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Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022Major depression is one of the leading causes of disability and limited capacity to work. Neuropsychological impairment is a common symptom in acute and remitted major...
BACKGROUND
Major depression is one of the leading causes of disability and limited capacity to work. Neuropsychological impairment is a common symptom in acute and remitted major depression and is associated with poor psychosocial functioning. This scoping review aimed to identify research on the role of neuropsychological functioning in outcomes of vocational rehabilitation programs in individuals with depression.
METHODS
We report on the conduct of this pre-registered (https://osf.io/5yrnf) scoping review in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed and PsychInfo were systematically searched for English or German research articles published between 1990 and September 2021 that studied objective neuropsychological tests as predictors of vocational rehabilitation interventions and included participants with depression.
RESULTS
The systematic literature search yielded no studies that specifically targeted subjects with major depression. However, eight articles published since 2016 were included in the review, analyzing data from five trials that evaluated the effectiveness of supported employment in North America and Europe in severe mental illnesses. An estimated 31% of the total number of participants included ( = 3,533) had major depression. Using a variety of cognitive tests and covariates, seven articles found that neuropsychological functioning - especially global cognition scores, verbal and visual learning and memory - significantly predicted vocational outcomes of rehabilitation programs.
CONCLUSION
Despite a lack of studies specifically targeting major depressive disorder, the identified literature suggests that higher baseline neuropsychological functioning predicts better vocational outcomes of supported employment programs in individuals with depression. In clinical practice, additional neuropsychological modules during return-to-work interventions might be helpful for vocational outcomes of such programs.
PubMed: 36440409
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.942161 -
The Science of the Total Environment Feb 2023This systematic review summarises and evaluates the literature investigating associations between exposure to air pollution and general population cognition, which has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
This systematic review summarises and evaluates the literature investigating associations between exposure to air pollution and general population cognition, which has important implications for health, social and economic inequalities, and human productivity.
METHODS
The engines MEDLINE, Embase Classic+Embase, APA PsycInfo, and SCOPUS were searched up to May 2022. Our inclusion criteria focus on the following pollutants: particulate matter, NOx, and ozone. The cognitive abilities of interest are: general/global cognition, executive function, attention, working memory, learning, memory, intelligence and IQ, reasoning, reaction times, and processing speed. The collective evidence was assessed using the NTP-OHAT framework and random-effects meta-analyses.
RESULTS
Eighty-six studies were identified, the results of which were generally supportive of associations between exposures and worsened cognition, but the literature was varied and sometimes contradictory. There was moderate certainty support for detrimental associations between PM and general cognition in adults 40+, and PM, NOx, and PM and executive function (especially working memory) in children. There was moderate certainty evidence against associations between ozone and general cognition in adults age 40+, and NOx and reasoning/IQ in children. Some associations were also supported by meta-analysis (N = 14 studies, all in adults aged 40+). A 1 μg/m increase in NO was associated with reduced performance on general cognitive batteries (β = -0.02, p < 0.05) as was a 1 μg/m increase in PM exposure (β = -0.02, p < 0.05). A 1μgm increase in PM was significantly associated with lower verbal fluency by -0.05 words (p = 0.01) and a decrease in executive function task performance of -0.02 points (p < 0.001).
DISCUSSION
Evidence was found in support of some exposure-outcome associations, however more good quality research is required, particularly with older teenagers and young adults (14-40 years), using multi-exposure modelling, incorporating mechanistic investigation, and in South America, Africa, South Asia and Australasia.
Topics: Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Humans; Air Pollutants; Environmental Exposure; Air Pollution; Particulate Matter; Ozone; Cognition
PubMed: 36427724
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160234 -
Psychological Medicine Jan 2022Antipsychotic treatment resistance affects up to a third of individuals with schizophrenia. Of those affected, 70-84% are reported to be treatment resistant from the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Antipsychotic treatment resistance affects up to a third of individuals with schizophrenia. Of those affected, 70-84% are reported to be treatment resistant from the outset. This raises the possibility that the neurobiological mechanisms of treatment resistance emerge before the onset of psychosis and have a neurodevelopmental origin. Neuropsychological investigations can offer important insights into the nature, origin and pathophysiology of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), but methodological limitations in a still emergent field of research have obscured the neuropsychological discriminability of TRS. We report on the first systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate neuropsychological differences between TRS patients and treatment-responsive controls across 17 published studies (1864 participants). Five meta-analyses were performed in relation to (1) executive function, (2) general cognitive function, (3) attention, working memory and processing speed, (4) verbal memory and learning, and (5) visual-spatial memory and learning. Small-to-moderate effect sizes emerged for all domains. Similarly to previous comparisons between unselected, drug-naïve and first-episode schizophrenia samples healthy controls in the literature, the largest effect size was observed in verbal memory and learning [ = -0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.29 to -0.76; = 4.42; < 0.001]. A sub-analysis of language-related functions, extracted from across the primary domains, yielded a comparable effect size ( = -0.53, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.23; = 3.45; < 0.001). Manipulating our sampling strategy to include or exclude samples selected for clozapine response did not affect the pattern of findings. Our findings are discussed in relation to possible aetiological contributions to TRS.
