SIMULTANEOUS DISCRIMINATION OF VISUAL ATTRIBUTES

LIE, I. & ORSZAGH, G. Simultaneous discrimination of visual attributes. Scand. J. Psychol , 1971, 12, 128–130.–The accuracy of simultaneous discrimination of two attributes (colour and size) of a common visual object was compared with discrimination of a single attribute. No significant difference between single and double discrimination tasks was obtained for any of the four durations of exposure (40, 100, 175, 500 msec).     

The validity of functional assessment with neuropsychological tests in aphasic stroke patients

The study describes a battery of clinical neuropsychological tests, and aims to show that inferences about underlying functions can be drawn from the results. The test battery is applied to a sample of 108 aphasic patients, and is shown to measure performances with acceptable stability across testing sessions and relatively independently of general background factors. The results of factor analysis show that five underlying functions can be assessed. A functional model is described and the factors are interpreted as reflecting the functions of Praxis, Attention, Language, Motor Deficit, and Perceptual Integration. Although aphasia is defined as a disturbance of language, the aphasic patient is best described by a functional profile with dimensions based on the factors isolated.     

对不公正历史事件的情绪反应—— 群体内疚

只要个体把自己归于施害群体, 并且承认所属群体对不道德的行为负有责任, 而无需自己参与其中, 就会体验到群体内疚, 它是一种自我聚焦的情绪。内群体责任、伤害行为的正当化、知觉到的补偿困难等认知因素都会影响群体内疚程度, 而个体的优先价值观和国家认同等会造成成员间群体内疚体验的个体差异。群体内疚的体验会促进施害群体对受害群体的道歉和补偿支持。将来伤害行为的群体内疚, 以及与其他情绪的综合考察方面还需要进一步研究。     

Is there an optimal factor structure of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in patients with first‐episode psychosis?

The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is the most widely used scale to assess a variety of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses. The factor structure of the PANSS has been examined with confirmatory factor analyses in several studies, but not in a well‐defined first‐episode psychosis sample. The aim of this paper is to examine the statistical fit of five different PANSS models in a first‐episode, non‐affective psychosis sample. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed on PANSS data (n = 588). A main criterion for best fit was defined as the Expected Cross Validation Index (ECVI). No tested model revealed an optimally satisfactory model fit index. The Wallwork/Fortgang five‐factor model demonstrated the most optimal psychometric properties. The corresponding subscales of all evaluated five‐factor models were strongly intercorrelated. The Wallwork/Fortgang five‐factor model was found to be statistically and clinically ideal among patients with first‐episode psychosis. Therefore, we recommend this model in forthcoming studies among patients with first‐episode psychosis. However, to prevent the loss of clinically valuable information on an item level, we do not recommend removing any items from the original form. Our study also implies that the specific choice of model will not have a substantial effect on outcome results in studies on the course and outcome in first‐episode psychosis.     

A randomized study of the impact of a sensitizing intervention on the child‐rearing attitudes of parents of low birth weight preterm infants

Nordhov, S. M., Kaaresen, P. I., Rønning, J. A., Ulvund, S. E. & Dahl, L. B. (2010). A randomized study of the impact of a sensitizing intervention on the child‐rearing attitudes of parents of low birth weight preterm infants. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 385–391. The background for this study was that nurturant child‐rearing attitudes are associated with positive development in low birth weight (LBW) infants. The objective was to study child‐rearing attitudes and early intervention (EI) in parents of LBW infants from 12–36 months corrected age. LBW infants (BW < 2000 g) were randomized to an intervention (IG) or a control group (CG). The EI consisted of seven in‐hospital sessions prior to discharge, then four home visits. A Child Rearing Practices Report was administered at 12 (mothers only), 24 and 36 months. A total of 146 infants were randomized. The mean BW in IG was 1396 (SD 429) g and 1381 (436) g in CG. The mean GA was 30.2 (3.1) weeks in IG and 29.9 (3.5) weeks in CG. Mothers in IG reported significantly more nurturant child‐rearing attitudes at 12 and 24 months. There was a significant change in restrictive and nurturant attitudes over time. It was concluded that EI may lead to more nurturant child‐rearing attitudes in mothers of preterms.     

