Gender differences on the WAIS-IV in patients with schizophrenia / Diferencias de género en la WAIS-IV en pacientes con esquizofrenia

Abstract Introduction Results from studies that have investigated gender differences in neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia have been inconsistent. Differences in the illness stage, in the demographic and clinical characteristics of the samples, and the instruments used to measure cognition may have contributed to the heterogeneity in the results. Objective Investigate the heterogeneity in the results comparing cognitive functioning in chronically ill male and female patients with schizophrenia. Method Twenty-five women and twenty-five men chronically ill patients with schizophrenia matched on age, age at illness onset, and years of education were evaluated in cognitive functioning using the WAIS-IV. Results Men showed higher scores than women on the two global measures, on the perceptual reasoning and working memory indices, and on the information, visual puzzles, digit span, and arithmetic subtests of the WAIS-IV. Cohen's d effect sizes were high for the two global measures and the two indices (d > .68). Discussion and conclusion Overall, in chronically stable patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia, women's performance on cognitive functioning was below men's when assessed with the WAIS-IV, except in the case of processing speed. This pattern of gender differences is similar to the pattern observed in healthy populations. Our results can help to clarify the heterogeneity in the results from studies on gender differences in cognitive functioning in schizophrenia and may be valuable in designing cognitive-targeted interventions for schizophrenia.

Resumen Introducción Los resultados de los estudios que han investigado diferencias de género en funcionamiento neuropsicológico en la esquizofrenia han sido inconsistentes. Diferencias en la fase de la enfermedad, en las características demográficas y clínicas de las muestras y en los instrumentos utilizados podrían explicar esa heterogeneidad. Objetivo Investigar la heterogeneidad en los resultados comparando el funcionamiento cognitivo de pacientes con diagnostico de esquizofrenia. Método Veinticinco mujeres y veinticinco hombres pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia equiparados en edad, edad al inicio de la enfermedad y nivel educativo se evaluaron en funcionamiento cognitivo utilizando la WAIS-IV. Resultados Los hombres mostraron puntuaciones más altas que las mujeres en las dos medidas globales, en los índices de razonamiento perceptivo y de memoria de trabajo y en las subtests de la WAIS-IV de información, puzles visuales, amplitud de dígitos y aritmética. Los tamaños de efecto d de Cohen fueron altos en las dos medidas globales y en los dos índices (d > .68). Discusión y conclusión En conjunto, la ejecución de las mujeres en funcionamiento cognitivo está por debajo de la de los hombres cuando se mide con la WAIS-IV, excepto en el caso de la velocidad de procesamiento. Este patrón de diferencias de género es similar al patrón observado en población sana. Nuestros resultados pueden ayudar a clarificar la heterogeneidad de resultados en los estudios sobre diferencias de género en el funcionamiento cognitivo en la esquizofrenia y podrían ser útiles en el diseño de intervenciones centradas en la cognición.

Relationship of Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Fluid Reasoning in Psychiatric Patients

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate relationship among cognitive factors (working memory and processing speed) and fluid reasoning (Gf) in psychiatric patients using a standardized clinical tool. METHODS: We included the responses of 115 heterogeneous patients who were diagnosed with the MINI-Plus 5.0 and WAIS-IV/WMS-IV was administered. For our analysis, structured equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to evaluate which cognitive variables are closely related to the Gf. RESULTS: The results showed that the visual working memory was the strongest predictor of the Gf compared to other cognitive factors. CONCLUSION: Processing speed was capable of predicting the Gf, when visual working memory was controlled. The inter-relationship among the Gf and other cognitive factors and its clinical implications were further discussed.

