Value and efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation in the rehabilitation of neurocognitive disorders: A critical review since 2000.

open3siNon-invasive brain stimulation techniques, including transcranial direct current stimulation (t-DCS) have been used in the rehabilitation of cognitive function in a spectrum of neurological disorders. The present review outlines methodological communalities and differences of t-DCS procedures in neurocognitive rehabilitation. We consider the efficacy of tDCS for the management of specific cognitive deficits in four main neurological disorders by providing a critical analysis of recent studies that have used t-DCS to improve cognition in patients with Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Hemi-spatial Neglect and Aphasia. The evidence from this innovative approach to cognitive rehabilitation suggests that tDCS can influence cognition. However, the results show a high variability between studies both on the methodological approach adopted and the cognitive functions aspects. The review also focuses both on methodological issues such as technical aspects of the stimulation ( electrodes position and dimension; current intensity; duration of protocol) and on the inclusion of appropriate assessment tools for cognition. A further aspect considered is the best timing to administer tDCS: before, during after cognitive rehabilitation. We conclude that more studies with shared methodology are needed to have a better understanding of the efficacy of tDCS as a new tool for rehabilitation of cognitive disorders in a range of neurological disordersopenCappon, D; Jahanshahi, M; Bisiacchi, PCappon, Davide; Jahanshahi, M; Bisiacchi, Patrizi

Standaardmotivering? Motiveringen van jeugdrechters betreffende maatregelen bij minderjarigen met een psychiatrische stoornis

A discrepancy exists between the high prevalence of mental disorders at the juvenile court and the rare application of psychiatric measures. This raises questions on how the juvenile judges decide whether they should apply a psychiatric measure for minors with mental disorders or not. Since the minors in contact with the juvenile court have a right on a motivated decision, the motivations are analyzed. There is examined whether a difference exists in the use of standard wording, the frequency and the interpretation of decision factors between motivations concerning non-psychiatric and psychiatric measures. The analysis shows that standard wording was more frequently used when applying non-psychiatric measures. The interpretation was also more diverse and different in the motivations of non-psychiatric measures. There is concluded that the measure applied influence which decision factors are mentioned in the motivations