Assessment of 'subcortical dementia' in patients with Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and AIDS by a neuropsychological screening battery

Four diagnostic groups categorized as 'subcortical dementia' were studied using a neuropsychological screening battery. The specificity of the battery in disclosing characteristic patterns of impairment in subgroups within the category, and the correspondence between natural subgroups generated by an unsupervised statistical classification technique and the diagnostic labels were investigated. All cognitive affected subgroups demonstrated impairment on tests of sensomotor function, congnitive efficiency and/or memory, and were characterized in terms of severity of impairment as well as a progressive involvement of functional areas. The diagnostic groups were not evenly represented in all natural subgroups. Affected AIDS-patients seemed to resemble patients with Huntington's disease more than the other diagnostic groups. The screening battery could give a general characterization of the pattern of 'subcortical dementia' and different levels of impairment, but more specific process-oriented tasks are needed to contrast diagnostic groups within the concept of 'subcortical dementia'.     

Neuropsychological findings and depressive symptoms in patients with Huntington''s disease

Twenty patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and a comparison group were studied by a depression scale (MADRS) and a neuropsychological test-battery assessing central areas of cognitive function. The main purpose was to analyze the consistency of findings across patients and focus on the role of specific factors in the impairments. The HD-patients are impaired relative to norms and the comparison-group in all areas but verbal conceptual function. We further divided the HD-patients into subgroups according to severity of neuropsychological impairment. The groups generally show a pattern of increasing deficits. Early changes are found in tests of cognitive efficiency, memory and sensomotor function, but the pattern of impairment is variable. The more severely affected subgroups show an increased decline in performance and progressive involvement of a broader range of functions. The pattern of depressive symptoms in HD-patients indicates that cognitive symptoms of concentration difficulties and lassitude are prominent in all subgroups.     

HIV-related neuropsychological impairment and immunodeficiency. CD8+ lymphocytes and neopterin are related to HIV-encephalopathy

The relationship between neuropsychological test performance and immunological parameters was studied in 52 HIV-positive patients within different stages of the infection. All subjects were neuropsychologically tested, the CD4 + and CD8 4- lymphocyte count were measured in peripheral blood, and the concentration of neopterin and HIV-p24 antigen were measured in serum. Ten patients with AIDS were defined as neuropsychologically impaired. The CD8 + cell count was the only immunological parameter that could significantly discriminate between AIDS patients with and without neuropsychological impairment. For the total group, significant positive correlations were found between neuropsychological test results and the number of CD8 + and CD4 + lymphocytes, and significant negative correlations were observed between serum concentration of neopterin and neurocognitive function. Regression analyses showed that up to 51% of the variance in test performance could be explained by CD8 + cells and neopterin concentration. The possible role of CD8 + lymphocytes and neopterin in the pathogenesis of HIV-related CNS-dysfunction is discussed.     

Characteristic patterns of verbal memory function in patients with Huntington's disease

Various aspects of verbal memory in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) were studied using the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). We tested if the level and interplay between 5 parameters of different memory mechanisms and processes were sufficiently specific to allow acceptable discrimination between patients with HD, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and patients without known CNS disease or injury. The HD-patients were characterized by a deficit in acquisition, elevated rates of recall errors and increased use of a passive learning strategy. Preserved aspects were shown in retention over time, interference effects and recognition relative to recall. Employing multivariate classification and validation techniques, the 5 CVLT-features demonstrated good separability between the HD-patients and the control patients. Qualitative similarities between subgroups were suggested, but more disease-specific data seemed necessary in further studies. A number of findings suggested a defect in the active organization of items to be encoded and recalled in HD. Similar findings in the PD-group might indicate that this trait is common in several types of 'subcortical dementia'.