Modality-Specific Working Memory Systems Verified by Clinical Working Memory Tests

OBJECTIVE: This study was to identify whether working memory (WM) can be clearly subdivided according to auditory and visual modality. To do this, we administered the most recent and universal clinical WM measures in a mixed psychiatric sample. METHODS: A total of 115 patients were diagnosed on the basis of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and with MINI-Plus 5.0, a structured diagnostic interview. WM subtests of Korean version of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV and Korean version of Wechsler Memory Scale-IV were administered to assess WM. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to observe whether WM measures fit better to a one-factor or two-factor model. RESULTS: CFA results demonstrated that a two factor model fits the data better than one-factor model as expected. CONCLUSION: Our study supports a modality model of WM, or the existence of modality-specific WM systems, and thus poses a clinical significance of assessing both auditory and visual WM tests.

A Case Study of a Machine-Learning Approach in Differential Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: The Predictive Capacity of WAIS-IV / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Machine learning (ML) encompasses a body of statistical approaches that can detect complex interaction patterns from multi-dimensional data. ML is gradually being adopted in medical science, for example, in treatment response prediction and diagnostic classification. Cognitive impairment is a prominent feature of schizophrenia, but is not routinely used in differential diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the predictive capacity of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS-IV) in differentiating schizophrenia from non-psychotic illnesses using the ML methodology. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the possibility of using ML as an aid in differential diagnosis. METHODS: The WAIS-IV test data for 434 psychiatric patients were curated from archived medical records. Using the final diagnoses based on DSM-IV as the target and the WAIS-IV scores as predictor variables, predictive diagnostic models were built using 1) linear 2) non-linear/non-parametric ML algorithms. The accuracy obtained was compared to that of the baseline model built without the WAIS-IV information. RESULTS: The performances of the various ML models were compared. The accuracy of the baseline model was 71.5%, but the best non-linear model showed an accuracy of 84.6%, which was significantly higher than that of non-informative random guessing (p=0.002). Overall, the models using the non-linear algorithms showed better accuracy than the linear ones. CONCLUSION: The high performance of the developed models demonstrated the predictive capacity of the WAIS-IV and justified the application of ML in psychiatric diagnosis. However, the practical application of ML models may need refinement and larger-scale data collection.

Reflexões teóricas e práticas sobre a interpretação da Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para Adultos / Reflexiones teóricas y prácticas sobre la interpretación de la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos / Theoretical and practical reflections on the interpretation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

O uso das Escalas Wechsler de Inteligência está voltado para contextos clínicos, psicoeducacionais e de pesquisa, possibilitando a avaliação minuciosa das capacidades cognitivas de crianças, adolescentes e adultos. A inteligência geral deve ser considerada como uma manifestação da personalidade como um todo. As habilidades intelectuais são medidas através de instrumentos psicométricos. Para esta pesquisa, com foco na Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para Adultos (WAIS-III), buscou-se abordar as principais características e utilizações da escala para a população adulta, bem como se explorou a importância das informações deste instrumento e suas aplicações, principalmente no que se refere à interpretação clínica qualitativa. Trata-se de uma revisão da literatura dos autores mais clássicos sobre o tema. Os autores recorreram a uma revisão crítica de aspectos essenciais que tangenciam a testagem psicológica e neuropsicológica, abordando os constructos de inteligência cristalizada, fluída e suas integrações com o estudo da personalidade. Finalmente, os autores discutem a importância dos índices fatoriais e suas implicações na interpretação clínica.

El uso de la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler se enfrenta al ámbito clínico, psicopedagógico y de investigación, lo que permite la evaluación a fondo de las capacidades cognitivas de los niños, adolescentes y adultos. La inteligencia general debe considerarse como una manifestación de la personalidad como un todo. Las habilidades intelectuales se miden a través de instrumentos psicométricos. Esta investigación, cuyo objeto de estudio es la Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos (WAIS-III), trata de responder a las características y usos de dicha escala para la población adulta. Así mismo, analiza la importancia de la información sobre este instrumento y sus aplicaciones, especialmente en lo referente a la interpretación clínica cualitativa. Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica de los autores más clásicos sobre el tema. Los autores llevaron a cabo una revisión crítica de los aspectos clave relacionados con las pruebas psicológicas y neuropsicológicas, abordando los constructos de la inteligencia cristalizada, la inteligencia fluída, y su integración con el estudio de la personalidad. Por último, los autores discuten la importancia de los índices factoriales y sus implicaciones para la interpretación clínica.

