambulation (Timed 25-foot Walk [TWT]), arm function (Nine-Hole Peg Test [9HPT]) and cognition (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test [PASAT]). OBJECTIVES To assess the reliability and practice effects in the Finnish version of the MSFC and its components. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten relapsing-remitting MS patients and 10 healthy controls underwent five testing sessions with the MSFC over a 4-week period. RESULTS The MSFC showed excellent intra- (0.99) and inter-rater (1.0) reliability. The MSFC, especially the 9HPT and the PASAT showed significant practice effects. On the 9HPT the controls remained stable whereas the patients improved their performance; on the PASAT both groups improved. CONCLUSIONS The MSFC showed excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability although the 9HPT and the PASAT were prone to considerable practice effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rosti-Otajärvi
- Department of Neurology, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.
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Vardy J, Rourke S, Tannock IF. Evaluation of Cognitive Function Associated With Chemotherapy: A Review of Published Studies and Recommendations for Future Research. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25:2455-63. [PMID: 17485710 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.08.1604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose There is evidence that some cancer survivors suffer cognitive impairment after chemotherapy. Determining if a patient has cognitive impairment is challenging, especially because impairment is usually subtle. Patients and Methods We assessed the design of studies evaluating cognitive function during or after chemotherapy in adult patients with solid tumors. We also reviewed methods used to evaluate cognitive function in subjects with other diseases and make recommendations for future studies. Results We identified 22 studies that met our criteria: 82% included women with breast cancer. Eight studies were longitudinal, 12 were cross-sectional, and two were follow-ups of cross-sectional studies. Sixteen studies used a battery of neuropsychological (NP) tests to assess subjects, and 13 included a control group. Ten studies (45%) had no explicit definition of cognitive impairment; most others used z scores or T scores and defined impairment based on standard deviations below the mean, but there was no consistency in for the cutoff point used or the number of tests required. Conclusion There is no consistency in defining cognitive impairment, in the NP batteries used, or in statistical methods in studies of cognitive function of cancer patients. We suggest guidelines to define criteria for cognitive impairment. Use of summary scores and control groups is recommended. Practice effect should be adjusted for in longitudinal studies. A balance is needed between comprehensive batteries and briefer tests, which still need to be sensitive to mild impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janette Vardy
- Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Nagra A, Skeel RL, Sbraga TP. A pilot investigation of the effects of stress on neuropsychological performance in Asian-Indians in the United States. CULTURAL DIVERSITY & ETHNIC MINORITY PSYCHOLOGY 2007; 13:54-63. [PMID: 17227177 DOI: 10.1037/1099-9809.13.1.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of stress and the ethnicity of the examiner on neuropsychological performance in a sample of Asian-Indian males in the United States. Participants were 60 Asian-Indian college students randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The first factor was level of stress induction and the second was ethnicity of examiners. Results suggested that both stress inducing instructions and examiner ethnicity impacted highly demanding tasks, while moderately difficult tasks were less sensitive to ethnicity of the examiner. Results also indicate that examiners should recognize the potential impact of ethnicity and heightened level of stress when administering and interpreting neuropsychological measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Nagra
- Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, USA.
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Kingery LR, Schretlen DJ, Sateri S, Langley LK, Marano NC, Meyer SM. Interrater and Test–Retest Reliability of a Fixed Condition Design Fluency Test. Clin Neuropsychol 2006; 20:729-40. [PMID: 16980258 DOI: 10.1080/13854040500350992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite its potential as a unique neuropsychological test, the emergence of a psychometrically sound research foundation for Jones-Gotman and Milner's (1977) Design Fluency Test (DFT) has been constrained by the lack of consistent administration and scoring practices and limited information about its reliability. Here we describe an approach to administering and scoring the fixed condition DFT that is modeled on Jones-Gotman and Milner's original method and that clarifies procedural ambiguities. Results include interrater and long-term test-retest reliability analyses using this approach. First, based on five raters who scored 50 DFT protocols, good to excellent intra-class correlation coefficients were obtained for all DFT scores. Second, in a broadly representative sample of 87 healthy adults who were tested twice over an average of 5 1/2 years, the test-retest reliabilities for total and novel design scores ranged from good to excellent. This study demonstrates that the fixed condition DFT can be scored reliably using these procedures and that the reliability coefficients for DFT total and novel designs scores are comparable to those of other commonly used neuropsychological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisle R Kingery
