Cognitive errors assessed by observer ratings in bipolar affective disorder: relationship with symptoms and therapeutic alliance

The construct of cognitive errors is clinically relevant for cognitive therapy of mood disorders. Beck's universality hypothesis postulates the relevance of negative cognitions in all subtypes of mood disorders, as well as positive cognitions for manic states. This hypothesis has rarely been empirically addressed for patients presenting bipolar affective disorder (BD). In-patients (n = 30) presenting with BD were interviewed, as were 30 participants of a matched control group. Valid and reliable observer-rater methodology for cognitive errors was applied to the session transcripts. Overall, patients make more cognitive errors than controls. When manic and depressive patients were compared, parts of the universality hypothesis were confirmed. Manic symptoms are related to positive and negative cognitive errors. These results are discussed with regard to the main assumptions of the cognitive model for depression; thus adding an argument for extending it to the BD diagnostic group, taking into consideration specificities in terms of cognitive errors. Clinical implications for cognitive therapy of BD are suggeste

Modelling children's negation errors using probabilistic learning in MOSAIC.

Cognitive models of language development have often been used to simulate the pattern of errors in children’s speech. One relatively infrequent error in English involves placing inflection to the right of a negative, rather than to the left. The pattern of negation errors in English is explained by Harris & Wexler (1996) in terms of very early knowledge of inflection on the part of the child. We present data from three children which demonstrates that although negation errors are rare, error types predicted not to occur by Harris & Wexler do occur, as well as error types that are predicted to occur. Data from MOSAIC, a model of language acquisition, is also presented. MOSAIC is able to simulate the pattern of negation errors in children’s speech. The phenomenon is modelled more accurately when a probabilistic learning algorithm is used

Evaluation of 2 cognitive abilities tests in a dual-task environment

Most real world operators are required to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. In some cases, such as flying a high performance aircraft or trouble shooting a failing nuclear power plant, the operator's ability to time share or process in parallel" can be driven to extremes. This has created interest in selection tests of cognitive abilities. Two tests that have been suggested are the Dichotic Listening Task and the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. Correlations between these test results and time sharing performance were obtained and the validity of these tests were examined. The primary task was a tracking task with dynamically varying bandwidth. This was performed either alone or concurrently with either another tracking task or a spatial transformation task. The results were: (1) An unexpected negative correlation was detected between the two tests; (2) The lack of correlation between either test and task performance made the predictive utility of the tests scores appear questionable; (3) Pilots made more errors on the Dichotic Listening Task than college students

Optimum Detection Location-Based Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio

Cognitive radio arises as a hot research issue in wireless communications recently, attributed to its capability of enhancing spectral efficiency and catering for the growing demand for bandwidth. As a good embodiment of cognitive radio’s unique feature, i.e. making use of every bit spectral resource, spectrum sensing plays a vital role in the implementation of cognitive radio. To alleviate negative effect on cooperative spectrum sensing brought by bit errors, we introduce a novel concept, i.e. Optimum Detection Location (ODL) and present two algorithms of different computational complexity for locating ODL, together with an ODL-Based cooperative spectrum sensing scheme, with the motivation to exploit the gain derived from geographic advantages and multiuser diversity. Numerical and simulation results both demonstrate that our proposed spectrum sensing scheme can significantly improve the sensing performance in the case of reporting channel with bit errors