The use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales has entered clinical, psycho-educational and research settings, thus enabling a full assessment of cognitive abilities of children, adolescents and adults. The general intelligence should be considered as a manifestation of personality as a whole. Intellectual skills are measured by psychometric instruments. This research, which focuses on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults (WAIS-III), addresses the key features and uses of the scale for the adult population and explores the importance of information about this instrument and its applications, especially with regard to qualitative clinical interpretation. It consists of a literature review about the more classical authors on the subject. The authors draw on a critical review of key aspects related to psychological and neuropsychological testing, addressing the constructs of crystallized intelligence, fluid intelligence and their integration with the study of personality. Finally, the authors discuss the importance of factor indices and their implications for clinical interpretation.

Inteligencia y Conductas Delictuales enAdolescentes Chilenos / Intelligence and criminal behavior in chilean adolescents

Este estudio compara el rendimiento intelectual de 100 jóvenes varones (12-17años) que han infringido la ley, con el de 100 jóvenes no infractores. Los resultados indican quelos jóvenes infractores de ley presentan una mayor proporción de CIs totales inferiores al promedioen comparación con los jóvenes no infractores. Al descontar el efecto de la escolarización y NSE,las diferencias de CI entre ambos grupos siguen siendo significativas, aunque menos extremas. Losresultados concuerdan con los hallazgos de otros estudios respecto al menor CI en jóvenes infractores de ley, particularmente en el CI verbal. Estos resultados son de importancia en la planificación deestrategias de rehabilitación, reescolarización y reinserción social de estos adolescentes.

Estudo longitudinal das habilidades intelectuais de idosos avaliados com a WAIS-III / Longitudinal study of intellectual abilities of elderly people assessed by WAIS-III

Dados indicam que o envelhecimento, ainda que saudável, acarreta um declínio normal no desempenho intelectual. O presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar o desenvolvimento intelectual de idosos em diferentes domínios avaliados pela WAIS-III. A partir de um delineamento longitudinal, 47 participantes foram divididos em duas faixas etárias: idosos-jovens (até 74 anos) e idosos-idosos (acima de 75 anos) e seus desempenhos foram comparados após oito anos de intervalo. Resultados mostraram que idosos-jovens apresentaram ganhos nas habilidades avaliadas, embora em apenas dois índices estes tenham sido estatisticamente significativos. Com relação às capacidades de compreensão verbal e linguagem, os ganhos eram esperados. Já Memória, Organização Perceptual, Velocidade de Processamento, QI de Execução e Total não se comportaram como grande parte dos estudos reporta. Resultados para os idosos-idosos estão de acordo com a literatura: habilidades vulneráveis (organização perceptual, aprendizagem, memória, resolução de problemas e velocidade de processamento) tiveram decréscimos após os oito anos entre as avaliações. Embora nem todos os resultados tenham sido significativos, corroboram dados de pesquisas que definem a idade de declínios significativos após os 75 anos. Concluindo, os resultados indicaram que os idosos não apresentaram declínio nas habilidades intelectuais avaliadas até a idade de 74 anos, a partir de quando alguma perda foi encontrada. A velocidade de processamento foi a única habilidade que apresentou declínio significativo. Portanto, as variações nos desempenhos não caracterizam um padrão de declínio generalizado, ou seja, não ocorrem em todas as habilidades e variam conforme a idade.

