Executive processing clusters in school-age children with ADHD

Este estudo buscou grupos de processamento executivo em crianças com diagnóstico de Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH). Para tal, foram utilizadas medidas de flexibilidade cognitiva (FC), inibição (IN) e memória de trabalho (MT) e conduzidas análises de clusters hierárquicos e MANCOVA (p=0.05). Foram identificados três subgrupos com os seguintes perfis de processamento executivo: 1) déficits em FC e IN; 2) déficits em IN; 3) déficits em FC e MT. Esses resultados indicaram a presença de diferentes perfis de déficits em componentes executivos entre crianças com diagnóstico de TDAH. Esses achados podem contribuir para a elaboração de estratégias de intervenção e de programas de psicoeducação para estudantes com diagnóstico de TDAH em contextos clínicos e educacionais.(AU)

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize executive processing subgroups among children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Sixty-one children with ADHD, with ages from six to twelve years old, were examined using instruments that evaluate the executive components of cognitive flexibility (CF), inhibition (IN) and working memory (WM). Analysis of hierarchical clusters and MANCOVA (p≤0.05) were conducted. RESULTS: Participants were divided in three clusters: 1) deficits in CF and in IN; 2) deficits in IN; 3) deficits in CF and in WM. CONCLUSIONS: the results indicated different neuropsychological profiles among children with ADHD, with different cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Clusters did not differ with respect to biological, clinical, and sociocultural factors. The findings may be useful for educational and health institutions, supporting psychoeducation programs and intervention strategies for students with ADHD.(AU)

Este estudio investigó grupos de procesamiento ejecutivo en niños diagnosticados con trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH). Para ello, se utilizaron medidas de flexibilidad cognitiva (FC), inhibición (IN) y memoria de trabajo (MT) y se realizaron análisis de conglomerados jerárquicos y MANCOVA (p=0.05). Se identificaron tres subgrupos con los siguientes perfiles de procesamiento ejecutivo: 1) déficits en FC e IN; 2) déficits en IN; 3) déficits en FC y MT. Estos resultados indicaron la presencia de diferentes perfiles de déficit en los componentes ejecutivos entre los niños diagnosticados con TDAH. Estos datos pueden contribuir al desarrollo de estrategias de intervención y programas de psicoeducación para estudiantes diagnosticados con TDAH en contextos clínicos y educativos.(AU)

An updated review on the neuropsychological profile of subjects with bipolar disorder

Abstract Background In recent years, growing interest in the neuropsychology of bipolar disorder has emerged, giving rise to the accumulation of a robust body of evidence on this topic and to several related questions. Objective To provide a state-of-the-art overview of the neuropsychological profile of bipolar disorder. Method A thorough literature search was performed. Published research evidence was summarized and organized along three key pathways: findings from cross-sectional studies of cognition in bipolar patients, cognitive heterogeneity among affected subjects, and trajectory of neuropsychological deficits. Results At least two thirds of bipolar patients display neuropsychological deficits, even in euthymia. Although bipolar disorder was found to be associated with an increased risk of dementia, data from elderly subjects and longitudinal research do not support a worsening of cognitive performance over time. Discussion Cognitive dysfunctions are part of the clinical conceptualization of bipolar illness. However, they may not be present in all affected subjects and their course appears to be stable in most cases. Available evidence may be highlighting the fact that bipolar disorder is characterized by remarkable heterogeneity regarding cognitive outcomes. Different variables may be related to such heterogeneity and should be the focus of therapeutic approaches and further research.