The role of affect and cognitive schemata in the assessment of psychopathy

This thesis examined psychopathy, cognitive schemata and affect in forensic and community populations. This was to identify whether cognitive schemata and affect would assist in the assessment of psychopathy. Study one was conducted on 38 male high secure hospital patients and 38 male prisoners. It focused on the assessment of psychopathy and cognitive schemata. It was predicted that psychopathy would be positively related to negative schemata and early maladaptive schemata and negatively related to positive schemata. This prediction was supported with the exception of Early Maladaptive Schemata. Study two was conducted on 38 male high secure hospital patients and 38 male prisoners and also examined psychopathy and affect. It further explored positive schemata that was significant in study one. It was predicted that psychopathy would be positively related to errors on affective word sentence completion with slower response times. These predictions were not supported. The third study included 101 male prisoners and 108 male university students. An assessment of cognitive schema and affect was also developed. A further core prediction was that psychopathy would have a positive relationship with detached affect and results supported this. Contrary to prediction, it was found that psychopathy was higher in the student group compared to the prisoner group. Study four further explored the core predictions and included an examination of psychopathy, cognitive schema, affect and the 'Big Five' in 174 prisoners and 200 male students. The predictions were supported that psychopathy would be negatively related to positive cognitive schemata and positively related to negative cognitive schemata, in both groups. The predictions that detached affect would be significant to psychopathy was again supported. Contrary to prediction psychopathy was found to be higher in the student group. The current research indicates that cognitive schemata and affect are related to psychopathy. It also shows that similar cognitive profiles of psychopathy are demonstrated in prison and student groups that relate to affect. Further, it highlights the neglected role of positive schemata in psychopathy. Future research could consider the role of positive schemata and refine the cognitive profile in psychopathy, it could also examine the newly proposed cognitive behavioural model of psychopathy

The interference of negative emotional stimuli on context processing in mildly depressed undergraduates

Although previous studies reported a relationship between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms, whether context processing relates to symptoms of depression remains unclear. Hence, the question of whether context processing in depressed individuals is negatively specific or a general deficit also remains unanswered. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether mildly depressed individuals would evince a context processing deficit in response to negative emotional stimuli interference. We employed Emotional AX-CPT (AX version Continuous Performance Task), in which negative distractors were presented in the interval between cue and probe stimuli. ANOVAs revealed that when negative distractors were presented, the depressed group made more BX errors than the non-depressed group, and that the depressed group made more BX errors in response to negative distractors than to neutral distractors. Our results suggest that mildly depressed individuals show a context processing deficit when negatively charged stimuli interfere with retaining contextual information

The role of unusual conscious experiences in mental illness : an exploration guided by process models of symptom formation and by a hierarchical theory of personal illness : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

The relationship between non-clinical unusual conscious experiences and mental illness was explored cross-sectionally in 104 users of community mental health services. Morris (1997) organised unusual conscious experiences and psychiatric symptoms according to the cognitive process errors believed to underlie them, and highlighted the role in the formation of symptoms of difficulties in determining the intentions of the self and others. Foulds's (1976) hierarchical theory of personal illness predicted that progressively more serious layers of symptoms would be experienced, in addition to those already present, as the ability to discern intentionalily diminished. Participants completed the Delusions-Symptoms-States Inventory and the Conscious Experiences Questionnaire, and their primary clinicians provided Global Assessment of Functioning ratings. Foulds's hierarchical theory was found to be valid, and the frequency of unusual conscious experiences and deficits in determining intentionality increased the higher participants were placed on his hierarchy. Global functioning, although unrelated to position on the hierarchy or symptom related distress (findings attributed to the failure to assess negative symptoms) was weakly associated with the frequency of unusual conscious experiences. Cognitive process errors were positively correlated with each other, consistent with the errors occurring in the course of a single underlying process. Predicted associations were found between: delusions of persecution and difficulties in determining the intentions of others; hallucinations and the attribution of imagined percepts to external sources; grandiose delusions and the attribution of the actions of others to the self; conversion symptoms and the attribution of actions of the self to external sources; dissociative symptoms and the attribution of percepts with an external origin to the imagination; and delusions (of grandiosity, persecution, contrition, and passivity) and the attribution of events to an unseen power or force. Predicted associations were not found for passivity delusions or delusions of contrition. The implications for dimensional conceptions of mental illness are discussed, and research recommended to isolate the trait component of unusual conscious experiences. The utility of the cognitive process and intentionality findings are discussed in terms of generating hypotheses for future research, and guiding cognitive behaviour therapy and clinical management