Topics: Humans; Antipsychotic Agents; Memory, Short-Term; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 36415088
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721004128 -
Journal of Neurology Mar 2023Several studies report mixed associations between the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness with cognitive and physical disability in persons with multiple... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Several studies report mixed associations between the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness with cognitive and physical disability in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Systematic synthesis of these findings is crucial in deriving credible conclusions.
METHODS
Five databases were searched from their inception to March 2022. The inclusion criteria for studies were MS-specific and required RNFL and cognitive performance data in order to be analyzed. The selection processes followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
RESULTS
The systematic review yielded 31 studies that investigated the association between RNFL thickness and cognitive performance. Twenty-two studies reported positive associations, and nine did not. The meta-analysis included 11 studies with a total of 782 PwMS with mean age of 40.5 years, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of 2.7, and disease duration of 11.3 years. RNFL thickness was significantly associated Symbol Digit Modalities Test (pooled r = 0.306, p < 0.001), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (pooled r = 0.374, p < 0.001) and Word List Generation (WLG, pooled r = 0.177, p < 0.001). RNFL was also significantly correlated with visuospatial learning and memory tests (pooled r = 0.148, p = 0.042) and verbal learning and memory tests (pooled r = 0.245, p = 0.005). Within three eligible studies, no significant association between ganglion cell inner-plexiform layer and SDMT 0.083 (95% CI - 0.186, 0.352) was noted. The heterogeneity was high in all correlation studies (I > 63% and p < 0.008) except for the WLG and visuospatial memory findings.
CONCLUSION
RNFL thickness is associated with cognitive processing speed, verbal learning and memory, visual learning and memory, as well as verbal fluency in PwMS. The number of studies included in the meta-analyses were limited due to non-standardized reporting.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Multiple Sclerosis; Nerve Fibers; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Retina; Cognition
PubMed: 36396812
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11449-5 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022Despite numerous instruments existing to assist in the measurement of specific cyberbullying behaviors or cyberbullying in general, it is still unclear their purpose,...
Despite numerous instruments existing to assist in the measurement of specific cyberbullying behaviors or cyberbullying in general, it is still unclear their purpose, corresponding scenarios, and their effectiveness. This study, therefore, aims to provide a comprehensive review of academic efforts on cyberbullying definitions, measurements, and their effectiveness in children and adolescents in the past two decades. A systematic review was performed using ASReview, an open source machine learning systematic review system. Three bibliographic citation databases, including Web of Science core collection, PubMed, and EBSCO were adopted for all relevant literature published from January 2001 to August 2021. In total, twenty-five studies, mentioning seventeen cyberbullying measurement scales, met the study collection criteria. The results found that most failed to provide a clear definition of cyberbullying, often providing unclear and inconsistent descriptions for the youth. Similarly, studies found it difficult to clearly reflect the three key elements of bullying, namely: harmfulness, repetitiveness, and the power imbalance between bullies and victims. With regard to cyberbullying types, most presented two or three categories, including victimization, perpetration, and bystanding, while some suggested four types based on the nature of the cyberbullying behavior, including written or verbal, visual or sexual, character impersonation, and exclusion. If characteristics are considered, cyberbullying becomes more specific with multiple categories being proposed, including flaming (or roasting), harassment, denigration, defamation, outing, jokes, online sexual harassment, and cyberstalking. With regard to measurements, many scales have been proposed and frequently refined to capture specific cyberbullying experience of the youth. This study emphasizes the value and importance of providing clear cyberbullying definitions and helps scholars in youth cyberbullying choose appropriate measurement scales.
