Who is poor? Analysis of social representations in an Argentine sample / Quem é pobre? Análise das representações sociais em uma amostra Argentina / ¿Quién es pobre? Análisis de las representaciones sociales en una muestra argentina

Different organizations register alarming poverty rates in Argentina. However, there may be differences in who is considered poor according to these measurements and who is considered poor by society, from common sense knowledge. This work analyzes the social representations of people living in poverty in a sample of 605 Argentines, using the free-word association technique. The results suggest that the poor person is first understood as someone who suffers from hunger, a definition that corresponds to indigence according to the official entity that measures poverty and indigence in Argentina. However, while the core of the representation manifests a significant presence of elements of monetary poverty and its effects on nutrition (hunger), the peripheral system shows the deficit in various social rights, such as education, housing, work, and health. Following these results, it is argued that equating poverty with indigence would render the situation of millions of people in Argentina invisible. (AU)

Diferentes organizações registram índices alarmantes de pobreza na Argentina. No entanto, pode haver diferenças entre quem é considerado pobre de acordo com essas medidas e quem é considerado pobre na sociedade, pelo senso comum. Este trabalho analisa as representações sociais de pessoas em situação de pobreza em uma amostra de 605 argentinos/as por meio da técnica de associação de palavras. Os resultados sugerem que a pessoa que vive na pobreza é entendida principalmente como alguém que passa fome, definição que corresponde à indigência segundo o órgão oficial que mede a pobreza e a indigência na Argentina. Não obstante, enquanto no núcleo da representação se identifica a presença de elementos da pobreza monetária e seus efeitos sobre a alimentação (fome), no sistema periférico se identifica elementos relacionados à violação de direitos sociais, como educação, moradia, trabalho e saúde. Conclui-se que igualar a pobreza à indigência tornaria invisível a situação de milhões de pessoas na Argentina. (AU)

Distintos organismos registran tasas alarmantes de pobreza en Argentina. Sin embargo, pueden existir diferencias en quién es considerado pobre según estas mediciones y quiénes lo son para la sociedad, desde el sentido común. Este trabajo analiza las representaciones sociales sobre las personas en situación de pobreza en una muestra de 605 argentinos/as, administrando la técnica de asociación de palabras. Los resultados sugieren que la persona en situación de pobreza es entendida primeramente como alguien que sufre hambre, definición que corresponde a indigencia según el organismo oficial que mide la pobreza y la indigencia en Argentina. No obstante, mientras que en el núcleo de la representación social tiene una importante presencia la pobreza monetaria y sus efectos sobre la alimentación (hambre), en el sistema periférico se ubican elementos relativos a la vulneración de derechos sociales, como la educación, la vivienda, el trabajo y la salud. Se concluye que equiparar a la pobreza con la indigencia invisibilizaría la situación de millones de personas en Argentina. (AU)

Alquimia das palavras: extraindo o tempo das palavras / Alchemy of words: extracting time from words / Alquimia de las palabras: extracción del tiempo de las palabras

O presente artigo reflete sobre o poder e as substâncias que formam as palavras. Uma dificuldade, palavras a falar sobre palavras. Ideia, o tempo contido nas palavras. A poesia é a bússola na procura do caminho, e a alquimia, o mapa metafórico. O tempo como aspecto central, o tempo escondido nas palavras. Desenvolve-se a extração em paralelo à alquimia e a seus processos básicos, para se chegar ao espírito divino da matéria. Os estudos e conceitos da alquimia de C. G. Jung e E. Edinger são explorados para comparação entre as projeções de alquimistas e poetas. Sentir o tempo nas palavras, ajustar a escuta poética da clínica. Na poesia o tempo funciona diferentemente; o poeta é o que se aproxima da alma, ao juntar palavras. São essas palavras que quebram a rigidez dos relógios.

This article ponders on the power and substances that form words. Using words to talk about words is a difficult endeavor. Ideas are time contained in words, poetry, the compass in the search of the way, and alchemy, the metaphorical map. Time is a central aspect, as time is hidden in words. Extraction is developed in parallel with alchemy and its basic processes in order to arrive at the divine spirit of matter. The studies and concepts of alchemy of C. G. Jung and E. Edinger are explored in comparing the projections of alchemists and poets. Feeling time in the words to adjust poetic listening in clinic activities. In poetry, time works differently; the poet is the one who approaches the soul by putting words together. It is these words that break the iron frule of clocks.