Data have indicated that aging, even if in a healthy process, lead to a normal decrease in cognitive performance. The current study aims at investigating the intellectual development of elderly people in different domains assessed by WAIS-III. Approaching from a longitudinal design, 47 participants were divided in two groups: young-old (until 74 years old) and oldest-old (over 75 years old). Results showed that young-old people presented gains in the abilities assessed. However, they were statistically significant just in two indexes. When it comes to verbal comprehension and language capacities, the gains were expected. On the other hand, Memory, Perceptual Organization, Processing Speed, Performance and Total IQ did not show the same outcome as most of the studies report. Results for the oldest-old ones were congruent with literature: vulnerable abilities (perceptual organization, memory and processing speed) demonstrated a decrease eight years after the first evaluation. To sum up, the results show that the elderly had not presented a decrease in the intellectual abilities assessed until the age of 74. However, from that age on some losses were observed. The only ability that displayed a remarkably higher decrease was processing speed. Data from longitudinal design are not sufficient to describe a trend in the general decrease of the elderly abilities. Some other variables, besides the ones examined in the current research, might be related to this standard. Further investigations are needed to examine them and to determine how much age explains the intellectual development of elderly people.

Formas abreviadas do Wais-III para avaliação da inteligência / Abbreviated forms of the Wais-III for intelligence assessment

O uso de formas abreviadas constitui-se alternativa fidedigna à escala completa para estimar a capacidade intelectual de um indivíduo com economia de tempo e, consequentemente, com redução de custos. Na literatura norte-americana, principalmente, é possível encontrar inúmeras publicações de pesquisas relativas às Escalas Wechsler de Inteligência que versam sobre a utilização de formas abreviadas como recurso para estudar a capacidade intelectual. Entretanto, a literatura brasileira carece de estudos sobre esse tema. Este trabalho tem, assim, o propósito de levantar o estado da arte sobre formas abreviadas do WAIS-III, aclarar o desenvolvimento, a aplicabilidade e algumas das particularidades dessas versões na avaliação da inteligência, destacando-se a identificação das metodologias recomendadas para elaborá-las.

The use of abbreviated forms constitutes a reliable alternative to full scale in estimating the intellectual capacity of an individual, with economy of time and, consequently, by cutting costs. In North American literature, especially, it is possible to find many research publications on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, which address the use of abbreviated forms as a resource to study intellectual capacity. Meanwhile, the Brazilian literature lacks studies on the subject. This work has therefore the intention of lifting the state of the art forms abbreviated on the WAIS-III, clarify the development, application and some of the features of these versions in assessing intelligence, is highlighting the identification of the methods recommended to elaborate them.

Adjusted Norm of WAIS-RC Short Forms in Identification of Intellectual Disability / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To investigate the application validity of the adjusted norm of WAIS-RC in the identification of intellectual disability.Methods128 patients with mental retardation (MR) were chosen for identification of the intellectual disability, measured their full scale IQs (FIQ) according to the original norm, calculated their four-subtest short forms FIQ respectively by Tellegen way according to the original standard norm and the new adjusted norm, then compared and analyzed the outcomes.ResultsThe short forms FIQ according to the original and the new norm had high correlation to full forms FIQ (P<0.01). The average of the short forms FIQ was higher than full forms FIQ according to the original norm (P<0.01), showing no significant difference according to the new norm(P＞0.05). In severe intelligence defected group according to full forms IQ, the grade classification corresponding rate of short forms FIQ according to the new norm was 0.00%, as well as the original norm. That in medium and mild intelligence defected groups was higher than that of original norm(P＜0.01).ConclusionThe test validity of adjusted norm short forms of WAIS-RC is superior to the original norm, but not suitable for severe intelligence defected.

Terapeuticas noffarmacologicas en jovenes y adutos con discapacidad, desde la atencion primaria de salud / Non pharmacologic therapeutics in young and adults with incapacity from Primary Health Care

Buscando mejorar la calidad de vida en un grupo de jóvenes y adultos con discapacidad, se decide crear un taller comunitario compuesto por 15 miembros, en el cual se aplican técnicas de enfoque multidisciplinario, que han garantizado la plena reinserción social de los miembros que componen este colectivo. Para este artículo se realiza un corte longitudinal a lo largo de 3 años que muestra la evolución satisfactoria de este grupo a partir de la aplicación de las diferentes terapias establecidas.