Topics: Child; Adolescent; Humans; Cyberbullying; Bullying; Crime Victims
PubMed: 36388377
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1000504 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022: Sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) are a group of disorders characterised by an abnormal number of sex chromosomes. Collective prevalence rate of SCAs is estimated to... (Review)
Review
: Sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) are a group of disorders characterised by an abnormal number of sex chromosomes. Collective prevalence rate of SCAs is estimated to be around 1 in 400-500 live births; sex chromosome trisomies (e.g., XXX, XXY, XYY) are most frequent, while tetra- and pentasomies (e.g., XXXX, XXXXX, XXXY, XXXXY) are rarer, and the most common is 48, XXYY syndrome. The presence of additional X and/or Y chromosomes is believed to cause neurodevelopmental differences, with increased risk for developmental delays, language-based learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, executive dysfunction, and behavioural and psychological disorders. : Our review has the purpose of analysing the neurocognitive, linguistical and behavioural profile of patients affected by sex chromosomes supernumerary aneuploidies (tetrasomy and pentasomy) to better understand the specific areas of weakness, in order to provide specific rehabilitation therapy. : The literature search was performed by two authors independently. We used MEDLINE, PubMed, and PsycINFO search engines to identify sources of interest, without year or language restrictions. At the end of an accurate selection, 16 articles fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. : International literature has described single aspects of the neuropsychological profile of 48, XXYY and 49, XXXXY patients. In 48, XXYY patients, various degrees of psychosocial/executive functioning issues have been reported and there is an increased frequency of behavioural problems in childhood. Developmental delay and behavioural problems are the most common presenting problems, even if anxiety, depression and oppositional defiant disorder are also reported. They also show generalized difficulties with socialization and communication. Cognitive abilities are lower in measures of verbal IQ than in measures of performance IQ. Visuospatial skills are a relative strength compared to verbal skills. In patients with 49, XXXXY, both intellectual and adaptive functioning skills fall into the disability range, with better non-verbal cognitive performance. Speech and language testing reveals more deficits in expressive language than receptive language and comprehension. Anxiety, thought problems, internalizing and externalizing problems, and deficits in social cognition and communication are reported. Behavioural symptoms lessen from school age to adolescence, with the exception of thought problems and anxiety. Individuals affected by sex chromosome aneuploidies show testosterone deficiency, microorchidism, lack of pubertal progression and infertility. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is usually recommended for these patients: different studies have found that testosterone-based HRT benefit a wide range of areas initiated in these disorders, affecting not only neuromotor, cognitive and behavioural profile but also structural anomalies of the brain (i.e., increase of volume of grey temporal lobe matter). In conclusion, further studies are needed to better understand the neuropsychological profile with a complete evaluation, including neurocognitive and psychosocial aspects and to establish the real impact of HRT on improving the cognitive and behavioural profile of these patients.
PubMed: 36360447
DOI: 10.3390/children9111719 -
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology &... Mar 2023Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder that includes positive and negative symptoms but also debilitating cognitive deficits. Current pharmacological... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder that includes positive and negative symptoms but also debilitating cognitive deficits. Current pharmacological interventions do not target these deficits. Recent evidence suggests a connection between some inflammatory markers (including C-reactive protein) and cognitive impairment, but did not address other inflammatory markers. In the current study, we try to fill the gap by focusing on the association of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and CRP with cognitive dysfunction.
METHODS
PUBMED and Web of Science databases were searched for all studies published until July 2022. A total of 25 studies were included in an analysis of the association between cognitive performance and variation in IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CRP.
RESULTS
A total of 2398 patients were included in this study. Meta-analyses results showed a significant inverse relationship between performance in five cognitive domains (attention-processing speed, executive function, working memory, verbal and visual learning and memory) and systemic IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CRP plasma levels in patients with schizophrenia. The meta-analyses results showed a significant decline in the cognitive performances with the evaluated inflammatory markers with effect sizes ranging from -0.136 to -0.181 for IL-6, -0.188 to -0.38 for TNF-α -0.372 to -0.476 for IL-1β and - 0.168 to -0.311 for CRP.
CONCLUSION
Findings from the current study shows that cognitive deficits are reflective of elevated proinflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CRP) levels. The results obtained indicate relatedness between inflammation and cognitive decline in patients with schizophrenia. Understanding the underlying pathways between them could have a significant impact on the disease progression and quality of life in schizophrenia patients.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Interleukin-6; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Quality of Life; Cognitive Dysfunction; C-Reactive Protein; Biomarkers; Inflammation
PubMed: 36283512
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110668 -
Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics Jan 2023The current literature on unilateral coronal craniosynostosis is replete with repair techniques and surgical outcomes; however, information regarding neurodevelopment... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The current literature on unilateral coronal craniosynostosis is replete with repair techniques and surgical outcomes; however, information regarding neurodevelopment remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively assess the neurodevelopmental outcomes of patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis compared with their healthy peers or normative data.
METHODS
A systematic review of the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from database inception to January 19, 2022, was performed. Included studies assessed neurodevelopment of patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis. Two independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data based on a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results of developmental tests were compared with normative data or controls to generate Hedges' g statistics for meta-analysis. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Assessment Tool.
