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Brain Sciences Mar 2024Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents a deficit in accuracy and/or fluency while reading or spelling that is not expected given the level of cognitive... (Review)
Review
Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents a deficit in accuracy and/or fluency while reading or spelling that is not expected given the level of cognitive functioning. Research indicates brain structural changes mainly in the left hemisphere, comprising arcuate fasciculus (AF) and corona radiata (CR). The purpose of this systematic review is to better understand the possible methods for analyzing Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data while accounting for the characteristics of dyslexia in the last decade of the literature. Among 124 articles screened from PubMed and Scopus, 49 met inclusion criteria, focusing on dyslexia without neurological or psychiatric comorbidities. Article selection involved paired evaluation, with a third reviewer resolving discrepancies. The selected articles were analyzed using two topics: (1) a demographic and cognitive assessment of the sample and (2) DTI acquisition and analysis. Predominantly, studies centered on English-speaking children with reading difficulties, with preserved non-verbal intelligence, attention, and memory, and deficits in reading tests, rapid automatic naming, and phonological awareness. Structural differences were found mainly in the left AF in all ages and in the bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus for readers-children and adults. A better understanding of structural brain changes of dyslexia and neuroadaptations can be a guide for future interventions.
PubMed: 38672001
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040349 -
Research in Psychotherapy (Milano) Jul 2023Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been found to be an efficacious treatment for disorders characterized by high levels of emotional instability. In view of the...
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been found to be an efficacious treatment for disorders characterized by high levels of emotional instability. In view of the multifaceted applications of DBT and the extent to which mental disorders can incapacitate cognitive functions, the current systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of DBT in strengthening cognitive functions across various mental health conditions. Original research studies employing both experimental and quasi-experimental designs were included in the review. The literature search was done using different electronic databases, from the first available literature until June 2022, that covered an approximate period of ten years. Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess the methodological rigor of the studies. Twelve studies conducted on adolescents with emotional dysregulation, and adults with borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and multiple sclerosis were selected. Results indicate that DBT has the potential to improve key cognitive functions such as attention, memory, fluency, response inhibition, planning, set shifting, tolerance for delayed rewards and time perception, as assessed by neuropsychological tests, self-report of cognitive functions, and neuroimaging techniques. Considering the review's findings that showcase the effectiveness of DBT in fostering improvements in cognitive functions, DBT may possibly be chosen as a preferred treatment to ensure that patients reach optimal levels of cognitive functioning. Limitations include lack of sufficient studies encompassing all the common mental health conditions, usage of neuroimaging techniques as only an indirect measure of cognitive functioning and nuances related to the quality of individual studies.
PubMed: 37401476
DOI: 10.4081/ripppo.2023.662 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jan 2024In children and adolescents with epilepsy, neurodevelopmental comorbidities can impair the quality of life more than seizures. The aim of this review was to evaluate the... (Review)
Review
In children and adolescents with epilepsy, neurodevelopmental comorbidities can impair the quality of life more than seizures. The aim of this review was to evaluate the cognitive and behavioural effects of perampanel (PER) in the paediatric population. We performed a systematic search of the literature, selecting studies published in English including children and adolescents with epilepsy treated with PER. Cognitive and behavioural outcomes were assessed through validated neuropsychological standardised scales. Eighteen studies involving 3563 paediatric patients were included. Perampanel did not impair general cognitive functions and visuospatial skills, whereas a slight improvement in verbal memory and a decline in attentional power were detected. In adolescents with refractory epilepsies, high doses and/or rapid titration of PER and an underlying psychiatric disorder were risk factors for developing or worsening psychiatric outcomes such as anger, aggressiveness, and irritability. Data on children and adolescents treated with new antiseizure medications are scant, and neuropsychiatric effects are tricky to be detected during developmental age. According to the currently available evidence, PER showed an overall favourable risk-benefit profile. Pharmacodynamics, co-administration of other antiseizure medications, and family and personal history of neuropsychiatric disorders should be considered before PER treatment.
PubMed: 38256507
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020372 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Jun 2024This systematic review aimed to investigate resilience and its related factors in caregivers of adult patients with cancer.
BACKGROUND
This systematic review aimed to investigate resilience and its related factors in caregivers of adult patients with cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic search of online electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database (SID) was performed using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Psychological Resilience", "Caregiver", and "Cancer" from the earliest to 6 June 2023. The quality of the studies included in this review was evaluated using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool).
