[Attentional impairment in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity]

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] is a heterogeneous disorder currently defined by clinical history and behavioral report of impairment. The Attention Network test [ANT] gives measures of different aspects of the complex process of attention. We ask if children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD] will show a characteristic pattern of deficits on this test. The sample included 40 children [M=9 years] who performed the Attention network test". Children with an ADHD diagnosis [N=20] were compared to a control group [N=20]. The group of children with ADND showed slower reaction times in all conditions [mean RT=866sns; SD=234, 063]. Children with ADHD showed a significant impairment in their executive control system compared to healthy subjects, with slower reaction times in incongruent conditions and lower accuracy scores [RT=1064 ms; F[1.38] p=0.02]]. Our results showed that spatial orienting and alerting in ADHD was no different than controls [p=0, 68]. ADHD group showed a greater variable response [p=0, 0001]. The present study showed that impairment in executive control system and variability measures are the characteristic pattern of deficits in children with ADHD

[Adaption of a soft signs scale to children with autism spectrum disorders]

Neurological soft signs [NSS] are endophenotypic markers of schizophrenia, and their high prevalence in pervasive developmental disorders [PDD] support the existence of the spectrum of psychoses. These NSS were evaluated by standardized scales which were not adapted to children with PDD. This study aimed to propose an adaptation for children of a scale of NSS already used in adults. 21 children with PDD [II with autistic disorder, 10 with PDD not otherwise specified] aged 6-12 years and 21 controls matched on age. sex, and cognitive level were included. Evaluating tools were NSS scale of Krebs et al. adapted after a pilot-study with the accordance of its author; the Progressive Matrices of Raven for intellectual level, and ADI-R to confirm diagnosis. Patients were significantly more impaired on total score [p=0, 001], motor coordination [p=0, 08]. motor integration [p=0, 000]. and sensory integration [p=0, 001]. There were no difference between patients and controls on abnormal movements and quality of lateralization. This adaptation of Krebs et al. scale seems to be a good tool for evaluating NSS in children, especially in those with PDD.A further validation study. including a larger sample is necessary

[Memory impairments during child and adolescent depression]

This study aimed to evaluate basic performances on verbal memory in treatment-naive children and adolescents with depression and in healthy control subjects. 34 children and adolescents aged 6-16 years, suffering from a first major depressive disorder [DSM IV] and 34 controls matched on sex, age and cognitive ability were evaluated. Psychiatric diagnosis was assessed with the K-SADS-PL. The Child Depression Rating Scale [CDRS] was used to assess the severity of depression. Progressive matrices of Raven were used to evaluate intelligence. Tow different cognitive tasks were administered to assess semantic and working memory: digit span test, and semantic and phonemic verbal fluency. A significant effect of diagnosis was found for digit span: patients showed lower performance on forward [p=0, 015] and backward [p=0, 002] digits. No difference was found between patients and controls on verbal fluency. The young age of the sample and the first depressive episode criteria may explain the absence of severe impairment of this type of semantic and working memory. These results support the hypothesis that memory deficits in depressive disorders are partly the result of poor encoding caused by a deficit in attention

[Cognitive remediation therapy in schizophrenia]

Despite progress in chemo-therapeutics, schizophrenia remains a chronic disease with occurrence of residual symptoms and drug resistance in 60%of the cases. Besides, cognitive impairment is frequent and highly con-elated to social dysfunction seen in patients with schizophrenia. Several cognitive remediation programs have been elaborated. Rehacom [R] is one of such programs. Aim of the study is to evaluate through a case control the efficiency of Rehacom [R] towards cognitive functions. This program has been administered to a patient suffering from undifferentiated schizophrenia which was ameliorated after drug therapy considering positive symptoms but still was complaining from cognitive deficits causing social withdrawal. After following the remediation program, the patient was ameliorated considering its negative symptoms as attested by an amelioration of the PANSS negative score and considering its cognitive performances on memory, attention and executive functions. We have also noticed an improvement in his self-esteem and his quality of life. This first trial of a cognitive remediation program among our patients suffering from schizophrenia using Rehacom [R] was encouraging. Enlarging its use and designing controlled studies will be the next step of our study

[Evaluation of correlations between cognitive performances ans clinical dimensions of schizophrenia]

Schizophrenia is characterised by positive and negative symptoms as well as thought disorders and disorganised behaviour. Multiple cognitive deficits within the areas of memory, attention and executive functions are also associated with schizophrenia. Aim of the study was to proceed to a study of correlations between clinical dimensions of schizophrenia and cognitive functions. The authors recruited 105 patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders [DSM IV criteria]. The patients were clinically stabilised, showing no depressive state at the time of the study, with no organic brain disorders and no history of drug intake. They were clinically evaluated using the PANSS and the Calgary Depression Scale. A cognitive battery was also administered. Positive dimension of schizophrenia was shown to be independent from any cognitive function. Disorganisation was negatively correlated to attention, working memory, long-term verbal memory and executive functions. Negative dimension was negatively correlated with working memory and executive functions. Cognition wasn't correlated to the positive dimension of schizophrenia whereas it was currelated to the negative and to the disorganisation dimension of the disease. This is probably due to overlapping of conceptsand to the disorganisation dimension of the disease. This is probably due to overlapping of concepts

[Tunisian of "Hopkins verbal learning test" form1]

Memory impairment and verbal learning are the most common cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. Hopkins Verbal Learning Test [HVLT] is considered to be the most reliable test to asses memory and verbal learning in this mental illness. To create one form of the HVLT which would suit our linguistic and cultural context and to study the characteristics of this test in a group of healthy subjects. The HVLT consists of a list of 12 words belonging to 3 semantic categories and which are read orally to the subject with an immediate and differed recall. The first part of this work was to select words from a lexical database in order to create the list of the HVLT. The test was then administered to 103 subjects aged from 17 to 45V years-.old [mean 27, 4; SD=7, 3] and having between 1 and 20 years of education mean=12, 2; SD=5, 3]. No statistical difference was found within performances of the HVLT across gender and sex. Whereas, years of education was found to have an impact on performances. Although statistically difference was found across level of education. Our study permitted us to create one form of the HVLT which well suits our Tunisian context and which we could use to evaluate memory functions among people suffering from schizophrenia

[ tunisian cognitive battery for patients with schizophrenia]

Cognitive disorders are common and severe in schizophrenia. They are also correlated with the functional outcome of the disease. Cognition can not he assessed during a standard clinical interview hut needs to be evaluated by means of specific cognitive tasks. Aim of the study is to construct a battery of cognitive tests which is adapted to the Tunisian cultural and linguistic context and to collect normative data in Tunisian Arabic speaking healthy subjects. We have selected and adapted cognitive tests to our socio cultural context. Then we have proceeded to the administration of these tests within a group of healthy subjects. The cognitive battery is composed of 7 tests: the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, the Token test, the Zazzo test, phonemic fluency, semantic fluency, visual working memory test and number working memory test. These tests are presented with their manual of utilisation and their normative data. The Tunisian cognitive battery is believed to permit a better cognitive assessment of patients suffering from schizophrenia. Improvement of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia is associated with a better social and professional integration of these patients