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Shah S, Bell RJ, Savage G, Goldstat R, Papalia MA, Kulkarni J, Donath S, Davis SR. Testosterone aromatization and cognition in women: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Menopause 2006; 13:600-8. [PMID: 16837882 DOI: 10.1097/01.gme.0000227333.50867.4e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore whether inhibition of the conversion of testosterone to estradiol modifies the effects of testosterone on cognition in 61 healthy, estrogen-treated postmenopausal women. DESIGN Seventy-six postmenopausal women using transdermal estrogen for at least 8 weeks, with a serum total testosterone less than 1.2 nmol/L participated in a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. All participants received transdermal testosterone, 400 muL of a 0.5% testosterone gel, daily and were randomized to receive either letrozole 2.5 mg/day or an identical placebo tablet. The main outcome measure was cognition, evaluated using a comprehensive battery of standardized neuropsychological tests, at baseline and week 16. RESULTS Thirty women in each group completed the study. Free testosterone increased from baseline in both groups, with no difference between groups. Free testosterone levels achieved were below the 90th centile for young women in 80% of the participants at week 16. Serum estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin levels did not differ from baseline or between groups during the study. No clinically significant effects of testosterone treatment were seen for attention and working memory, psychomotor speed, or executive function. Significant improvements were seen for immediate and delayed visual and verbal memory and for simple concentration with testosterone therapy, all of which were unaffected by the aromatase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS We did not observe any effects of aromatase inhibition on cognition in healthy, estrogen-treated postmenopausal women treated with testosterone. This may be due to insufficient study power or a true lack of effect. However, our findings highlight that the detection of subtle changes in cognition in well women require the development of sensitive instruments and large randomized, controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonal Shah
- NH and MRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in the Women's Health Program, Department of Medicine, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
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Schmidt KS, Mattis PJ, Adams J, Nestor P. Test-retest reliability of the dementia rating scale-2: alternate form. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2005; 20:42-4. [PMID: 15832035 DOI: 10.1159/000085073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of the newly developed Dementia Rating Scale-2: Alternate Form (DRS-2:AF) in a community-dwelling sample of older adults. Participants were administered the DRS-2:AF during two separate testing sessions; the interval between sessions was between 12 and 28 days. The stability coefficient for the Total Score was quite high (0.93), and reliability coefficients for the subscale scores ranged from adequate to high. This project provides evidence for the test-retest reliability of the DRS-2:AF. Given the need for cognitive status measures with equivalent forms, the DRS-2:AF is recommended as a reliable tool in the assessment of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara S Schmidt
- Center for Aging, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
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21
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Abstract
Practice effects on the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT; >Delis et al., 1987), a measure of new learning and memory, were evaluated in a sample of patients with schizophrenia who were administered the CVLT at baseline, week 10, and week 14 in the context of a study of the effects of a non-pharmacological intervention on psychiatric status. Large effects attributable to prior exposure to the test were evident at weeks 10 and 14. These effects indicate that caution must be exercised in interpreting serial performances on this commonly used test, whether in research or clinical circumstances. Additionally, although the exact nature of the learning involved is unclear, the influence of prior exposure on later performance reveals considerable retention over time of new information in this sample of persons with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Hawkins
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
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Sherman EMS, Strauss E, Spellacy F. Validity of the paced auditory serial addition test (pasat) in adults referred for neuropsychological assessment after head injury. Clin Neuropsychol 1997. [DOI: 10.1080/13854049708407027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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23
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Elwood RW. The California Verbal Learning Test: psychometric characteristics and clinical application. Neuropsychol Rev 1995; 5:173-201. [PMID: 8653108 DOI: 10.1007/bf02214761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) is a popular clinical and research test that claims to measure key constructs in cognitive psychology such as repetition learning, serial position effects, semantic organization, intrusions, and proactive interference. The psychometric characteristics of the CVLT are reviewed and related to the test's clinical utility. The utility of the CVLT is shown to be limited by its poor standardization and inflated norms. Further, the validity is limited because the CVLT uses multiple trials whereas the constructs it purports to measure are based on single-trial paradigms. The review proposes modifications to the CVLT and guidelines for its clinical use. It concludes that if the limitations of the CVLT are recognized, it can still make a useful contribution to the clinical assessment of verbal learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Elwood
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tomah, Wisconsin 54660, USA
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McCaffrey RJ, Westervelt HJ. Issues associated with repeated neuropsychological assessments. Neuropsychol Rev 1995; 5:203-21. [PMID: 8653109 DOI: 10.1007/bf02214762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Distinguishing practice effects from other factors in repeated neuropsychological assessments are discussed in the context of research studies and clinical/forensic assessments. Potential methodological procedures for reducing the impact of practice effects in research settings are outlined. In contrast, the potential clinical utility and interpretation of practice effects in clinical assessments and forensic evaluations are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J McCaffrey
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York 12222, USA
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