Este artículo reflexiona sobre el poder y las sustancias que forman las palabras. Una dificultad, palabras hablando de palabras. Idea, el tiempo contenido en las palabras. La poesía es la brújula en la búsqueda del camino, y la alquimia, el mapa metafórico. El tiempo como aspecto central, el tiempo escondido en las palabras. La extracción se desarrolla en paralelo con la alquimia y sus procesos básicos, para llegar al espíritu divino de la materia. Se exploran los estudios y conceptos de alquimia de C. G. Jung y E. Edinger para comparar las proyecciones de alquimistas y poetas. Siente el tiempo en las palabras, ajusta la escucha poética de la clínica. En la poesía el tiempo funciona de otra manera; el poeta es el que se acerca al alma juntando palabras. Son estas palabras las que rompen la rigidez de los relojes.

The investigation of semantic memory deficit in chronic tinnitus: a behavioral report / Investigação do déficit de memória semântica no zumbido crônico: um relato comportamental

Abstract Introduction: Tinnitus is a central auditory disorder in which different processing systems are involved as a network. One of these networks is memory. Previous studies have demonstrated some deficits in various types of memory in chronic tinnitus. Objectives: The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the semantic memory, which is not yet investigated in the tinnitus population. Methods: In this case-control study, 15 subjects with chronic tinnitus and 16 matched healthy controls were included. 40 semantically related and 40 semantically unrelated word pairs were presented to the participants in a counter-balanced fashion. They were asked to make decision about their semantic relatedness. Then the participants' reaction times and the accuracy of responses were calculated. Results: Mean of reaction times were significantly longer in the tinnitus group (M = 1034 ms, SD = 0.31) compared to the control group (Mean = 1016 ms, SD = 0.13), p < 0.05. However, no significant difference was found for the mean percentage of correct responses between the two groups. Conclusion: The current study provided behavioral evidence that chronic tinnitus can affect the semantic memory. Such behavioral outcomes may provide new insights into more research activities in the field of electrophysiology and neuroimaging in the tinnitus population.

Resumo Introdução: O zumbido é um distúrbio auditivo central, no qual diferentes sistemas de processamento estão envolvidos como em uma rede. Uma dessas redes é a memória. Estudos anteriores demonstraram alguns déficits em vários tipos de memória no zumbido crônico. Objetivos: Investigar a memória semântica, que ainda não foi investigada na população com zumbido. Método: Neste estudo de caso-controle, 15 indivíduos com zumbido crônico e 16 controles saudáveis pareados foram incluídos; 40 pares de palavras semanticamente relacionados e 40 semanticamente não relacionados foram apresentados aos participantes de forma contrabalançada. Eles foram instruídos a tomar decisões sobre sua relação semântica. Em seguida, os tempos de reação dos participantes e a precisão das respostas foram calculados. Resultados: A média dos tempos de reação foi significativamente maior no grupo com zumbido (M = 1,034 ms, DP = 0,31) em comparação ao grupo controle (média = 1,016 ms, DP = 0,13), p< 0,05. Entretanto, nenhuma diferença significante foi encontrada para a porcentagem média de respostas corretas entre os dois grupos. Conclusão: O presente estudo forneceu evidências comportamentais de que o zumbido crônico pode afetar a memória semântica. Tais resultados comportamentais podem levar a novas percepções em mais atividades de pesquisa no campo da eletrofisiologia e neuroimagem na população com zumbido.

O olhar de alunas de escola pública sobre o preservativo feminino / La visión de las alumnas de la escuela pública sobre el preservativo femenino / A look at female condoms from public school students

Resumo OBJETIVO Conhecer as representações sociais de alunas sobre o preservativo feminino. METODOLOGIA Estudo exploratório e descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, apoiado na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Participaram 94 alunas de Ensino Médio, cursos técnicos e Educação de Jovens e Adultos, de escolas públicas de um município do interior da Bahia-Brasil, que responderam ao teste de associação livre de palavras. As evocações foram submetidas aos softwares EVOC e IRAMUTEQ. RESULTADOS As alunas reconhecem que o preservativo feminino é uma tecnologia que proporciona autonomia, protege de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e evita a gravidez. Em contraposição, relatam que o estranhamento e o desconforto são elementos importantes que justificam o não uso. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS As representações sociais apontam necessidades de estratégias que promovam trocas de informações e estimulem o conhecimento prático sobre o preservativo feminino entre as estudantes de escolas públicas.

