The California verbal learning test-II: Normative data for two italian alternative forms

The aim of this study was to develop two versions of the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) and to administer them to a large sample of healthy controls representative of the normal Italian population for sex, age, and education levels. Two hundred and eighty healthy controls entered the study and were randomly assigned to one of the two forms of CVLT-II. No significant difference emerged between the two forms. Considering the significant weight of sex, age and education level, a regression model was developed through which it was possible to calculate the adjusted scores. The lower tolerance limits were also calculated

Municipal wastewater effluent reuse in agriculture in Apulia

wastewater reus

A more in-depth interpretation of MMPI-2 in MS patients by using Harris and Lingoes subscales

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is frequently associated with neuropsychiatric abnormalities. The aim of our study was to discriminate between psychosomatic disturbances and MS physically-related symptoms using the Harris-Lingoes subscales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Forty-six MS out-patients (35 females; mean age = 44.5); and 82 healthy volunteers (62 females; mean age = 46.5) were evaluated with MMPI-2 questionnaire. The frequency distribution of MMPI-2 clinical scales with high scores (> = 65) and the related Harris-Lingoes subscales were analyzed for both MS patients and healthy control subjects. Data analysis showed elevated scores in 47.8% of the patients mainly on MMPI-2 clinical scales 1, 2, and 3. The Harris-Lingoes subscales analysis allowed us to isolate and identify physical symptoms contributing to elevation of MMPI-2 clinical scales, reduce the occurrence of false positives (MMPI-2 clinical scales elevations mainly due to MS physical disability) and provide a more detailed description of psycho-emotional symptoms of MS patients. In conclusion, our study shows the utility of Harris-Lingoes subscales analysis when MMPI-2 is used for psychological assessment of MS patients

Can personality traits influence occupational stress in multiple sclerosis patients? A one-year longitudinal study

Recent studies suggest that patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) might be at risk of unemployment due to physical and psychological symptoms. Furthermore, MS patients appear to be more exposed to a higher level of occupational stress, which might be linked to some personality characteristics. Our aim was to ascertain, by means of a longitudinal study, whether changes in occupational stress can be predicted by some personality traits, which could thereby become potential targets of therapeutic interventions. This study describes the longitudinal results of a previous work on occupational stress and personality traits in MS patients. Twenty MS patients were reevaluated one year after the baseline assessment. The statistical comparison between the baseline and follow-up visits showed a significant change in the scores on some Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI) subscales-Locus of control total (LOC-tot) and Involvement coping strategies (CI). While Neuroticism and Openness might predict changes in LOC-tot, Conscientiousness appeared to be important in the development of CI at one year. The findings indicate that certain personality traits can influence some longitudinal changes in occupational stress, thus making them useful in predicting stress at workplace

A preliminary investigation of abnormal personality traits in ms using the MCMI-III

Neuropsychiatric abnormalities are frequently reported in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies have investigated the neurotic aspects of psychopathology, and the importance of the personality structure underlying neurotic symptoms has only recently been reconsidered. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency and type of personality profiles in MS using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). We evaluated 77 nondemented patients with MS using physical disability scales and self-report questionnaires focused on mood, fatigue, and personality. In our cohort study, we found a personality scale score greater than 85 in 62.3% of enrolled participants. In particular, high scores on the Histrionic and Narcissistic scales emerged, respectively, in 20.8% and 15.6% of the sample. The presence of moderate abnormal elevation scores in MCMI personality scales in MS does not seem to be influenced by age, the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, disease course, or disease duration. Our research study focused on the importance of identifying personality maladaptation in patients with MS

Domestic accidents and multiple sclerosis: an exploratory study of occurrence and possible causes

Abstract Purpose: Domestic accidents are widespread, but no data are available on their occurrence in pathological populations such as patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Aim was to investigate domestic habits and occurrence of different types of domestic accidents and near falls in a sample of MS patients compared with healthy controls and to determine whether patients' domestic accidents are linked to any disease characteristics. Method: Descriptive survey of 50 patients and 50 healthy controls. Participants were administered an ad-hoc questionnaire to collect data on domestic habits and accidents they had in the past 2 months. Their physical and neuropsychological functioning, mood and fatigue were also assessed. Results: Results showed that patients spend most of their time at home with caregivers. No differences emerged for total number of domestic accident types, but there were differences in bumps and near falls. The latter seem to be linked to patients' walking ability and to bowel/bladder functioning and the former to reasoning ability and fatigue. Conclusions: This study provides the first data on the occurrence of domestic accidents and possible causes in MS patients. It encourages further studies on the topic, with the final goal of designing preventive and rehabilitation strategies. Implications of Rehabilitation Domestic accidents can cause further suffering, disability and decreased productivity and increased economic burden to MS patients. Our study evidenced that, within DA, bumps occur more frequently in MS patients compared to healthy controls. A highly significant difference was also found between the two groups for number of near falls. These results should help clinicians addressing patients to preventive and rehabilitation programs in order to avoid the occurrence of DA

Regression-Based Norms for the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised in Italian population and application in MS patients

The Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) is one of the most widely used tests for the assessment of learning and memory in the visual/spatial domain. The aim of this study was to use multiple regression to derive normative data for the use of BVMT-R in an Italian population

The Italian validation of the minimal assessment of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MACFIMS) and the application of the Cognitive Impairment Index scoring procedure in MS patients

Cognitive dysfunction occurs in almost 50-60% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) even in early stages of the disease and affects different aspects of patient's life. Aims of the present study were (1) to introduce and validate an Italian version of the minimal assessment of cognitive functions in MS (MACFIMS) battery and (2) to propose the use of the Cognitive Impairment Index (CII) as a scoring procedure to define the degree of impairment in relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and secondary-progressive (SPMS) patients. A total of 240 HC and 123 MS patients performed the Italian version of the MACFIMS composed by the same tests as the original except for the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The CII was derived for each score of the 11 scales for participants of both groups. The results of the study show that cognitive impairment affects around 50% of our sample of MS patients. In RRMS group, only the 15.7% of patients reported a severe impairment, while in the group of SPMS, the 51.4% of patients felt in the "severely impaired" group. Results are in line with previously reported percentages of impairment in MS patients, showing that the calculation of the CII applied to the Italian version of the MACFIMS is sensitive and reliable in detecting different degrees of impairment in MS patients