Fattori che modulano i processi decisionali: uno studio sull’effetto framing

Lo studio prende in considerazione il cosiddetto “effetto framing”, definito come il contesto in cui l’individuo si trova a operare una scelta. Nello specifico, il modo in cui un problema decisionale è formulato influisce sulla percezione del punto di partenza del problema, rispetto al quale valutare i possibili esiti delle proprie azioni. Lo studio ha indagato l’entità e le caratteristiche dell’effetto framing in soggetti sani e in pazienti con esiti di grave cerebrolesione acquisita (GCA) ed ha esaminato le possibili relazioni tra tale effetto e alcuni processi cognitivi che si ritiene siano alla base dei processi decisionali. Sono state quindi valutate caratteristiche neuropsicologiche (working memory, funzioni attentive ed esecutive) e neuropsichiatriche (impulsività/disinibizione in particolare), ipotizzando che la presenza dell’effetto framing sia direttamente correlata a quella dei disturbi neuropsicologici e di personalità eventualmente presenti. Tutti i partecipanti sani che i pazienti sono stati esaminati mediante test neuropsicologici, scale cliniche e una prova computerizzata costruita ad hoc. I risultati hanno evidenziato la presenza degli effetti attesi, con un aumento di tale effetto nel gruppo dei pazienti con GCA, ponendo rilievo nella pratica clinica agli aspetti decisionali che incidono sulla qualità della loro vita e dell’intero sistema familiare. Questo è l’unico studio in cui una procedura che richiede di inibire attivamente le risposte automatiche, viene utilizzata per indagare i processi cognitivi coinvolti nell’effetto framing. In conclusione, raccolte insieme, le precedenti scoperte e i nostri primi risultati, forniscono evidenze convergenti a partire da paradigmi sperimentali differenti che supportano l’ipotesi secondo cui l’attivazione di un sistema esecutivo-analitico (caratterizzato da processi controllati, deliberati e cognitivi) possa influenzare i processi decisionali in condizione di framing

Pharmacological treatment of pain and agitation in severe dementia and responsiveness to change of the Italian Mobilization-Observation-Behavior-Intensity-Dementia (I-MOBID2) Pain Scale: study protocol

Up to 80% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in nursing homes experiences chronic pain and 97% develops fluctuant neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). Agitation, associated with unrelieved pain, is managed through antipsychotics and may increase the risk of death. Evidence is accumulating in favor of analgesia for a safer, effective therapy of agitation. The Italian version of Mobilization-Observation-Behavior-Intensity-Dementia, I-MOBID2, recently validated in the Italian setting, shows: good scale content validity index (0.89), high construct validity (Spearman rank-order correlation Rho = 0.748), reliable internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.751), good-excellent inter-rater (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.778) and test-retest (ICC = 0.902) reliability, and good inter-rater and test-retest agreement (Cohen's K = 0.744) with 5.8 min completion time. This study intends to identify the responsiveness of the I-MOBID2 based on COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) recommendations, assessing the a priori hypotheses of (1) the efficacy of painkillers administered to severe AD patients after proper pain assessment and (2) the effect of reduction of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) score and of agitation rescue medications. This protocol is approved by Calabria Region Ethics Committee protocol No. 31/2017 and follows the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines

Dementia and COVID-19: A Case Report and Literature Review on Pain Management

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes an unprecedented lifestyle, dominated by social isolation. In this frame, the population to pay the highest price is represented by demented patients. This group faces the highest risk of mortality, in case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and they experience rapid cognitive deterioration, due to lockdown measures that prevent their disease monitoring. This complex landscape mirrors an enhancement of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs), with agitation, delirium and reduced motor performances, particularly in non-communicative patients. Due to the consistent link between agitation and pain in these patients, the use of antipsychotics, increasing the risk of death during COVID-19, can be avoided or reduced through an adequate pain treatment. The most suitable pain assessment scale, also feasible for e-health implementation, is the Mobilization-Observation-Behaviour-Intensity-Dementia (MOBID-2) pain scale, currently under validation in the Italian real-world context. Here, we report the case of an 85-year-old woman suffering from mild cognitive impairment, subjected to off-label treatment with atypical antipsychotics, in the context of undertreated pain, who died during the pandemic from an extensive brain hemorrhage. This underscores the need for appropriate assessment and treatment of pain in demented patients