In order to improve the quality of life of several disabled persons, a community group was created with 15 members, in which several multidisciplinary techniques were applied to guarantee the full social reinsertion of the participants. This article describes results of the work done during 8 years, showing the satisfactory evolution of the group due to the application of the different established therapies.

Neuropsychological Assessment In Epilepsy Surgery – Preliminary Experience In A Rural Tertiary Care Hospital In North East Malaysia

We present our preliminary experience in neuropsychological testing in epilepsy surgery patients to demonstrate how these tests contributed to decide the laterality of epileptic focus, and to assess the effect of surgery on patient’s cognitive function and quality of life. Preoperative neuropsychological tests consisting of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS) for IQ, Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS) for memory and patients’ quality of life (QOLIE 31) were administered to refractory epilepsy patients under evaluation for surgical treatment. These tests were repeated one year after surgery and we studied any changes in trends. A total of seven patients were recruited in this study between July 2004 and July 2006. The aetiologies of refractory epilepsy were pure mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) in five patients, dysembryogenic neuroepithelial tumour (DNET) in one and dual lesion of cavernous angioma with ipsilateral MTS in one. The preoperative neuropsychological tests were all in concordance to MRI finding, and showed good contralateral function; five lateralises to the right and two to the left. The post-operative Engel seizure count (median 8.00, IQR 7.00–8.75), general IQ (88 vs. 79), performance IQ (94 vs. 79), verbal memory (89 vs. 71), non-verbal memory (88 vs. 75) and QOLIE (53.14 vs. 44.71) were better compared to preoperative values. The verbal IQ (84 vs. 84) was unchanged. Neuropsychological tests are useful as ancillary investigations to determine the laterality of seizure focus and integrity of function in the contralateral temporal lobe. Following successful surgical treatment, there is a trend towards improvement in memory, IQ and quality of life scores in this small group of patients.

WISC-III e WAIS-III na avaliação da inteligência de cegos / WISC-III and WAIS-III in intellectual assessment of blind people / WISC-III/WAIS-III en ciegos

Diante da escassez de pesquisas nacionais e de testes psicológicos destinados a avaliar pessoas cegas, desenvolveu-se um estudo psicométrico com as escalas verbais dos testes WISC-III e WAIS-III. Após as adaptações de alguns estímulos e das instruções, os testes foram aplicados em crianças (N = 120) e adultos (N = 52) residentes em Belo Horizonte. Os resultados indicaram que as escalas verbais modificadas apresentam uma boa consistência interna (alfa> 0,80). Além disso, a investigação da validade fatorial identifica a presença clara de apenas um componente. Este componente explica 81 por cento e 64 por cento para o WISC-III e WAIS-III, respectivamente. Conclui-se que as adaptações a que se procedeu não afetaram a estrutura fatorial das escalas. Deste modo, os profissionais poderão utilizar as escalas modificadas para avaliar a inteligência de pessoas cegas.

Owing to the almost lack of a national research on psychological testing for the evaluation of blind people, a psychometric study has been developed with the WISC-III and WAIS-III verbal scales. After adaptations in stimuli and instructions, scales were applied to 120 children and 52 adults in Belo Horizonte MG Brazil. Results show that modified verbal scales had a good internal consistency (alpha > 0.80) and the factorial analysis clearly indicated the presence of a single principal component. Actually it explains a total of 81 percent and 64 percent for WISC III and WAIS III respectively. Since adaptations do not affect the factorial structure of the above-mentioned scales, professionals may use the modified scales to measure the intelligence of blind people.

Frente a la escasez de investigaciones nacionales asi como la ausencia de tests psicológicos que evaluen personas ciegas, se ha desarrollado un estudio psicometrico com la escalas verbales del WISC-III y WAIS-III. Posteriormente a las adaptaciones de algunos estímulos y de las instrucciones, las escalas fueron aplicadas a una muestra de niños (n=120) y de adultos (n=52) residentes en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte-Brasil. Los resultados indican que las escalas verbales modificadas presentan una alta fiabilidad (alpha >0,80) asi como la presencia clara de un unico componente responsable por 81 por ciento y 64 por ciento de la variancia del WIC-III e WAIS-III respectivamente. Se ha concluido que las modificaciones efectuadas no han comprometido la estructura factorial de las escalas verbales. Por tanto, los profesionales psicólogos pueden utilizar las escalas modificadas para la evaluación de la inteligencia de personas portadoras de ceguera.