Resumen OBJETIVO Conocer las representaciones sociales de alumnas sobre el preservativo femenino. MÉTODO Estudio exploratorio y descriptivo, con abordaje cualitativo, apoyado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Participaron 94 alumnas de Enseñanza Media, cursos técnicos y Educación de Jóvenes y Adultos, de escuelas públicas de un municipio del interior de Bahía-Brasil, que respondieron a la prueba de asociación libre de palabras. Las evocaciones fueron sometidas al software EVOC e IRAMUTEQ. RESULTADOS Las alumnas reconocen que el preservativo femenino es una tecnología que proporciona autonomía, protege de infecciones sexualmente transmisibles y evita el embarazo. En contraposición, relatan que el extrañamiento y la incomodidad son elementos importantes que justifican el no uso. CONSIDERACIONES FINALES Las representaciones sociales apuntan necesidades de estrategias que promuevan intercambios de informaciones y estimulen el conocimiento práctico sobre el preservativo femenino entre las estudiantes de escuelas públicas.

Abstract OBJECTIVE to find the social representations of female students about female condoms. Methodology: exploratory and descriptive study, with qualitative approach, based on the Theory of Social Representations. METHOD 94 students from high school students, technical courses, and adult education participated, all from public schools from a municipality in the countryside of Bahia/Brazil, and responded to the test of free word association. The evocations were submitted to the softwares EVOC and IRAMUTEQ. RESULTS students recognize that the female condom is a technology that provides autonomy, protects against sexually transmitted infections, and prevents pregnancy. In contrast, they reported that their reasons for not using the method are finding it uncomfortable and strange. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS Social representations point to the need for strategies that promote information exchange and stimulate practical knowledge about the female condom among public school students.

Qualitative Comparison of Semantic Memory Impairment in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Based on β-Amyloid Status

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Semantic memory remains more stable than episodic memory across the lifespan, which makes it potentially useful as a marker for distinguishing pathological aging from normal senescence. To obtain a better understanding of the transitional stage evolving into Alzheimer's dementia (AD), we focused on the amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) stage stratified based on β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology. METHODS: We analyzed the raw data from Korean version of the Boston Naming Test (K-BNT) and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). For K-BNT, the frequencies of six error types and accuracy rates were evaluated. For a qualitative assessment of the COWAT, we computed the number of switching, number of clusters, and mean cluster size. RESULTS: The data from 217 participants were analyzed (53 normal controls, 66 with Aβ− aMCI, 56 with Aβ+ aMCI, and 42 disease controls). There were fewer semantically related errors and more semantically unrelated errors on the K-BNT in Aβ+ aMCI than in Aβ− aMCI, without a gross difference in the z score. We also found that Aβ+ aMCI showed a more prominent deficit in the number of clusters in the semantic fluency task [especially for animal names (living items)] than Aβ− aMCI. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of similar clinical manifestations, Aβ+ aMCI was more similar to AD than Aβ− aMCI in terms of semantic memory disruption. Semantic memory may serve as an early indicator of brain Aβ pathology. Therefore, semantic memory dysfunction deserves more consideration in clinical practice. Longitudinal research with the follow-up data is needed.

Influence of the Short-term Intake of High Doses of Solifenacin and Trospium on Cognitive Function and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Women With Urinary Incontinence / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and the effects of elevated doses of solifenacin and trospium on cognitive function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly women receiving treatment for urinary incontinence. METHODS: The study included 312 women aged 60–83 years (mean age, 69.4 years). All participants had scored at least 24 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale, and all of them had been diagnosed with urge urinary incontinence (UUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). The women were randomly assigned to 3 groups: group A, individuals who were simultaneously administered solifenacin at a high dosage of 20 mg per day and trospium at a high dosage of 60 mg per day; group B, persons taking solifenacin and trospium at the usual dosage of 10 and 30 mg per day, respectively; and group C, persons who received a placebo. Participants’ cognitive status was assessed by the MMSE, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, Wechsler Memory Scale III, Colour Trails Test, and California Verbal Learning Test scales. The HRQoL assessment was performed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Health Survey. RESULTS: The cognitive function parameters did not differ at the start and end of the study across the groups (P>0.05). Additionally, the cognitive function parameters did not differ significantly within each group between the start and end of the study (P>0.05). The values of most HRQoL parameters regarding the functional state of the lower urinary tract (LUT) after the termination of treatment significantly improved in groups A and B (P < 0.05). A significant correlation between cognitive status and HRQoL or LUT parameters was absent (r < 0.3), while the correlations between HRQoL and LUT parameters were r=0.31–0.83, P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: The use of elevated doses of solifenacin and trospium did not increase the risk of cognitive impairment in women with UUI and MUI. The combination of solifenacin and trospium at a double dosage may be recommended to elderly women with treatment-resistant symptoms of UUI and MUI. However, the safety of combining antimuscarinic drugs in women with an increased volume of residual urine requires further study.