RESULTS
A total of 2735 caregivers of cancer patients participated in 15 studies. The majority of the studies found that caregivers of cancer patients had high levels of resilience. Factors related to the resilience of cancer patients' caregivers included caregivers' social support, caregivers' quality of life, patients' resilience, caregivers' family function, patients' performance, caregivers' age, caregivers' health status, caregivers' self-esteem, caregivers post-traumatic growth, caregivers religious, caregivers hope, caregivers positive affect, patients age, patients social support, patients resilience support, patients quality of life, caregivers' anxiety, caregivers' depression, caregivers' burden, caregivers level of education, caregivers financial problem, caregivers memory, caregivers negative affect, caregivers post-traumatic stress disorder, maternal distress, and patients post-traumatic stress disorder.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, healthcare administrators and policymakers can enhance the resilience of caregivers and the quality of care they provide by instituting ongoing training initiatives focused on evaluating mental well-being and implementing coping strategies for managing stress and depression.
PubMed: 38846864
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001469 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Mar 2024Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by organ-specific symptoms in the salivary and lacrimal glands, as well as systemic... (Review)
Review
Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by organ-specific symptoms in the salivary and lacrimal glands, as well as systemic manifestations. Fatigue, a prominent aspect, significantly influences the overall quality of life for individuals with pSS. This review seeks to evaluate the impact of fatigue by exploring its consequences, potential causes, and effects on physical and psychological well-being, while also investigating its management strategies. Following the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)" guidelines, our systematic literature review involved a five-step algorithm. Initially identifying 78 articles in reputable international medical databases, we applied eligibility criteria and removed duplicates, resulting in 19 articles for qualitative synthesis. This review delves into the predictive factors for heightened fatigue in pSS, encompassing rheumatoid factor levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and immunoglobulin G levels. Sleep disturbances, specifically nighttime pain and nocturia, emerged as determinants of persistent daytime fatigue. Cognitive impairment in pSS involves deteriorations in global memory, executive functioning, and attentional resources. Furthermore, functional limitations in pSS impact patients' quality of life. The significance of fatigue in pSS, its consequences, and profound influence on the quality of life necessitate further research for a more comprehensive understanding of this complex issue.
PubMed: 38541763
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13061537 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jan 2024Mothers exposed to infections during pregnancy disproportionally birth children who develop autism and schizophrenia, disorders associated with altered GABAergic... (Review)
Review
Mothers exposed to infections during pregnancy disproportionally birth children who develop autism and schizophrenia, disorders associated with altered GABAergic function. The maternal immune activation (MIA) model recapitulates this risk factor, with many studies also reporting disruptions to GABAergic interneuron expression, protein, cellular density and function. However, it is unclear if there are species, sex, age, region, or GABAergic subtype specific vulnerabilities to MIA. Furthermore, to fully comprehend the impact of MIA on the GABAergic system a synthesised account of molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioural findings was required. To this end we conducted a systematic review of GABAergic interneuron changes in the MIA model, focusing on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We reviewed 102 articles that revealed robust changes in a number of GABAergic markers that present as gestationally-specific, region-specific and sometimes sex-specific. Disruptions to GABAergic markers coincided with distinct behavioural phenotypes, including memory, sensorimotor gating, anxiety, and sociability. Findings suggest the MIA model is a valid tool for testing novel therapeutics designed to recover GABAergic function and associated behaviour.
Topics: Male; Pregnancy; Female; Animals; Child; Humans; Rodentia; Interneurons; Prefrontal Cortex; Mothers; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
PubMed: 38042358
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105488 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jun 2024Depersonalisation-derealisation disorder (DDD) is characterised by distressing experiences of separation from oneself and/or one's surroundings, potentially resulting... (Review)
Review
Depersonalisation-derealisation disorder (DDD) is characterised by distressing experiences of separation from oneself and/or one's surroundings, potentially resulting from alterations in affective, cognitive, and physiological functions. This systematic review aimed to synthesise current experimental evidence of relevance to proposed mechanisms underlying DDD, to appraise existing theoretical models, and to inform future research and theoretical developments. Studies were included if they tested explicit hypotheses in DDD samples, with experimental manipulations of at least one independent variable, alongside behavioural, subjective, neurological, affective and/or physiological dependent variables. Some evidence for diminished subjective responsivity to aversive images and sounds, and hyperactivation in neurocircuits associated with emotional regulation when viewing aversive images emerged, corroborating neurobiological models of DDD. Inconsistencies were present regarding behavioural and autonomic responsivity to facial expressions, emotional memory, and self-referential processing. Common confounds included small sample sizes, medication, and comorbidities. Alterations in affective reactivity and regulation appear to be present in DDD; however, further research employing more rigorous research designs is required to provide stronger evidence for these possible mechanisms.