Desempenhos nas duas tarefas do subteste dígitos do WISC-III e do WAIS-III / Performances in the forward and backward digit span in the WISC-III and WAIS-III

O subteste Dígitos está incluído no WISC-III e no WAIS-III, constituindo uma medida de atenção e memória de trabalho. Considerando que o desempenho em cada parte desse subteste implica em funções cognitivas diferentes, a determinação dos padrões de desempenho e das discrepâncias pode ser útil na investigação clínica. O artigo apresenta os resultados das amostras de normatização brasileiras dos testes WISC-III e WAIS-III nas ordens direta e inversa dos dígitos, analisando-se as discrepâncias entre cada uma delas. Os sujeitos recordaram mais dígitos na ordem direta do que na inversa. No WISC-III, a mediana da quantidade máxima de dígitos que as crianças memorizaram foi de cinco na ordem direta e três na ordem inversa. No WAIS-III, a mediana alcançada pela amostra foi de cinco dígitos na ordem direta e de quatro na inversa. O número de dígitos retido foi menor que o reportado para as amostras de normatização americanas.

Digit Span subtest is comprised in the WISC-III and WAIS-III and it constitutes an attention and working memory measure. Assuming that performance in each part of this subtest implies in different cognitive functions, the determination of performance patterns and of discrepancies can be useful in clinical evaluation. The present article shows the results of the samples of Brazilian standardization of the tests WISC-III and WAIS-III in the forward and backward orders of the digits, analyzing the discrepancies between each of them. Subjects remembered a larger number of digits in the forward than in the backward. In WISC-III, the median of the maximum amount of digits retained by children was five digits in the forward and three in the backward. In WAIS-III, the median was five digits in the forward and four digits in the backward. The number of digits retained was lower than the reported for the American standardization samples.

Desempenho cognitivo de pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal e epilepsia mioclônica juvenil: avaliação por meio da Escala WAIS-III / Cognitive performance of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: evaluation through the Wechsler Intelligence Scale WAIS-III

OBJETIVOS: Comparar os resultados em uma prova cognitiva de pacientes com epilepsia com dois parâmetros: um fornecido pelas normas brasileiras e outro pelas norte-americanas, tendo em vista as diferenças culturais. MÉTODO: Quarenta e cinco pacientes adultos com diagnóstico de epilepsia foram submetidos à avaliação de nível intelectual por meio da Escala Wechsler de Inteligência, WAIS-III nos seguintes itens: Quociente de Inteligência Verbal (QI V), Quociente de Inteligência de Execução (QI E) e Quociente de Inteligência Total (QI T). As correções dos protocolos seguiram as normas brasileiras e as norte-americanas. RESULTADOS: Dos 45 pacientes, 30 tinham o diagnóstico de epilepsia do lobo temporal (ELT) por esclerose mesial temporal (EMT), 15 no hemisfério esquerdo e 15 no direito, e 15 de epilepsia mioclônica juvenil (EMJ). Em todos os 45 protocolos do WAIS-III os resultados de QI V, QI E e QI T foram maiores quando empregados os parâmetros brasileiros. Assim, 18 pacientes que alcançaram QI T nas faixas "Média" e "Média Inferior", segundo as normas brasileiras, obtiveram níveis inferiores quando corrigidos pelas normas norte-americanas, ou seja, o QI T destes mesmos pacientes caiu para as faixas "Limítrofe" e "Muito Rebaixado" respectivamente. Nos pacientes com ELT, as diferenças de pontos entre os QI V e QI E não foram concordantes quando cotejados por normas diferentes e em cinco deles o desempenho verbal foi maior do que o motor quando corrigidos pelas normas norte-americanas. Nos pacientes com EMJ, os valores do QI V e QI E foram maiores quando empregadas normas brasileiras. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados da avaliação cognitiva pelo WAIS-III de pacientes com epilepsia mostram que a interpretação do nível intelectual é muito distinta quando corrigida segundo normas brasileiras ou norte-americanas. Há também diferença na análise qualitativa do desempenho intelectual, uma vez que o estudo das discrepâncias internas variou conforme a norma populacional utilizada.

