ABSTRACT
Objective@#Substantial research has revealed cognitive function impairments in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the relationship between MDD cognitive function impairment and brain activity is yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to reveal this relationship using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to extensively measure frontotemporal cortex function. @*Methods@#We recruited 18 inpatients with MDD and 22 healthy controls. Regional oxygenated hemoglobin changes (oxy-Hb) were measured during a verbal fluency task and its relationship to cognitive function was assessed. Cognitive function was assessed using the Japanese version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. @*Results@#Compared to healthy controls, patients with MDD displayed poorer motor speed, attention and speed of information processing, and executive function. In the bilateral prefrontal and temporal surface regions, regional oxy-Hb changes were significantly lower in patients with MDD than in healthy individuals. Moreover, we observed a correlation between reduced activation in the left temporal region and poor motor speed in patients with MDD. @*Conclusion@#We suggest that reduced activation in the left temporal region in patients with MDD could be a biomarker of poor motor speed. Additionally, NIRS may be useful as a noninvasive, clinical measurement tool for assessing motor speed in these patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective：The purpose of this study was to determine whether combination therapy has an effect on extrapersonal neglect (EP).Methods：The subject, who was capable of walking without the help of a cane or an orthosis, had right brain damage with left unilateral spatial neglect. We used a single-case study (BAB) design, consisting of a 2-week intervention phase, a 2-week baseline phase, and another 2-week intervention phase. The subject was trained seven times a week. Period A (baseline) included normal visual scanning training during walking, while Period B (intervention) included both normal visual scanning training with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for neck muscles and video feedback (VF) with a smartphone during walking. The primary outcomes used Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT), and the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS).Results：Both BIT and CBS improved in Period B. In particular, the CBS sub-items “Collides with people or objects on the left side” and “Experiences difficulty in finding his way towards the left when traveling in familiar places or in the rehabilitation unit” during walking improved, showing improvement in the results of CBS observation scores and anosognosia scores.Conclusion：In this study, we suggested that combination therapy has a beneficial effect on EP and awareness. We also reported the safety and feasibility of the combination therapy.
ABSTRACT
Objective：The purpose of this study was to determine whether combination therapy has an effect on extrapersonal neglect (EP).Methods：The subject, who was capable of walking without the help of a cane or an orthosis, had right brain damage with left unilateral spatial neglect. We used a single-case study (BAB) design, consisting of a 2-week intervention phase, a 2-week baseline phase, and another 2-week intervention phase. The subject was trained seven times a week. Period A (baseline) included normal visual scanning training during walking, while Period B (intervention) included both normal visual scanning training with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for neck muscles and video feedback (VF) with a smartphone during walking. The primary outcomes used Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT), and the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS).Results：Both BIT and CBS improved in Period B. In particular, the CBS sub-items“Collides with people or objects on the left side”and“Experiences difficulty in finding his way towards the left when traveling in familiar places or in the rehabilitation unit”during walking improved, showing improvement in the results of CBS observation scores and anosognosia scores.Conclusion：In this study, we suggested that combination therapy has a beneficial effect on EP and awareness. We also reported the safety and feasibility of the combination therapy.
ABSTRACT
<p>Objective：The purpose of this study was to investigate whether guidance related to hard-pressed care burden in caregivers of patients with Unilateral Spatial Neglect（USN）improves the caregiver's care burden, quality of life（QOL), depression scores, and the patient's degree of USN, cognitive function, and activities of daily living（ADL). Methods：We provided guidance to 4 caregivers based on the results of a questionnaire filled out at baseline. Next, we compared the caregiver's scores on the Zarit caregiver burden interview（J-ZBI), MOS 36-item short-form health survey（SF-36), and the geriatric depression scale（GDS）before and after guidance. We also checked their scores on the behavioral inattention test（BIT), Catherine Bergego scale（CBS), mini-mental state examination（MMSE), and the functional independence measure（FIM）one month later. Results：Despite individual differences, the caregiver's scores on J-ZBI, SF-36 and the GDS were seen to improve after guidance. Moreover, it also improved the awareness for USN, as seen in the CBS anosognosia score. Further, the MMSE score revealed an improvement in cognitive function. Conclusion：We suggest improving the caregiver's care burden, QOL, depression symptoms, the awareness for USN, and the cognitive function of patients with USN, by providing guidance twice to each caregiver of patients with USN patients.</p>