Effect of lateral dominance on manual dexterity in people with Down syndrome

Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito da dominância lateral na destreza manual em um grupo de crianças e adolescentes com Síndrome de Down (SD) e comparar o resultado de participantes com SD com pessoas sem a síndrome. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 100 crianças e adolescentes de ambos os sexos e idade variando de 7 a 9 anos e de 14 e 15 anos. 50 pessoas tinham diagnóstico de SD (GSD) e 50 sem a síndrome (GC). O Teste Caixa e Blocos (TCB) foi usado por possibilitar avaliação da atividade motora a partir da contagem do número de blocos transferidos entre duas divisões de uma caixa padronizada. O TCB é simples e sua aplicação não demanda habilidades cognitivas complexas. Resultados: O número de blocos transferidos por minuto foi menor nos participantes do GSD do que os do GC, com evidente desvantagem na destreza manual para ambas as mãos. Não foi observado efeito de dominância no GSD, mas no GC este efeito foi observado com melhor desempenho no lado dominante. Conclusões: O TCB foi útil para a quantificação da destreza manual em pessoas com SD já que é de fácil aplicação e compreensão por pessoas com déficit cognitivo.Objective: To evaluate the effect of lateral dominance on manual dexterity in a group of children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and to compare the results from participants with DS with people without the syndrome. Method: The study included 100 children and adolescents of both sexes with ages ranging from 7 to 9 years and 14 to 15 years. 50 people were diagnosed with DS (GDS) and 50 without the syndrome (GC). The Box and Blocks Test (BBT) was used because it allows assessment of motor activity by counting the number of blocks transferred between two divisions of a standard box. The BBT implementation is simple and does not require complex cognitive skills. Results: The number of blocks transferred per minute was lower in participants of GDS than the GC, with a clear disadvantage for manual dexterity in both hands. There was no effect of dominance in the GDS, but the GC showed better performance on the dominant side. Conclusion: The BBT was useful for the quantification of manual dexterity in people with DS as it is easy to apply and understand by people with cognitive impairment

Transtorno do Espectro Autista: Avaliação de habilidades cognitivas utilizando o teste não-verbal SON-R 6-40

Cognition in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) shows large variability. Nonverbal tests can be more suitable for cognitive assessment in this group. We investigated cognitive abilities in ASD using the SON-R 6-40 Nonverbal Intelligence Test. A total of 37 individuals with ASD (AG) aged 6-24 years participated. Cognitive assessment of the AG was done using the SON-R 6-40 and performance compared with the standardized sample which served as the control group (CG). Results showed lower subtest scores in the AG than in the CG. Approximately 84% of the AG had intellectual disability according to IQ scores. Individuals with preserved speech in the AG had higher IQ scores than patients without preserved speech. There was no relationship between intelligence and ASD symptom severity as reported by families.A cognição de indivíduos com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) apresenta grande variabilidade. Testes não-verbais podem ser mais adequados para avaliação cognitiva desta população. Investigou-se as habilidades cognitivas de indivíduos com TEA a partir do desempenho no Teste não verbal de inteligência SON-R 6-40. Participaram 37 indivíduos com TEA (GTEA) entre 6 e 24 anos, cujo desempenho no SON-R 6-40 foi comparado ao da amostra normativa do instrumento (GC). Houve pior desempenho do GTEA em todos os subtestes, com diferença significativa em relação ao GC. Quase 84% do GTEA apresentou QI compatível com deficiência intelectual. Aqueles com fala preservada apresentaram desempenho superior ao grupo não-verbal. Não houve relação entre inteligência e gravidade dos sintomas conforme relato das famílias

Analysis of exploratory eye movements in patients with schizophrenia during visual scanning of projective tests' figures Análise dos movimentos oculares de pacientes com esquizofrenia durante a exploração visual de figuras de testes projetivos

reSumo objetivo: Comparar o padrão do movimento ocular durante a inspeção dos cartões dos testes projetivos Rorschach e TAT em pessoas com esquizofrenia e controles. método: Participaram 10 sujeitos com esquizofrenia e 10 controles, pareados por idade, escolaridade e nível de inteligência. A severidade dos sintomas foi avaliada com a Escala das Síndromes Positiva e Negativa. Os cartões dos testes foram divididos em três grupos: figuras do TAT representando ambientes, figuras do TAT com faces humanas e figuras abstratas do teste Rorschach. Os movimentos oculares foram analisados para: número total, duração e localização das fixações e comprimento dos movimentos sacádicos. resultados: Foram encontradas diferenças no padrão do movimento ocular, e pessoas com esquizofrenia apresentaram menos fixações nos cartões do teste Rorschach e TAT-faces. Maiores diferenças foram observadas nos cartões do Rorschach, seguidos pelo TAT-faces e, por último, TAT-ambiente. conclusões: Os resultados sugerem alteração nos mecanismos de exploração visual, possivelmente relacionada com a integração da informação visual abstrata