To compare the results of a cognitive task of patients with epilepsy with two parameters: one provided by the Brazilian and the other by the US normative scores viewing the cultural differences. METHOD: Forty-five adult patients diagnosed with epilepsy were submitted to intellectual evaluation through the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, WAIS-III, in the following items: Verbal Intelligence Quotient (V IQ), Performance Intelligence Quotient (P IQ) and Full Scale (FS IQ). The correction of the protocols followed the Brazilian and the US normative scores. RESULTS: Thirty out of the 45 patients were diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) due to mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), 15 in the left hemisphere and 15 in the right, and 15 with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). In all 45 WAIS protocols the results of the V IQ, P IQ and FS IQ were higher when the Brazilian parameters were employed. Therefore, 18 patients that achieved FS IQ in the "Average" and "Low Average" ranges, according to the Brazilian normative scores, got lower levels when corrected by the US normative scores, that is, the FS IQ of these 18 patients fell to the æBorderlineÆ and æExtremely LowÆ ranges respectively. In the patients with TLE, the differences in the scores between the V IQ and P IQ did not correspond when evaluated by different normative scores and in five of them the verbal was higher than the performance when corrected by the US normative scores. In the patients with JME, the values of V IQ and P IQ were higher when the Brazilian normative scores were employed. CONCLUSION: The results of the cognitive evaluation through the WAIS of patients with epilepsy showed that interpretation of the intellectual level is very dissimilar when corrected by the Brazilian or US normative scores. There is also a difference in the qualitative analysis of the intellectual performance since the study of the inner discrepancy varied according the population normative scores employed.

BF-7 Improved Memory Function and Protected Neuron from Oxidative Stress / 체질인류학회지

Endogenously or exogenously generated oxidative stress impair organs, especially brain. Also, the oxidative stress appears to be a negative factor on normal brain function, like memory and cognition. Our result showed that BF-7, extracted from Bombyx mori, effectively diminished oxidative stress, leading to the protection of neuron from reactive oxygen species donated by FeSO4 . Clinical experiments showed that BF-7 significantly improved memory and cognitive functions of normal adults in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, our results suggest that BF-7 play a role in the improvement of brain functions by removing oxidative stress, and provide therapeutic potential role of BF-7 to protect nervous system from oxidative damage.

A Comparative Study of CISA, WAIS-RC in the Violent Adolescents with Lower Intelligence / 中国心理卫生杂志

Object: To compare validity of CISA and WAIS-RC in a special group, violent adolescents with low intelligence.Method:Thirty-eight adolescents with violent delinquency were screened out by CRT (combined Raven test) with IQ lower than 85. CISA (Chinese intelligence scale for adult) and WAIS-RC (Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised Chinese version) were applied to them in different sequence.Result:CISA IQ and WAIS-RC IQ were very close to each other. The adolescents were in borderline intelligence with more impairment in verbal IQ than in performance IQ.Conclusion:CISA and WAIS-RC have same validity in identifying intelligent impairment of violent adolescents.