Efectos de la edad de adquisición de las palabras en denominación de imágenes en sujetos afásicos hablantes del español / Effects of Age of Acquisition of Words on Images Naming Task in the Spanish-Speaking Aphasic Subjects

Resumen Se analizaron los efectos de la variable edad de adquisición de las palabras (EdA) en sujetos afásicos hablantes del español en una tarea de denominación de imágenes y su influencia en las propiedades de activación, inhibición y competencia léxicas. Veintidós sujetos afásicos completaron una tarea consistente en denominar 20 imágenes representativas de palabras de adquisición temprana (ATe) y 20 imágenes representativas de palabras de adquisición tardía (ATa). Las variables de precisión y tiempo de respuesta (TR) fueron analizadas, observándose un mayor número de aciertos y un menor TR ante imágenes ATe que ante imágenes ATa. A partir de los resultados se estableció que en sujetos afásicos la activación léxica de palabras correctas es mayor ante imágenes ATe que ante imágenes ATa.

Abstract The age of acquisition of words (AoA) effects in spanish-speaking aphasic subjects and its influence on the properties of lexical activation, inhibition and competition were analyzed in a naming task. Twenty two aphasic subjects completed a naming task with 20 images with early acquisition words (EA) and 20 images with late acquisition words (LA). Variables precision and response time (RT) were analyzed and the results showed a higher number of correct responses and a lower RT with EA images than those with LA images and it can be established that in aphasic subjects, lexical activation of right words to images is greater with EA images than with LA images.

Los falsos amigos en el lenguaje de la medicina / False friends in medical Language

El lenguaje médico en español está plagado de vicios que le restan credibilidad al mensaje científico. Entre ellos, sobresalen los extranjerismos innecesarios. Principalmente traducciones erróneas del inglés, aunque no solamente de este idioma, conocidas como 'palabras traidoras' o 'falsos amigos', es decir, palabras de ortografía muy similar o idéntica en inglés y español, pero con significados diferentes en ambos idiomas. Así, el objetivo del presente artículo está dirigido a revisar un grupo de estas palabras con el interés de estimular a los profesionales de las ciencias médicas para el uso adecuado del idioma español en las ciencias médicas(AU)

Medical language in Spanish is plagued of bad habits that subtract credibility to the scientific message. Among them are outstanding unnecessary foreign expressions, mainly erroneous translations from English, although not only from this language, known as 'treacherous words' or 'false friends'; that is to say, words of very similar or identical spelling in English and Spanish, but with different meanings in both languages. Thus, the objective of the present article is aimed to revise a group of these words, with the interest of stimulating the professionals of the medical sciences for the appropriate use of the Spanish language in the field(AU)

Caracteristicas de la respuesta emocional generada por las palabras: un estudio experimental desde la emoción y la motivación / Characteristics of emotional response generated by words: an experimental study from emotion and motivation

Resumen Los estudios experimentales de la emoción y la motivación se han desarrollado de forma más frecuente con imágenes, sonidos y videos, sin embargo, son pocos los trabajos que han estudiado la respuesta emocional y motivacional ante las palabras, las cuales son estímulos que guían significativamente nuestra interacción social. Por lo anterior, el objetivo de la presente investigación fue identificar la capacidad que tienen las palabras para generar estados emocionales y las posibles diferencias entre hombres y mujeres. Para esto se llevó a cabo un estudio con 232 personas y se utilizaron 15 palabras con contenido afectivo, las cuales fueron evaluadas en las dimensiones de valencia, arousal y dominancia. Los resultados muestran que las palabras agradables, en especial aquellas con contenido sexual generan una valencia apetitiva, alto arousal y alta dominancia, y las palabras desagradables generan una valencia aversiva, bajo arousal y baja dominancia. Solo se encontraron diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres en la valencia de las palabras desagradables y el arousal de las palabras agradables.

Abstract The experimental studies of emotion and motivation have developed more often with pictures, sounds and videos; however, few studies have addressed the emotional and motivational response to the words, which are stimuli that guide significantly our social interaction. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify the words capacity to generate emotional states and differences between men and women. For this we conducted a study with 232 persons and used 15 words with affective content which were evaluated in the dimensions of valence, arousal and dominance. The results show that pleasant words, especially those with sexual content generate an appetitive valence, high arousal and high dominance, and unpleasant words generate an aversive valence, low arousal and low dominance. Significant differences between men and women only found in valence of unpleasant words and in arousal of the pleasant words.