Talking about Sexuality in Stroke Individuals: The New Era of Sexual Rehabilitation

One of the largest causes of mortality and disability worldwide is stroke. In the last twenty years significant objectives have been achieved in the early and chronic treatment of motor and cognitive dysfunctions, increasing the quality of life in patients and their caregivers. However, there is an unresolved clinical issue that remains: sexual dysfunctions. Multiple etiologies, including organic (such as lesion localization, premorbid medical problems, and drugs) and psychosocial (such as fear of recurrences, loss of self-esteem, role shifts, anxiety, and depression), are associated with sexual deficits. In this perspective review, we reported the last piece of evidence about this crucial topic which drastically affects the quality of life of these patients. Indeed, although patients may often not disclose their sexual concerns, literature demonstrates that they seek help concerning this issue. On the other side, clinicians working in the rehabilitation field are not always comfortable or prepared to deal with sexuality and sexual function in neurological patients. A new phase of the training course should be launched including different physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and social workers, to learn how to deal with topics related to sexuality. As a result, professional sexual counselors should now become a structured part of stroke settings and rehabilitation with new effective tools (i.e., PLISSIT model; TDF program) for improving quality of life

A biopsychosocial analysis of sexuality in adult males and their partners after severe traumatic brain injury

urpose: The primary aim of this study was to investigate changes in sexual function in males and their partners following severe TBI. Secondary aims of the study were to explore the relationship between selected sociodemographic, emotional/behavioural and sexual function variables.Methods: Twenty males with a history of severe TBI and 20 healthy controls (HC) and their respective partners were recruited. Sexual life was assessed with the Sexuality Evaluation Schedule Assessment Monitoring (SESAMO). Study participant level of self-awareness was evaluated by the Awareness Questionnaire, whereas their neuropsychiatric and psychopathological statuses were assessed by the NPI, the HAM-D and STAI.Results: A reduction in desire and frequency of sexual intercourse was found in all survivors and their partners. Moreover, higher levels of survivor depression correlated with lower partner harmony. Survivor feelings toward their partners gradually decreased over time, as did the ability to make decisions as a couple. The comparison with HC couples revealed that both survivors' and their partners' exaggerated the extent of disease.Conclusions: After male severe TBI, men appear to have a reduced quality of their sexual life, which may be more a result of relationship dysfunction than a sexual performance deficit related to their brain injury history

Improvement rate of patients with severe brain injury during post-acute intensive rehabilitation

Patients with severe acquired brain injury (SABI) may evolve towards different outcomes. The primary aim was to evaluate the clinical evolution of a large population of patients with SABI admitted to post-acute rehabilitation from 2001 to 2016, diagnosed with severe brain injury (GCS ≤ 8) in the acute phase and a coma duration of at least 24 h. The possible changes between the admission time to a post-acute rehabilitation hospital and the discharge time were measured by means of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), Level of Cognitive Functioning (LCF), and Disability Rating Scale (DRS). We also correlated the improvement rate with some sociodemographic and clinical features of the individuals with SABI enrolled. Data of 890 patients were analyzed (54% TBI, length of stay = 162 ± 186 days, GCS = 7.46 ± 1.28); time interval from the SABI (OR = 0.246, CI 95% = 0.181 – 0.333), scores at admission of LCF (OR = 2.243, CI 95% = 1.492 – 3.73), GOS (OR = 0.138, CI 95% = 0.071 – 0.266), DRS (OR = 0.457, CI 95% = 0.330 – 0.632), and etiology (OR = 2.273, CI 95% = 1.676 – 3.084) played a significant role (p < 0.001, explained variance 69.9%) for improving GOS score. Time interval from the SABI to admission in our post-acute rehabilitation ward (OR = 0.300, CI 95% = 0.179 – 0.501, p < 0.001), length of rehabilitation stay (OR = 2.808, CI 95% = 1.694 – 4.653, p < 0.001), and etiology (OR = 1.769, CI 95% = 1.095 – 2.857, p = 0.020) led to a statistically significant improvement in DRS (explained variance 91%). The most significant predictive factors for the outcome of patients with SABI were etiology, time interval from SABI to admission in rehabilitation, and length of rehabilitation stay