The Clinical Characteristics and Intelligence in the Adjustment of Schizophrenic Patients / 신경정신의학

We investigated the clinical characteristics and intelligence in the adjustment of schizophrenic patients. One hundred thirty-nine schizophrenic patients were selected among the schizophrenic patients admitted to the department of neuropsychiatry, Wonkwang University, school of medicine, from January 1, 1993 to November 30, 1996. The selected schizophrenic patients were divided into two groups, the one with over 60 of past year highest global assessment of functioning(PHF)(superior group) and the other with less than 60 of PHF(inferior group). Both groups were compared in clinical characteristics and Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS) results at admission. The results were as follows : 1) The superior group showed significantly longer duration of education(11.9+/-2.9, 9.9+/-3.7, p<.01), shorter duration of illness(49.6+/-57.9, 93.9+/-70.3, p<.01), less admissions(1.9+/-1.3, 2.8+/-2.1, p<.01), less negative symptoms(3.2+/-1.4, 3.8+/-1.3, p<.01) than the inferior group. 2) The superior group showed significantly higher scores on verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ ; 90.5+/-14.5, 82.4+/-17.4, p<.01), performance intelligence quotient(PIQ ; 81.4+/-13.5, 73.2+/-14.2, p<.01), full scale intelligence quotient(FSIQ ; 86.2+/-13.3, 78.0+/-14.9, P<.01), the subtests of vocabulary(9.2+/-3.0, 7.6+/-3.6, p<.01), comprehension(9.2+/-3.1, 7.5+/-3.4, p<.01), similarity(8.6+/-2.6, 7.4+/-3.3, p<.05), digit symbol(8.3+/-1.8, 7.3+/-2.5, p<.01), object assembly(7.6+/-2.5, 6.6+/-2.3, p<.05), block design(7.9+/-2.6, 6.8+/-2.0, p<.05), and picture completion(7.9+/-2.2, 7.0+/-2.1, p<.05) than the inferior group. Finally, the patients with better adjustment showed higher education level, shorter duration of illness, less numbers of admission, less negative symptoms, and higher scores on VIQ, PIQ, FSIQ, and subtests of vocabulary, comprehension, similarity, digit symbol, object assembly, block design, picture completion. It seems that the superior group had better at the more complex function in the verbal intelligence and the ability of space in the performance intelligence than the inferior group.

Factor Analysis of K-WAIS in a Sample of Patients with Organic Mental Disorder due to Head Trauma / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the K-WAIS. METHODS: The sample was consisted of 138 patients with organic mental disorder due to head trauma. A principal component analysis was used worth varimax rotation. RESULTS: Two factors in a sample patients with organic mental disorder due to head trauma were abstracted from the K-WAIS by factor analysis. Variance of the two factors was 73.3%. And variance of factor 1 (verbal comprehension) factor 2 (perceptual organization) were 62.0% and 11.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Two factors in a sample patients with organic mental disorder due to head trauma were abstracted from the K-WAIS using the principal component analysis by varimax rotation.

Study of Intelligence in Cerebral Infarction Patients / 中国临床心理学杂志

To observe the changes of intelligence in cerebral infarction patients, and to explore the relationship between intelligence and brain CT feature. Methods:The intelligence was measured by WAIS-RC in 80 cerebral infarction patients.Results:The VIQ and FIQ reduced significantly in the patients with hypertension. FIQ in patients with diabetes mellitus and PIQ in patients with cerebral vesscular disease histories reduced significantly. The PIQ reduced significantly in the patients of right focus on CT. VIQ, PIQ and FIQ reduced significantly in patients of cerebral cortices involved. But the number of focus, thalamus involved and cerebral atrophy were of no significance.Conclusion:The intelligence of the cerebral infarction patients companying hypertension, diabetes mellitus and several cerebral vesscular disease histories was impaired significantly. Cerebral cortices involed was the most important factor among the features on CT relating to intelligence quotient.

A Comparison Between Nonclinical and Schizophrenia Sample on the Results Measured by WAIS-Ⅲ Chinese Version / 中国临床心理学杂志

Objective:To compare the performance of two study samples on WAIS-Ⅲ Chinese version.Methods:A sample of 114 inpatients with schizophrenia and a sample of 114 closely-matched nonclinical adults in Mainland China were studied with the measures of WAIS-Ⅲ Chinese version.Results:The scores of patient sample exhibited significant difference from those of healthy adult sample in all three IQs and other three indices in addition to Verbal Comprehension Index(P