A computerized test of speed of language comprehension unconfounded by literacy

A computerised version of the Silly Sentences task developed for use with children (Baddeley et al, 1995) is found to be equivalent to the pencil-and-paper version from the SCOLP Test (Baddeley et al, 1992) with UK undergraduates, and is usable by a sample of young UK children. Because the sentences are presented aloud instead of being written, the computerised test is not affected by literacy skills. Translated into Kiswahili, the task was used in Tanzanian schools, despite the absence of an electricity supply and a very different cultural background. The decision latencies had a test-retest reliability of 0.69 over 5 months, and were independent of age and baseline decision speed. The task appears appropriate for longitudinal studies, including those in developing countries. Given its simplicity and the correlations with the original SCOLP version of the task, it may also be useful in studies on literate adults

A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of preferred intensity exercise in depressed adult women in the United Kingdom: secondary analysis of individual variability of depression

Background This study is a secondary analysis of the trial by Callaghan et al. (2011), which reported higher antidepressant effects for preferred intensity (n = 19) vs. prescribed intensity (n = 19) exercise of three sessions/week over four weeks in depressed women. In particular, the present study sought to examine whether greater clinically significant individual change/recovery was observed in the preferred compared to the prescribed exercise group. Methods The reliable change index and the Ccutoff score criteria described by Jacobson and Truax (1991) were employed to determine clinical significance. These criteria examined if individual change in depression scores from pre- to post-intervention in the preferred intensity group were statistically significant beyond the standard error of difference derived from the active comparator prescribed group, and subsequently within a normal population range. Patients fulfilling the first or both criteria were classified as improved or recovered, respectively. Results Post-intervention depression scores of six patients in the preferred intensity exercise group (32%) demonstrated statistically reliable improvement (p  0.05), although eight of them showed a non-significant improvement in post-intervention depression scores and three could not technically show an improvement in depression due to floor effects (baseline depression within normal range). Conclusions Preferred intensity exercise of three sessions/week over four weeks led almost a third of the patients to record scores consistent with recovery from depression. Health professionals may consider that short-term preferred intensity exercise provides clinically significant antidepressant effects comparing favourably to exercise on prescription

Altered Cognitive Function in Men Treated for Prostate Cancer with LHRH Analogues and Cyproterone Acetate: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Objective. Luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues have been associated with memory impairments in women using these drugs for gynaecological conditions. This is the first systematic investigation of the cognitive effects of LHRH analogues in male patients. Methods. 82 men with non-localised prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive continuous leuprorelin (LHRH analogue), goserelin (LHRH analogue), cyproterone acetate (steroidal antiandrogen) or close clinical monitoring. These patients underwent cognitive assessments at baseline and before commencement of treatment (77) then 6 months later (65). Results. Compared with baseline assessments, men administered androgen suppression monotherapy performed worse in 2/12 tests of attention and memory. 24/50 men randomised to active treatment and assessed 6 months later demonstrated clinically significant decline in one or more cognitive tests but not one patient randomised to close monitoring showed a decline in any test performance. Conclusion. Pharmacological androgen suppression monotherapy for prostate cancer may be associated with impaired memory, attention and executive functions

Coping and Health-Related Quality of Life in Men With Prostate Cancer Randomly Assigned to Hormonal Medication or Close Monitoring

Prostatic carcinoma and its treatment have been associated with adverse effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Individual differences in appraisal and coping have been suggested to mediate these HRQoL outcomes. A randomized trial of 65 men with non-localized prostate cancer compared several treatments and tested associations between appraisal, coping, and HRQoL. These patients, and 16 community volunteers matched for age and general health, undertook psychosocial assessments before treatment and after 6 months of treatment. Compared with baseline assessments, men on hormonal treatments reported impaired sexual function. Groups did not differ on emotional distress, existential satisfaction, subjective cognitive function, physical symptoms, or social and role functioning. For individuals, hormonal treatments were more frequently associated with decreased sexual, social and role functioning, but were also associated with improved physical symptoms. In hierarchical regression analysis, HRQoL was lower for men who had more comorbid illnesses, a history of neurological dysfunction, higher threat appraisals, or higher use of coping strategies at baseline. These results showed that pharmacological hormonal ablation for prostate cancer can improve or decrease HRQoL in different domains. HRQoL in men with prostate cancer was associated more strongly with appraisal and coping than with medical variables

The effectiveness of university counselling for students with academic issues

Background - The demands of academic life are considered to be increasingly stressful for students in higher education, but there is limited research about the extent to which those attending student counselling services experience difficulties relating to academic issues and how effective counselling is for them. Aim - The study aimed to evaluate the reliable and clinically significant change for students with self-reported academic issues. Reliable change occurs when a change in the outcome being measured is not attributable to error, while clinically significant change occurs when a person moves from a clinical population to a healthy population after an intervention, in this case counselling. Methodology - Pre-existing data from 129 university students who had attended a student counselling service were analysed to determine levels of reliable change and clinically significant change. These data related to psychological status before and after counselling based on CORE-OM total scores; self-report of the impact of counselling on academic issues; and demographic variables. Findings - In total, 117 (92%) of students reported experiencing academic issues to some extent. Counselling was found to result in reliable change for 67% and clinically significant change for 40% of those students reporting academic issues. Implications - The results of the study suggest that, even where academic reasons are not the primary cause of referral to student counselling services, a significant number of students will also experience difficulties in these areas. Counselling was, however, shown to result in reliable and clinically significant change in a high percentage of those experiencing these additional difficulties