Utilizando o teste não verbal de inteligência SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a] para avaliar crianças com Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo

The relevance of cognitive assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorders is due to the association between cognitive deficits and severity of symptoms, adaptive functioning, prognosis and planning of more effective interventions.Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the non-verbal test of intelligence SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a] adequacy in ASD group of children. The participants were 18 boys aged 4 and 7 years old, diagnosed based on the DSM-IV-TR and scored on screening instruments. The nonverbal intelligence test SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a], the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) were used. The results showed that 55.6% of the group had IQs below average, and there was significant difference between the performance of TEA group and normative sample in the four subtests that compose the instrument. Intra-group analysis showed statistically significant differences between subtests, although these showed significant positive correlations with each other. Negative and significant correlations were observed between IQ Total in SON-R 2 ½ - 7 [a] the ABC and ASQ, as well as positive and significant correlations were observed between Total IQ and VABS. The results corroborate previous findings that indicate moderate relationships between intelligence, severityof symptoms and functionality, as well as the presence of specific profile of nonverbal performance in ASD group.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1984686X9779A importância da avaliação de inteligência nos Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo se deve ao fato de alterações cognitivas estarem relacionadas com a severidade dos sintomas, funcionamento adaptativo, prognóstico e com o planejamento de intervenções mais eficazes. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a adequação do teste não-verbal de inteligência SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a] para avaliação de um grupo de crianças com TEA. Participaram 18 meninos com idades entre 4 e 7 anos, diagnosticados com base nos critérios do DSM-IV-TR e que pontuaram em instrumentos de rastreamento. Foram utilizados o teste de inteligência SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a], o Inventário de Comportamentos Autísticos (ICA), o Questionário de Comportamento e Comunicação Social (SCQ) e a Escala de Comportamento Adaptativo de Vineland (VABS). Os resultados mostraram que 55,6% do grupo obteve QI inferior à média, e houve diferença significativa entre o desempenho do grupo TEA e da amostra normativa nos quatro subtestes que compõem o instrumento. Análises intra grupo indicaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os subtestes, embora tenham sido obtidas correlações positivas e significativas entre si. Correlações negativas e significativas foram observadas entre QI Total no SON-R2 ½ - 7 [a] com o ICA e o QCS; assim como foram observadas correlações positivas, significativas do QI Total com os escores obtidos na VABS. Os resultados obtidos corroboram achados prévios que indicam relações moderadasentre inteligência, severidade dos sintomas e funcionalidade, bem como a presença de perfil específico de desempenho não-verbal de crianças com TEA.

The effect of mindfulness on decision-making, inhibitory control, and impulsivity of substance use disorder in-treatment patients : A randomized clinical trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) in decision-making, inhibitory control and impulsivity compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) for individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUD's) in Brazil. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with participants from a therapeutic community (n = 122). Decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task), impulsivity dimensions (UPPS-P Scale), and inhibitory control (Stroop Color-Word Test) were assessed before and after the MBRP 8-week intervention. GLM Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the effects of MBRP on different impulsivity measures. The results showed that MBRP+TAU improved the general decision-making score (p = 0,008) compared to TAU. However, no significant effects were found in impulsivity dimensions and inhibitory control in individuals with SUDs in the therapeutic community. This study found improvement in decision-making in the total IGT score; however, no effect for self-reported impulsivity and inhibitory control among middle-aged patients after an 8-weeks intervention of MBRP protocol in an inpatient setting. It adds information to the subject, with implications and possible directions to be followed by the next clinical trials with patients with SUDs in treatment. Trial registration: EnsaiosClinicos.gov.br: RBR-6c9njc

Rapid Automatized Naming and Explicit Phonological Processing in Children With Developmental Dyslexia: A Study With Portuguese-Speaking Children in Brazil.