Doença renal crônica e depressão: um estudo psicossociológico com pacientes em hemodiálise / Chronic kidney disease and depression: a psychosociological study with hemodialysis patients

Este estudo objetivou apreender as representações sociais acerca da Doença Renal Crônica (DRC) e da depressão, elaboradas por pacientes sob tratamento de hemodiálise com e sem sintomas depressivos. Participaram deste estudo 50 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, com idade média de 46,05 anos e DP=13,4, que responderam a um questionário sociodemográfico, a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão e a Técnica de Associação Livre de Palavras. Os dados foram analisados por meio da estatística descritiva e análise fatorial de correspondência. Os resultados apontaram que 20% dos pacientes apresentaram sintomas depressivos. A DRC foi representada como sinônimo de rim paralisado, associada às dificuldades do tratamento e considerada "um pesadelo". Os pacientes também expressaram a falta de conhecimento acerca das causas que desencadeiam a doença renal. A depressão foi objetivada nos sintomas: falta de vontade, choro e agonia. (AU)

This study aimed to apprehend the social representations of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) and depression, elaborated by patients on hemodialysis with and without symptoms of depression. Fifteen patients on hemodialysis participated in this study, of both sexes, with a mean age of 46.05 years, SD = 13.4, who answered to a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Free Word Association Test. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factorial correspondence analysis. The results indicated that 20% of patients had depressive symptoms. The CRF was represented as synonymous of paralyzed kidney, associated with the treatment difficulties and its which was considered "a nightmare". Patients also expressed on the ignorance of the causes which lead to kidney disease. The depression has been objectified in the symptoms: lack of desire, crying and agony. (AU)

Normas de associação semântica para 20 categorias em adultos e idosos / Semantic association norms for 20 categories in adults and elderly / Normas de asociación semántica para 20 categorías en adultos y ancianos

O desenvolvimento de normas para categorias semânticas é necessário para a compreensão do modo como os indivíduos organizam o conhecimento na memória e para a construção de instrumentos de avaliação cognitiva. O objetivo do presente estudo é fornecer normas associativas de 20 categorias semânticas para adultos e idosos brasileiros. Participaram do estudo 236 pessoas, entre 40 e 88 anos, das cinco regiões brasileiras. Os participantes responderam a um questionário de dados sociodemográficos e a um questionário de itens para categorias semânticas, e foram solicitados a produzir os cinco primeiros exemplares de cada categoria apresentada. Os resultados foram agrupados e são apresentadas as normas das categorias (exemplares, tamanho da categoria, respostas corretas, em branco e erros), bem como as respostas de cada categoria que foram comuns a todas as regiões brasileiras...

The development of semantic category norms is necessary to assist in the understanding of how individuals organize knowledge in memory, and to the creation of cognitive assessment instruments. The aim of this study is to provide associative norms of 20 semantic categories for Brazilian adults and elderly. The study included 236 participants from 40 to 88 years of age from the five Brazilian regions. They answered a socio-demographic questionnaire and a semantic category questionnaire, in which they were asked to produce the first five items of each category. Results are presented in category norms (items, category set size, correct responses, no responses and errors), as well as the responses that were common to all Brazilian regions belonging to each category...

Es necesario el desarrollo de normas para categorías semánticas para poder comprender cómo las personas organizan el conocimiento en la memoria y para la construcción de instrumentos de evaluación cognitiva. El objetivo de este estudio es proporcionar normas asociativas de 20 categorías semánticas para muestras de brasileños adultos y ancianos. Participaron 236 personas entre 40 y 88 años, de cinco regiones de Brasil. Los participantes completaron un cuestionario de datos sociodemográfico y un cuestionario de ítems para categorías semánticas y se les solicitó la producción de los cinco primeros ejemplares de cada categoría presentada. Los resultados fueron agrupados y son presentadas las normas de las categorías (ejemplares, tamaño de categoría, respuestas correctas, en blanco y errores), así como las respuestas de cada categoría, comunes a todas las regiones de Brasil...

