非失语脑中风患者的神经心理障碍与一年疗效和康复预测的关系

本文以７９例脑中风患者为对象,研究结果如下：１．自编ＡＤＬ,再测信度和结构效度合格。２．一年前后ＡＤＬ、ＤＮＦ及疗效与同期测定的插棍测验、瑞文测验、小棍测验、临摹图形、说同类词及抑郁（一年后）有显著相关。３．初发病时这些指标及图形拼凑测验与一年后ＡＤＬ、ＤＮＦ及疗效也有显著相关。４．ＤＮＦ１和ＡＤＬ１对疗效有明显预测作用,可解释变量的３５％（ＡＤＬ２）、３７％（疗效）和４１％（ＤＮＦ２）。单独心理变量可解释变量的２７％（ＡＤＬ２）、３３％（ＤＮＦ２）和２１％（疗效）。     

Practical guidelines in the use of symptom validity and other psychological tests to measure malingering and symptom exaggeration in traumatic brain injury cases

The detection of malingering or symptom exaggeration has become an essential component in forensic neuropsychological evaluations, particularly in cases involving personal injury claims. Symptom Validity Tests refer to those measures that can be utilized to detect test performance that is so poor that it is below the level of probability, oftentimes even among brain-damaged populations. This article outlines legal standards for expert testimony in regard to forensic neuropsychological personal injury evaluations. The article provides an outline of specific Symptom Validity Tests and Indicators, and reviews literature supporting test sensitivity and validity. In addition, the use of symptom checklists and questionnaires is discussed, as well as the appropriate use of Symptom Validity Tests and Indicators to establish the presence or absence of malingering or symptom exaggeration.     

The California Verbal Learning Test: Psychometric characteristics and clinical application

The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) is a popular clinical and research test that claims to measure key constructs in cogntive psychology such as repetition learning, serial position effects, semantic organization, intrusion, and proactive inteference. The psychometric characteristics of the CVLT are reviewed and related to the test's clinical utility. The utility of the CVLT is shown to be limited by its poor standardization and inlated norms. Further, the validity is limited because the CVLT uses multiple trials whereas the constructs it purports to the CVLT and guidelines for its clinical use. It concludes that if the limitations of the CVLT are recognized, it can still make a usefull contribution to the clinical assessment of verbal learning and memory.     

Separate Digits tests: A brief history,a literature review,and a reexamination of the factor structure of the test of memory and learning (TOMAL)

Following a brief history of Digit Span, a review of 27 articles, selected from 76, addresses the question of whether to scale Digits Forward and Backward separately. The review begins with studies involving Digits Forward, followed in turn by studies of Digits Backward and of both subtests. Finally, the loadings of four TOMAL subtests, Digits Forward and Backward and Letters Forward and Backward, undergo examination in the context of two, three, and four factor promax solutions, with corresponding varimax solutions provided for comparison. The analysis leads to several conclusions. Though Digits Forward and Backward show similarities, they load differently in the three and four factor solutions; Digits Backward also displays a spatial element, and perhaps a transformative element, not apparent in Digits Forward. Moreover, the differences between the two measures have important neurologic and diagnostic implications.     

Experience-dependent neuropsychological recovery and the treatment of chronic alcoholism

This paper reviews the relationship between cognitive status and treatment outcome in chronic alcoholics, the natural history of recovery, and the role of cognitively oriented remediation programs in facilitating recovery. Seven studies of experience-dependent recovery are described in which behavioral improvement was noted. Various recommendations for treatment over the course of recovery are made, guided by anticipated changes in capacity to process complex information over time.     

Culture-bound syndromes and healing practices in Malaysia

This paper describes prominent culture-bound syndromes (CBS) in Malaysia. While some of the syndromes are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), their causation and treatment are not addressed. It is important for mental-health professionals to know that while the DSM-IV is widely used in many non-Western countries, the local population continues to believe in and practice indigenous methods of healing. Mental-health concepts and healing practices in the Malay and Chinese cultures, their clinical implications, and the need for ongoing research are emphasized.     

Attention Deficits in Children with < 750 gm Birth Weight

Although attention deficit disorders are frequently diagnosed in low birth-weight children, it is not clear if attention problems are apparent in neuropsychological testing. The present study examined the performances of a regional sample of 68 children with birth weights <750 gm on several psychometric measures of attention given at early school age. Matched groups of 65 children with birth weights between 750–1499 gm and 61 term controls were also assessed. The group <750 gm performed more poorly on one attention test than did either comparison group, even when overall cognitive ability was taken into account. Performances on the attention tests were also related to academic skills and ratings of behavior. Findings confirm the hypothesis that children with birth weights <750 gm have specific attentional weaknesses and support the validity of attention tests as predictors of learning and behavior problems.     

内源性眼跳与注意转移关系研究述评

视觉选择过程中既存在外显的眼跳行为,也包含内隐的注意转移,两者对于视觉目标的加工都有促进作用。近二十年来出现大量关于二者关系的研究,多数研究者发现眼跳和注意转移存在密切联系。内源性眼跳是个体根据目标或意愿主动发起的眼跳,对人类生存具有重大意义。本文系统回顾了视觉加工领域中对于内源性眼跳与空间注意转移关系问题的探讨及其研究成果,分别从行为研究和神经心理学研究两个方面阐述了该领域的研究进展并作出简要评价及展望。     

Social and non‐social measures of cognition for predicting self‐reported and informant‐reported functional outcomes in early psychosis

The main aim of this study was to investigate the individual contributions of neurocognitive and social‐cognitive domains to self‐reported and informant‐reported functional outcome in early psychosis. We also sought to further characterize the nature of cognitive impairments in this sample and explore the interrelationships between the social‐cognitive measures and how they correlate with measures of neurocognition and clinical symptoms. In this study, 70 patients (mean age: 24.1; 87.1% males) with primary psychotic disorder diagnosed in the previous 5 years were assessed on multiple neurocognitive (processing speed, attention, working memory, immediate verbal memory, delayed recall, visual reasoning, inhibition, planning, cognitive flexibility), and social‐cognitive domains (theory of mind (ToM), emotion recognition, attributional style, metacognitive overconfidence) as well as measures of clinical symptoms. Functional outcome was assessed with three self‐reports and two informant‐reports. On average, patients performed one or more SD below healthy controls on measures of delayed recall, ToM and metacognitive overconfidence. Emotion recognition and ToM were intercorrelated and correlated with multiple neurocognitive domains and negative symptoms. Attributional style correlated with positive symptoms. In the context of multiple variables, self‐reported functional outcomes were predicted by attributional style, whereas emotion recognition and immediate verbal memory predicted variance in informant‐reported community functioning. These results support the suggestion of a likely distinction between the predictive factors for self‐reported and informant‐reported functional outcome in early psychosis and suggest that consideration of self‐assessment of functional outcome is critical when attempting to evaluate the effects attributional style has on functional disability.