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Morais S, d’Almeida OC, Caldeira S, Meneses S, Areias G, Girão V, Bettencourt C, Pereira DJ, Macedo A, Castelo-Branco M. Executive function in schizophrenia and autism in adults shares common components separating high and low performance groups. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1381526. [PMID: 38699455 PMCID: PMC11064061 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1381526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The profile of executive function (EF) in adults with Schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unclear. This study aims to ascertain if distinct EF patterns can be identified between each clinical condition by comparing the neuropsychological profile of adults with SCZ and ASD, for whom the differential diagnosis is still highly challenging. Forty-five individuals (15 SCZ, 15 ASD, 15 controls) matched for age, sex, education level, and handedness underwent intelligence evaluation and neuropsychological testing for working memory, inhibition, planning and set-shifting, and verbal fluency subdomains. Principal component analysis (2D-PCA) using variables representing 4 domains was employed to identify patterns in neuropsychological profiles. The ASD group had lower scores on the Digits Forward subtest compared to the SCZ group (7.2 ± 2.1 vs. 9.3 ± 1.9, p = 0.003; Cohen's d: 1.05). ASD also performed significantly worse on the Stroop Word Test compared to the control group (77.7± 17.9 vs. 98.0 ± 12.7, p = 0.009; Cohen's d: 1.31). No significant differences were observed between ASD and SCZ on other EF measures. The larger contributors for the dimensions in 2D-PCA were the Digits Forward subtest and Stroop Word Test. Still, there was substantial overlap between the clinical groups. This study suggests a high degree of similarity of EF between SCZ and ASD. Through four EF measures, the discrimination of low and high-functioning EF groups spanning both diagnostic categories may help to identify the individuals who could better benefit from cognitive rehabilitation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Morais
- Psychiatry Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Otília C. d’Almeida
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Salomé Caldeira
- Psychology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sofia Meneses
- Psychology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Graça Areias
- Psychology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Girão
- Faculty of Psychological and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina Bettencourt
- Faculty of Psychological and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychological and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniela Jardim Pereira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Neurorradiology Functional Area, Imaging Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Macedo
- Psychiatry Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Çelik S, Yıldırım V, Güler ZD, Kadam HT. Predicting normative data in healthy individuals on the computerized wisconsin card sorting test using regression models. NeuroRehabilitation 2023; 53:505-515. [PMID: 38143392 DOI: 10.3233/nre-230164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computerized neuropsychological tests provide advantages to clinicians with cost, administration, and time. However, studies have pointed out performance differences between manual and computerized versions of some neuropsychological tests. One of these is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Due to the performance difference, the normative data of manual tests cannot be used for their computerized versions. Therefore, normative data searches are needed for computerized versions. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the norm values of WCST-CV in a healthy sample. METHODS 422 healthy adults aged 18-78 participated in this study. WCST-CVsub-scores are modeled by Regression Analysis based on Age and Education level to generate normative data. Among the 13 WCST scores, the regression models for WCST 2, WCST 3, WCST 4, WCST 10, and WCST 11 are significant. WCST 2, WCST 4, and WCST 11 scores are estimated with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). However, WCST 3 and WCST 10 scores are estimated with Weighted Least Squares (WLS) due to the violation of the homoscedasticity assumption. RESULTS The regression results show that p-values calculated from error increase as age and education level increase. CONCLUSION As a result of our research, norm values between 18-78 years of age were produced using RA. It was determined that gender was not significant for any sub-score. Therefore, only age and education level from socio-demographic variables were included in the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samet Çelik
- Department of Psychology, Bartin University, Bartin, Turkey
| | - Vural Yıldırım
- Institute of Earth and Space Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskisehir, Turkey
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Mallorquí-Bagué N, Lozano-Madrid M, Granero R, Mestre-Bach G, Vintró-Alcaraz C, Sánchez I, Jiménez-Murcia S, Fernández-Aranda F. Cognitive and clinical gender‐related differences among binge‐spectrum eating disorders: Analysis of therapy response predictors. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2022; 31:377-389. [PMID: 36482806 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assessed gender-related differences in executive functions (decision-making, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), personality traits and psychopathological symptoms in binge-spectrum eating disorders (EDs). Secondly, we aimed to separately explore the predictive value of gender and executive functions in treatment outcome. METHOD A battery of self-reported and neurocognitive measures were answered by a sample of 85 patients (64 females) diagnosed with a binge-spectrum ED (41 BN; 44 binge eating disorder). RESULTS Data showed gender-related differences in executive functioning, displaying women lower inhibitory control and lower cognitive flexibility than men. Regarding personality traits and psychopathology symptoms, women presented higher reward dependence and cooperativeness, as well as more drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, bulimia, and somatisation symptoms than men. Finally, worse executive functioning, particularly having lower ability in concept formation seems to predict worse treatment outcomes and dropout in these patients. CONCLUSIONS We described gender specific neuropsychological, personality and psychopathological impairments in patients with binge-spectrum EDs. Moreover, difficulties in executive functioning might have an impact on treatment response, since patients with a lower ability in concept formation are less likely to benefit from treatment. The present results can help improving current treatment approaches by tackling gender and individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Mallorquí-Bagué
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de Mataró, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - María Lozano-Madrid
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Granero
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Vintró-Alcaraz
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Sánchez
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Dietary Intake of Polyphenols Enhances Executive/Attentional Functioning and Memory with an Improvement of the Milk Lipid Profile of Postpartum Women from Argentina. J Intell 2022; 10:jintelligence10020033. [PMID: 35736005 PMCID: PMC9224741 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence10020033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Puerperium may lead to memory and executive/attentional complaints that interfere with women’s daily life. This might be prevented by dietary compounds, such as neuroprotective polyphenols. Their bioactivity depends on their effects on lipid metabolism in different tissues, such as the brain, fat, and breast. Thus, a polyphenol-related cognitive improvement may be associated with changes of lipids in human milk, which are key for infant neurodevelopment. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 postpartum women from Córdoba (Argentina), involving several neuropsychological tests. Diet was registered to identify polyphenol intake and food pattern adherence, with sociodemographic and other psychological variables (insomnia, stress, subjective cognitive complaints) being also studied. Triacylglycerols, cholesterol, and their oxidative forms were analyzed as milk biomarkers. Multivariate statistical methods were applied. Results confirmed that women who consumed polyphenols presented better executive/attentional performance (i.e., higher correct responses, conceptual level responses, complete categories, verbal fluency; lower attentional interferences, and perseverative errors) and word retention with lower interference. Polyphenols were positively associated with milk lipids, which were higher in women with better cognition. Furthermore, they had lower oxidized triacylglycerols. In conclusion, polyphenolic intake during postpartum may improve executive/attentional functioning, memory, and milk lipid profile.
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