PubMed: 38944228
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105783 -
Neuropsychology Review Dec 2023First-degree relatives of individuals with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) are at increased risk for developing dementia, yet the associations between family... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
First-degree relatives of individuals with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) are at increased risk for developing dementia, yet the associations between family history of LOAD and cognitive dysfunction remain unclear. In this quantitative review, we provide the first meta-analysis on the cognitive profile of unaffected first-degree blood relatives of LOAD-affected individuals compared to controls without a family history of LOAD. A systematic literature search was conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed /MEDLINE, and Scopus. We fitted a three-level structural equation modeling meta-analysis to control for non-independent effect sizes. Heterogeneity and risk of publication bias were also investigated. Thirty-four studies enabled us to estimate 218 effect sizes across several cognitive domains. Overall, first-degree relatives (n = 4,086, mean age = 57.40, SD = 4.71) showed significantly inferior cognitive performance (Hedges' g = -0.16; 95% CI, -0.25 to -0.08; p < .001) compared to controls (n = 2,388, mean age = 58.43, SD = 5.69). Specifically, controls outperformed first-degree relatives in language, visuospatial and verbal long-term memory, executive functions, verbal short-term memory, and verbal IQ. Among the first-degree relatives, APOE ɛ4 carriership was associated with more significant dysfunction in cognition (g = -0.24; 95% CI, -0.38 to -0.11; p < .001) compared to non-carriers (g = -0.14; 95% CI, -0.28 to -0.01; p = .04). Cognitive test type was significantly associated with between-group differences, accounting for 65% (R = .6499) of the effect size heterogeneity in the fitted regression model. No evidence of publication bias was found. The current findings provide support for mild but robust cognitive dysfunction in first-degree relatives of LOAD-affected individuals that appears to be moderated by cognitive domain, cognitive test type, and APOE ɛ4.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Alzheimer Disease; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Cognition Disorders; Neuropsychological Tests; Apolipoproteins E
PubMed: 36057684
DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09555-2 -
Clinical Psychology Review Mar 2024Many youth experience mental health problems and digital games hold potential as mental health interventions. This systematic review provides an overview of randomised... (Review)
Review
Many youth experience mental health problems and digital games hold potential as mental health interventions. This systematic review provides an overview of randomised controlled studies assessing the effectiveness of digital applied and casual games for improving mental health in youth aged 6-24 years. A systematic search of PsycINFO, Web of Science and Pubmed yielded 145 eligible studies. Studies on (sub)clinical participant samples (n = 75) most often focused on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and anxiety. Applied games were found most effective for improving social skills, verbal memory and anxiety, whereas casual games were found most effective for improving depression, anxiety and ADHD. Studies involving healthy youth (n = 70) were grouped into papers examining anxiety in medical settings, momentary effects on positive and negative affect, and papers employing a longitudinal design measuring mental health trait outcomes. Promising results were found for the use of games as distraction tools in medical settings, and for applied and casual games for improving momentary affect. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of digital games for improving mental health. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed, such as developing evaluation guidelines, clearly defining applied games, harmonising outcome measures, including positive outcomes, and examining nonspecific factors that may influence symptom improvement as well.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Mental Health; Anxiety; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Social Skills; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 38320420
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102396 -
The Primary Care Companion For CNS... Oct 2023To critically analyze the evidence regarding changes in verbal and performance intelligence quotient (IQ) in patients with schizophrenia. An English-language-only...
To critically analyze the evidence regarding changes in verbal and performance intelligence quotient (IQ) in patients with schizophrenia. An English-language-only search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and LILACS databases for articles with study objectives that included Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) assessment of cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. Descriptors were defined based on Medical Subject Headings, where associations of psychotic disorders related to the schizophrenia spectrum were suggested, as well as the "Wechsler Scales" descriptor. The search was conducted in November 2022 with no restriction on the date of publication to select studies that used any of the WAIS editions. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected after title and summary identification and full-text review. A total of 28 articles were identified. All studies presented total IQ scores, but only 20 showed results for verbal IQ (n = 20) or performance IQ (n = 19). Analyzed data indicated patients had average performance on verbal comprehension features but low average performance on perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed indices. Executive function deficits were found in the analyzed studies, which reflect difficulties in planning and impulse control-characteristics present in the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The identification of this neuropsychological functioning contributes to the understanding of the cognitive dynamics found in schizophrenia and may help in early diagnosis, reinforcing the hypothesis that cognitive performance may be one of the indicators of psychopathologic expression. .
Topics: Humans; Adult; Cognition Disorders; Schizophrenia; Psychotic Disorders; Cognition; Intelligence
PubMed: 37857289
DOI: 10.4088/PCC.22r03456