Logical reasoning in schizotypal personality

It was examined whether psychotic-like personality traits in a sample of 205 college students could predict logical reasoning deficits, akin to those seen in schizophrenia. The participants were tested on their ability to assess the logical validity of premises (Logical Reasoning Task), and completed a multi-dimensional schizotypy inventory (O-LIFE). Low accuracy was associated with increased levels of disorganized schizotypy (‘Cognitive Disorganization’), while elevated errors were associated with increased levels of positive (‘Unusual Experiences’), negative (‘Introvertive Anhedonia’) and impulsive (‘Impulsivity Non-conformity’) schizotypy. Nevertheless, multiple regression analyses revealed that negative schizotypy was retained as the only significant predictor after performance was corrected for random guessing, and the contribution of the average amount of time spent on each premise was controlled. The results suggest that, although most schizotypy dimensions have a detrimental effect on reasoning performance, possibly due to disadvantageous test-taking strategies, negative schizotypy is the most reliable predictor of logical reasoning deficits. It is proposed that social/interpersonal schizotypal traits, like negative symptoms of schizophrenia, are accompanied by deficient executive functions of working memory, which appear to undermine, inter alia, logical reasoning processing

Routine cognitive errors: A trait-like predictor of individual differences in anxiety and distress

Five studies (N=361) sought to model a class of errors—namely, those in routine tasks—that several literatures have suggested may predispose individuals to higher levels of emotional distress. Individual differences in error frequency were assessed in choice reaction-time tasks of a routine cognitive type. In Study 1, it was found that tendencies toward error in such tasks exhibit trait-like stability over time. In Study 3, it was found that tendencies toward error exhibit trait-like consistency across different tasks. Higher error frequency, in turn, predicted higher levels of negative affect, general distress symptoms, displayed levels of negative emotion during an interview, and momentary experiences of negative emotion in daily life (Studies 2–5). In all cases, such predictive relations remained significant with individual differences in neuroticism controlled. The results thus converge on the idea that error frequency in simple cognitive tasks is a significant and consequential predictor of emotional distress in everyday life. The results are novel, but discussed within the context of the wider literatures that informed them

Executive dysfunction in children affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: an observational study

Introduction: The role of sleep in cognitive processes can be considered clear and well established. Different reports have disclosed the association between sleep and cognition in adults and in children, as well as the impact of disturbed sleep on various aspects of neuropsychological functioning and behavior in children and adolescents. Behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions can also be considered as related to alterations in the executive functions (EF) system. In particular, the EF concept refers to self-regulatory cognitive processes that are associated with monitoring and controlling both thought and goal directed behaviors. The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on EF in a large sample of school aged children. Materials and methods: The study population comprised 79 children (51 males and 28 females) aged 7–12 years (mean 9.14 ± 2.36 years) with OSAS and 92 healthy children (63 males and 29 females, mean age 9.08 ± 2.44 years). To identify the severity of OSAS, an overnight respiratory evaluation was performed. All subjects filled out the Italian version of the Modified Card Sorting Test to screen EFs. Moreover, to check the degree of subjective perceived daytime sleepiness, all subjects were administered the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS). Results: No significant differences between the two study groups were found for age (P = 0.871), gender (P = 0.704), z-score of body mass index (P = 0.656), total intelligence quotient (P = 0.358), and PDSS scores (P = 0.232). The OSAS children showed a significantly higher rate of total errors (P , 0.001), perseverative errors (P , 0.001), nonperseverative errors (P , 0.001), percentage of total errors (P , 0.001), percentage of perseverative errors (P , 0.001), and percentage of nonperseverative errors (P , 0.001). On the other hand, OSAS children showed a significant reduction in the number of completed categories (P = 0.036), total correct sorts (P = 0.001), and categorizing efficiency (P , 0.001). The Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between all error parameters and apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, and percentage of mean desaturation of O2 with a specular negative relationship between the error parameters and the mean oxygen saturation values, such as a significant negative relationship between apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, percent of mean desaturation of O2, and the number of completed categories. Conclusion: Our study identified differences in the executive functioning of children affected by OSAS and is the first to identify a correlation between alteration in respiratory nocturnal parameters and EF that has not yet been reported in developmental age. These findings can be considered as the strength and novelty of the present report in a large pediatric population