peer reviewedMany studies have shown that children with reading difficulties present deficits in rapid automatized naming (RAN) and phonological awareness skills. The aim of this study was to examine RAN and explicit phonological processing in Brazilian Portuguese-speaking children with developmental dyslexia and to explore the ability of RAN to discriminate between children with and without dyslexia. Participants were 30 children with a clinical diagnosis of dyslexia established by the Brazilian Dyslexia Association and 30 children with typical development. Children were aged between 7 and 12, and groups were matched for chronological age and sex. They completed a battery of tests that are commonly used in Brazil for diagnosing dyslexia, consisting of the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC-IV) as well as tests of single word and non-word reading, RAN, and the profile of phonological abilities test. Results indicate that the cognitive profile of this group of children, with a clinical diagnosis of dyslexia, showed preserved skills in the four subscales of the WISC-IV (verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed) and on the profile of phonological abilities test. Groups significantly differed on the reading tests (word and non-word) and RAN measures, with medium to large effect sizes for RAN. Classification and regression tree analysis revealed that RAN was a good predictor for dyslexia diagnosis, with an overall classification accuracy rate of 88.33%

Behavioral Profile of Children and Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Exogenous Obesity

The objective of present study was compared the behavioral profile of two different groups of children and adolescents with obesity. Ten subjects presented diagnoses of exogenous obesity and ten Prader-Willi syndrome. The Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disease which the main behavioral symptom is hyperphagia. The samples were paired by sex and age, with mean age of 12 years. In the evaluation of behavioral profile was utilized Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6–18). In the most cases children with exogenous obesity have obtained better results than the referred with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Into the comparison by mean of ANOVA univariate identified significant differences between the groups in the scales: school (p = 0.001), social problems (p = 0.012), thought problems (p = 0.001), attention problems (p = 0.048), rule-breaking behavior (p = 0.019); aggressive behavior (p = 0.003) and conduct problems (p = 0.001). The differences suggested the need of counseling psychological strategies in the Prader-Willi syndrome group

Low weight, socioeconomics and behavioral issues: examining a population in the Northeast of Brazil.

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND: Preterm and low weight children at birth are exposed to higher risks and rates of motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems. Being born under low socioeconomic conditions adds even more complexity to these children. This report describes the emotional and behavioral issues of a group of children who were born in low income families and had low weigh at birth in the Northeast region of Brazil. METHOD: A total of 100 children (47 with adequate and 53 with low weigh) were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist for behavioral and emotional problems, as well as with the Autism Behavior Checklist for autism symptoms. RESULTS: Results show no difference between the two groups (low and adequate weight) in terms of behavior problems or autism characteristics, however, it shows elevated clinical prevalence's of behavioral and emotional problems and more vulnerability for autism symptoms when compared to the general population. Data also showed the more years children spent in pre-school, the less internalizing problems they manifested. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the impact of low socioeconomics environment is more prominent in the development of behavioral and emotional problems than low weight at birth, in addition it points to the benefits of pre-school years for the emotional and behavioral adjustment of children from low income and with low weight at birth

Interação mãe-bebê pré-termo e mudança no estado de humor: comparação do Método Mãe-Canguru com visita na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal

OBJETIVO: avaliar mudanças nos estados de humor de mães de bebês pré-termo em função do tipo de contato com o seu filho: Método Mãe-Canguru (MMC) e visita ao filho na incubadora da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. MÉTODOS: foi aplicada a Escala Analógica de Humor em 60 mães divididas em 2 grupos: mães que participam do Método Mãe-Canguru (GC) e mães que acompanharam o bebê na incubadora (GI). Os grupos foram pareados em função da idade das mães, número de gestações e tipo de parto. As mães foram avaliadas antes e depois de uma das visitas ao filho na incubadora ou sessão de MMC. RESULTADOS: as mães do GC melhoraram o humor, relatando: sentirem-se mais calmas, fortes, com idéias claras, ágeis, dinâmicas, satisfeitas, tranqüilas, perspicazes, relaxadas, atentas, competentes, alegres e amistosas. As mães do GI não apresentaram melhora no estado de humor em nenhum item, mas pioraram no item "sentindo-se desajeitada". CONCLUSÕES: o Método Mãe-Canguru mostrou-se eficaz na melhora nos estados de humor de mães de bebês pré-termo, contribuindo assim para a minimização dos efeitos negativos da internação neonatal