The Relationship between Geriatric Depression Scale Structure and Cognitive-Behavioral Aspects in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS15) is a widely used depression screening questionnaire, the implications of the GDS15 in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are questionable. We designed this study to explore the GDS15 factor structure and the relationships between these factors and cognitive-behavioral aspects. METHODS: The GDS15, cognitive function tests, and the Korean-Neuropsychiatry Inventory were administered to 310 patients with probable AD, who were not medicated before visiting the hospital. Three factors were identified by principal components analysis. A bivariate correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationships between factors and neurocognitive and behavior symptoms. RESULTS: Factor 2 was correlated with the Korean Boston Naming Test, calculating ability, the go-no-go test, the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), the Color Word Stroop Test (CWST; words and color), aggression, depression, and apathy. Factor 3 was correlated with calculating ability, the Seoul Verbal Learning Test, immediate recall, copy, and delayed recall on the Rey-Osterieth Complex Figure Test, contrasting on the COWAT, and words and delusion on the CWST. We identified three factors and revealed that the GDS15 may be comprised of a heterogeneous scale. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the GDS15 may be comprised of a heterogeneous scale and suggest multi-dimensional properties of the GDS15 in patients with AD.

Is High IQ Protective Against Cognitive Dysfunction in Narcoleptic Patients?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to elucidate the cognitive functions of narcoleptics and determine whether intelligence protects against cognitive dysfunction and depressive mood in these patients. METHODS: Sixty-six subjects (33 narcoleptics, 33 controls) were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests and an individual standardized intelligence test. The cognitive functions of the narcoleptic patients and the healthy controls were compared, as were those of high-IQ and mid-to-low-IQ narcoleptic patients. RESULTS: Narcoleptics exhibited significantly lower scores in the Corsi Block-Tapping Test forward and backward, and the digit symbol tests, and significantly higher Beck Depression Inventory scores than the controls. However, verbal attention, verbal-visual long-term memory, and executive function task scores did not differ significantly between patients and controls. The mid-to-low-IQ patient group had lower mean digit span backward test, phonemic and semantic fluency Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Korean version of the Boston Naming Test scores, and a higher total score and general depressive symptoms subscales Beck Depression Inventory score than the high-IQ patient group. However, controls exhibited no IQ-related differences in cognitive performance or depressive mood. Patients in the high-IQ group exhibited impaired visual attention and working memory as compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study show that narcolepsy patients have deficits in visual attention and visual working memory, and tend to feel more general depressive symptoms but not somatic symptoms than their control, nonnarcoleptic counterparts. In addition, it appears that higher intelligence protects against cognitive dysfunction and depressive mood.

Maturidade perceptomotora e reconhecimento de palavras: estudo correlacional entre o Bender - Sistema de Pontuação Gradual e o Teste de Reconhecimento de Palavras / Perceptive-motor maturity and word recognition: a correlational study between Bender - Scoring System for Grades and Word Recognition test

O presente estudo objetivou investigar evidências de validade para o Bender - Sistema de Pontuação Gradual, pela relação com o Teste de Reconhecimento de Palavras, partindo da premissa de que os testes apresentariam comunalidade em certos aspectos. Além disso, a pesquisa buscou verificar se o Bender é sensível para captar diferenças de média por idade. Participaram do estudo 297 crianças, sendo 153 do sexo masculino (51,5%), com idade entre 7 e 10 anos (M=9,04, DP=0,88). Cursavam do 2º ao 5º ano do ensino fundamental, em escola particular (27,3%) ou pública (72,7%) do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os instrumentos foram aplicados coletivamente, sendo que as figuras do Bender foram projetadas. Foram evidenciadas correlações significativas entre os instrumentos. Verificou-se também que o Bender mostrou-se sensível em captar as diferenças relacionadas à idade, revelando o aspecto maturacional avaliado pelo teste, assim como também revelou relação com a escolaridade.

The aim of this study was to investigate evidence of validity of the Bender - Scoring System for Grades, by comparison with the Word Recognition Test, starting with the premise that the tests would show commonality in certain aspects. In addition, the study sought to verify whether the B-SPG is sensitive to capture differences in mean for age. The study participants included 297 children, 153 being boys (51.5%) aged between 7 and 10 years (M=9.04, SD=0.88). They were in the 2nd to the 5th year of elementary schooling, at private (27.3%) and public (72.7%) schools, in the interior of State of São Paulo. The instruments were applied collectively, and the Bender - Gradual Scoring System pictures were projected. Significant correlations were observed between the instruments. Furthermore, it was found that the Bender - Gradual Scoring System was shown to be sensitive in capturing differences related to age, revealing the aspect of maturity assessed by testing, and also revealed relationship with progress in school stages.

