A Case of Capgras Syndrome With Frontotemporal Dementia

Capgras syndrome (CS), also called imposter syndrome, is a rare psychiatric condition that is characterized by the delusion that a family relative or close friend has been replaced by an identical imposter. Here, we describe a 69-year-old man with CS who presented to the Kemal Arikan Psychiatry Clinic with an ongoing belief that his wife had been replaced by an identical imposter. MRI showed selective anterior left temporal lobe atrophy. Quantitative EEG showed bilateral frontal and temporal slowing. Neuropsychological profiling identified a broad range of deficits in the areas of naming, executive function, and long-term memory. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed frontotemporal dementia. This case demonstrates that CS can clinically accompany frontotemporal dementia

Preservice teachers' memories of their secondary science education experiences

Understanding preservice teachers’ memories of their education may aid towards articulating high-impact teaching practices. This study describes 246 preservice teachers’ perceptions of their secondary science education experiences through a questionnaire and 28-item survey. ANOVA was statistically significant about participants’ memories of science with 15 of the 28 survey items. Descriptive statistics through SPSS further showed that a teacher’s enthusiastic nature (87%) and positive attitude towards science (87%) were regarded as highly memorable. In addition, explaining abstract concepts well (79%), and guiding the students’ conceptual development with practical science activities (73%) may be considered as memorable secondary science teaching strategies. Implementing science lessons with one or more of these memorable science teaching practices may “make a difference” towards influencing high school students’ positive long-term memories about science and their science education. Further research in other key learning areas may provide a clearer picture of high-impact teaching and a way to enhance pedagogical practices

Serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism is associated with executive function impairments in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Abstract: Objective: In the present study, we investigate the association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and executive functions in a sample of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: A total of 98 unmedicated patients diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-IV criteria and 80 healthy controls were included in this study. The genotype frequencies of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism were compared in OCD and healthy control groups. The four subgroups of OCD and healthy control participants, determined according to having LaLa genotype (high expressing) or S- and/or Lg alleles (low expressing), were also compared using neuropsychological tests of executive functions. Results: The frequency of SLa genotype of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was found to be higher in patients with OCD compared with healthy controls. The mean scores of conceptual level responses of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were significantly lower in the OCD-high-expressing subgroup compared with the low-expressing control group. The mean scores of the number of moves of the Tower of London were found to be significantly higher in the OCD-high-expressing subgroup, compared with the high-expressing subgroup of healthy controls. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the high-expressing variant may be associated with lower performance on some abstraction and planning measures in OCD patients