RESULTS
A total of 19 studies were included and analyzed, with an overall fair reporting quality. A meta-analysis of 325 postoperative patients demonstrated that scores of general neurodevelopment were below average but within one standard deviation of the norm (Hedges' g = -0.68 [95% CI -0.90 to -0.45], p < 0.001). Similarly, postoperative patients exhibited lower scores in verbal, psychomotor, and mathematic outcome assessments.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review and meta-analysis found that patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis had poorer neurodevelopment, although scores generally remained within the normal range. These data may guide implementation of regular neurocognitive assessments and early learning support of patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis.
Topics: United States; Humans; Craniosynostoses; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 36272117
DOI: 10.3171/2022.9.PEDS22283 -
European Archives of... Feb 2023This PRISMA-compliant systematic review aims to analyze the existing applications of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning for rhinological... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This PRISMA-compliant systematic review aims to analyze the existing applications of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning for rhinological purposes and compare works in terms of data pool size, AI systems, input and outputs, and model reliability.
METHODS
MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Search criteria were designed to include all studies published until December 2021 presenting or employing AI for rhinological applications. We selected all original studies specifying AI models reliability. After duplicate removal, abstract and full-text selection, and quality assessment, we reviewed eligible articles for data pool size, AI tools used, input and outputs, and model reliability.
RESULTS
Among 1378 unique citations, 39 studies were deemed eligible. Most studies (n = 29) were technical papers. Input included compiled data, verbal data, and 2D images, while outputs were in most cases dichotomous or selected among nominal classes. The most frequently employed AI tools were support vector machine for compiled data and convolutional neural network for 2D images. Model reliability was variable, but in most cases was reported to be between 80% and 100%.
CONCLUSIONS
AI has vast potential in rhinology, but an inherent lack of accessible code sources does not allow for sharing results and advancing research without reconstructing models from scratch. While data pools do not necessarily represent a problem for model construction, presently available tools appear limited in allowing employment of raw clinical data, thus demanding immense interpretive work prior to the analytic process.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Deep Learning; Reproducibility of Results; Machine Learning; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 36260141
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07701-3 -
Psychiatria Danubina Sep 2022rTMS is an adequately safe intervention that is approved for treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions. There is ongoing research on the application of rTMS for...
BACKGROUND
rTMS is an adequately safe intervention that is approved for treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions. There is ongoing research on the application of rTMS for the treatment of resistant auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in schizophrenia (SZ), and also for alleviating negative and cognitive symptoms in patients with chronic SZ states. Language decline, as a part of thought, language and communication disorders, is one of the key symptoms of SZ, having a significant bearing on decreased social/interpersonal functioning of these patients. In this regard rTMS may be a promising treatment approach, while serving as an important research tool in the field of SZ studies. The aim of our present study was to compile and evaluate the existing data on whether rTMS affects verbal function in SZ patients, and if rTMS has any efficacy for the treatment of language disturbances in SZ spectrum disorders.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Our systematic search over the PubMed database revealed a total of 200 articles, of which 21 met criteria for inclusion in this analysis. We have reviewed in detail the study designs, inclusion and exclusion criteria, rTMS protocols and cognitive (in particular, speech/language domain) assessments reported in these articles.
RESULTS
The 21 studies focused on two key topic clusters: (i) low-frequency rTMS treatment of AVH in SZ, and (ii) high-frequency rTMS treatment of negative and cognitive SZ symptoms. The majority of study participants presented with chronic and treatment-resistant states. Most of the low-frequency rTMS studies did not show any difference in verbal test measures in SZ in response to treatment. Less than a half of high-frequency rTMS studies reported a delayed positive effect on language cognitive domains in SZ. There were sporadic reports on dropouts associated with a decline in scores for auditory verbal learning tests.
CONCLUSIONS
Our systematic review found rTMS to be generally safe in relation to verbal/speech function, and suggested that verbal memory tests could serve as a measure of safety of this treatment procedure in SZ patients. Speech effects of rTMS have only been registered over long-term observation periods, such that time-frame which should be considered as an important factor for future studies. In our project "Innovative Neuropsychiatry Research Bank: Priority-2030" we plan to clarify (i) efficient rTMS protocols targeting neurocognitive improvement in SZ, and (ii) the cohort of SZ patients with a particular cognitive endophenotype and language profile amenable to treatment with rTMS, with a focus on language scores.
Topics: Hallucinations; Humans; Language; Schizophrenia; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
PubMed: 36170724
DOI: No ID Found