Estudo comparativo das associações semânticas de palavras entre adultos jovens e idosos / Comparative study of the semantic word associations between young and elderly adults

Associações de palavras vêm sendo investigadas recentemente, porém há pouco consenso acerca das mudanças nestas associações entre faixas etárias. Este estudo comparou associações semânticas de palavras entre 108 adultos jovens universitários (M = 22,17; DP = 6,04) e 57 idosos (M = 70,89; DP = 6,87). Uma tarefa de associação semântica foi utilizada. A força de associação direta entre estímulos e palavras mais fortemente associadas permaneceu constante entre os grupos. O tamanho do conjunto total e o número de respostas diferentes foram maiores para o grupo de adultos. O índice de diversidade de respostas foi maior para os adultos. Estas diferenças podem ser consideradas na construção de tarefas com estímulos verbais para avaliar memória e linguagem em diferentes faixas etárias.

The number of studies on word associations have increased recently. However, little agreement exists about age differences in relation to these associations. The semantic word associations of 108 adult college students (M = 22.17; SD = 6.04), and 57 elderly (M = 70.89; SD = 6.87) were compared using a semantic word association task. The strength between the stimuli and the strongest word associated were similar for both groups. The number of different words and the total amount of associated words were higher for the adults. Finally, the diversity index of responses was higher for the adults. Future research on memory and language can consider these age differences when developing tasks with verbal stimuli.

Semantic word association: comparative data for Brazilian children and adults

The construction of associated word lists is important for the elaboration of psychological and neuropsychological tasks and experiments. It remains unknown whether differences exist in the semantic associations of words from childhood to adulthood, possibly indicating important lexico-semantic developmental changes that influence neuropsychological assessment. The present study compared semantic word associations in children and adults in terms of forward associative strength and set size. The participants included 247 children from the third grade of elementary school, aged 7 to 11 years (M = 9.17 years, SD = 0.83 years), and 108 adults, aged 16 to 49 years (M = 22.17 years, SD = 6.04 years) from the study of Salles et al. (2008). The task consisted of the participants responding to the first word that came to mind (associate) with a meaning related to each of 87 words presented aloud (target). The children's responses had significantly higher forward associative strength between the target and most frequent associate word and a smaller response diversity index. Although the meaning and total set size did not significantly differ between groups, 40.2% of the targets had a large meaning set size in the children compared with only 10.3% in the adults. Among the most strongly associated pairs, 56.3% were equal between the sample groups. These results suggest that the selection of stimuli for the construction of verbal cognitive tasks should consider specific word association norms for different ages.

O teste de associação implícita no transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TAI-TOC): consistência interna e correlações com medidas explícitas / The implicit association test in obsessive-compulsive disorder (IAT-OCD): internal consistency and correlation with explicit assessments

CONTEXTO: Avaliações tradicionais de sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos, baseadas na introspecção, estão sujeitas a diversas variáveis, como os níveis de insight apresentados pelo paciente. OBJETIVOS: Neste estudo, nosso objetivo foi o de avaliar a consistência interna e as correlações clínicas de um teste que busca identificar a existência de um viés cognitivo implícito em pacientes com transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC). MÉTODOS: Quarenta pacientes com TOC realizaram o teste de associação implícita para o TOC (TAI-TOC) e responderam a três instrumentos de autoavaliação [Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (BAI), Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI), Inventário de Obsessões e Compulsões - Revisado (OCI-R)]. RESULTADOS: O valor do alfa de Cronbach com itens de treino foi de 0,83 e sem o treino foi de 0,79. Não foram observadas correlações significativas entre os escores gerados pelo TAI-TOC e os instrumentos de autoavaliação, i.e., BDI, BAI e diferentes dimensões do OCI-R. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados apontam para uma elevada consistência interna do TAI-TOC. A ausência de correlações entre o TAI-TOC e diferentes dimensões do OCI-R sugere que medidas implícitas e explícitas de sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos podem formar constructos independentes. Estudos futuros, com maior número de pacientes, são necessários para confirmar essa hipótese.

BACKGROUND: Traditional assessments of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, based on patients' introspection, are subject to several factors, including the levels of insight presented by them. OBJECTIVES: In this study, our goal was to assess the internal consistency and clinical correlations of a test that seeks to identify the existence of an implicit cognitive bias in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS: 40 patients with OCD performed the implicit association test for OCD (IAT-OCD) and answered three instruments of self-assessment [Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R)]. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha with IAT-OCD training items was 0.83 and without them 0.79. There were no significant correlations between the IAT-OCD scores and the instruments of self-assessment, e.g., BDI, BAI and different dimensions of the OCI-R. DISCUSSION: Our findings are consistent with a high internal consistency of the IAT-OCD. The absence of correlations between the IAT-OCD and different dimensions of the OCI-R suggests that implicit and explicit measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may be independent constructs. Future studies, with greater number of patients, are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Economía de palabras con la propuesta de un término / Economy of words with the proposal of a term

Se propone el uso de un sustantivo derivado de siglas, con vista a economizar 7 de 8 palabras al referirse a especialistas de primer o segundo grado en medicina general integral.

The use of a noun derived from acronyms was proposed to economize 7 of 8 words when referring to first o second degree specialists in General Comprehensive Medicine.

Ideação suicida na adolescência: um enfoque psicossociológico no contexto do ensino médio / Suicidal ideation in adolescence: a psychosociologic view in the high school context

Objetivou-se apreender as representações sociais da ideação suicida elaboradas por adolescentes do ensino médio, bem como investigar a presença deste fenômeno nesta população, considerando-se que a ideação suicida tem um importante valor preditivo para o ato suicida. Participaram 90 estudantes do ensino médio, os quais responderam ao Teste de Associação de Palavras, ao Inventário de Ideação Suicida de Beck e a um questionário sociodemográfico. Observou-se um índice de 22,2% de adolescentes com ideação suicida, havendo significativas diferenciações entre as representações elaboradas pelos grupos com e sem ideação suicida. Os adolescentes que apresentaram ideação se autorrepresentaram como pessoas sozinhas, associando a ideação a sentimentos de desesperança e solidão, ao mesmo tempo em que expressaram um pedido de ajuda diante de seu sofrimento. Os achados enfatizam a importância dos fatores sinalizadores, que podem permitir uma melhor compreensão sobre a problemática do suicídio

The purpose of this study was to grasp the social representations about suicide amongst adolescents in high school context, as well as, to measure suicidal ideation levels among them, considering that suicide ideation brings a strong predictive role in suicide risk evaluation. Ninety high school students took part in the study. The inclusion criteria in the sample were: high school students aged between 14 and 22 years old. As instruments, the Free-Word Association Test, the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were used. A level of 22.2% of suicidal ideation sample and significant differences in social representations of suicidal behaviors were observed among adolescents with and without suicidal ideation. Adolescents with suicidal ideation self represented themselves as lonely, linking suicide ideations to hopelessness and loneliness, while requesting help for their suffering. Findings lay emphasis on factors that may allow a better understanding of the problem of suicide

A construção de um novo instrumento para avaliar correlatos implícitos dos sintomas do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo: primeira versão do Teste de Associação Implícita / The construction of a new instrument to assess implicit correlates of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms: first version of the Implicit Association Test

CONTEXTO: A inexistência de uma medida implícita para sintomas do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) limita a avaliação às escalas e aos inventários tradicionais. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo foi construir um instrumento de avaliação de sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos que independa da autoavaliação pelo examinando [por exemplo, o Teste de Associação Implícita para transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TAI-TOC)]. MÉTODOS: A fim de construir o TAI-TOC, foram consultados (1) estudos anteriores que utilizaram o TAI para avaliação de outros sintomas psiquiátricos, (2) psiquiatras e psicólogos com experiência na avaliação e tratamento de pacientes com TOC e (3) os próprios pacientes com TOC. RESULTADOS: Estímulos verbais e visuais foram selecionados para cada dimensão dos sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos (contaminação e lavagem, obsessões de checagem, simetria e colecionismo). Um software projetado para mensurar o tempo de reação em milissegundos (um programa para associação implícita) foi desenvolvido. Uma versão final do TAI-TOC foi obtida. CONCLUSÕES: O TAI-TOC expande o arsenal existente para avaliação dos sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos, especialmente naqueles indivíduos que informam mal sobre seus sintomas.

BACKGROUND: The lack of an implicit measure for the obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms limits its assessment to the traditional scales and inventories. OBJECTIVES: The aim is the construction of an instrument for the evaluation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms that is independent from examinee's self-evaluation [i.e. the Implicit Association Test for obsessive-compulsive disorder (IAT-OCD)]. METHODS: In order to build the IAT-OCD, we consulted (1) previous studies that employed the IAT for the evaluation of other psychiatric symptoms; (2) expert psychiatrists and psychologists with experience in the assessment and treatment of patients with OCD; and (3) patients with OCD themselves. RESULTS: Specific verbal and visual stimuli were selected for each obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions (contamination-washing, obsessions-checking, symmetry and hoarding). A software designed to measure reaction time in miliseconds (a proxy for implicit association) was developed. A final version of the IAT-OCD was then obtained. DISCUSSION: The IAT-OCD expands the existing armamentarium to evaluate obsessive-compulsive symptoms, especially among those individuals who report badly about their symptoms.