Neuropsychological evaluation of higher functioning homeless persons: a comparison of an abbreviated test battery to the mini-mental state exam.

This study examined neuropsychological functioning in a heterogeneous population of persons who were homeless (N = 60) and compared the value of the Abbreviated Halstead-Reitan Test Battery with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). A high incidence of neuropsychological dysfunction was evident with 80% of patients showing impaired test battery performance and 35% showing an impaired MMSE. Performance on the Trail Making Test, Part B was especially impaired. Patients impaired on Trails B more often showed impaired test battery performance, suggesting it may be a better screening tool than the MMSE. Neuropsychological performance was not significantly affected by the patients' gender, age, diagnosis, or past psychiatric and medical history. Regression analysis suggested that 29% of the variance in test battery performance was accounted for by the patients' education. Results support previous findings that large numbers of people who are homeless are neuropsychologically impaired; this should be considered when planning treatment and rehabilitation.

Maternal depression and increased fetal activity.

Pregnant women with (n = 45) and without (n = 45) symptoms of depression (CES-D score of 16 or more) were provided ultrasound examinations during the second and third trimesters. An analysis of variance on the cross-sectional data yielded a significant diagnosis by gestational month interaction effect (P < 0.05). The fetuses of depressed mothers spent significantly more time being active during the fifth, sixth and seventh gestational months than fetuses of non-depressed mothers. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that 35% of the variance in time being active could be accounted for by the combined depression and trait anxiety scores of the mothers. These findings suggest that maternal depression correlated with increased fetal activity. These data also highlight the need for research on the potential effects of stress hormones on fetal activity.

Supplemental stimulation of premature infants: a treatment model.

Examined the human infant literature on supplemental stimulation to delineate a course of intervention based on the ontogeny of the nervous system and the impact that systematic stimulation may have on behavioral organization in the premature infant. Effects of vestibular, tactile/kinesthetic, auditory, and oral stimulation are discussed with respect to their similarity to the intra- or extra-uterine environment. Long-standing theoretical and methodological problems are discussed, and a "sequential multimodal treatment model" is introduced.

The relationship between MMPI cluster membership and diagnostic category in headache patients.

Only one study has examined MMPI cluster profiles in the headache population. The present study expanded on this previous investigation by using a large sample size (N = 485) and a greater number of diagnostic categories. The five MMPI clusters replicated previous findings in the chronic pain literature. These MMPI cluster groups were compared to 5 diagnostic categories (migraine, cluster, post-trauma, tension, mixed). No relationship was found between cluster type and headache diagnosis. While the diagnostic groups were found to differ on measures of pain severity, sex and age, cluster groups did not. It is proposed that MMPI scale types reflect a patient's response to pain and are more likely to be the result of coping resources than headache-related personality style. Future research with additional, non-pain populations and prospective studies is suggested.

The vascular "cold patch" is not a prognostic index for headache.

Our previous research has determined that the vascular "cold patch" is a valid diagnostic "marker" and is a persistent constituent of the thermal geography of the external carotid region. It has been suggested by Dalla Volta and Anzola (1988) that the cold patch may be a prognostic index of vascular headache physiology; that is, as headaches improve through the use of vasoactive prophylactic medication, the cold patch would decrease in size or disappear. The purpose of this study is an attempt to replicate these findings. Forty migraine patients were randomly selected, and a thermographic re-examination of the external carotid region (forehead) was conducted. The post-treatment thermogram was then compared to the initial pre-treatment thermogram. Thirty subjects demonstrated an improved condition (IC) and ten subjects a worsened condition (WC). The IC Group exhibited a 73.2% reduction in headache frequency following a mean treatment period of 6.3 months. The WC Group demonstrated a 48.1% increase in headache occurrence at a mean treatment interval of fifteen months. Results demonstrated little thermographic difference between the two conditions. Within the IC Group, 46.7% of subjects exhibited and increase in cold patch size with an improved condition, 40% of cold patches remained stable, 6.7% of cold patches reduced in size, and zero cold patches disappeared with successful treatment. Within the WC Group, 20% of cold patches decreased in size with a worsened condition, 40% increased in size, and 40% remained stable. Chi square analysis determined there was no significant difference in cold patch changes between patients whose headache condition improved or worsened (p less than .70).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Task performance and electromyopotential as functions of task difficulty and EMG feedback.

The dearth of empirical research in the application of biofeedback is discussed. Exp. 1 assessed relationships among biofeedback EMG training, EMG levels, cognitive task performance, and task difficulty. 72 subjects (male or female college students) were administered 1 trial on an iconic memory task with either EMG audio feedback, sham EMG audio feedback, or no feedback. Three levels of task difficulty were used. One 20-min. training session significantly lowered EMG responses, and task performance was inversely related to task difficulty. No relationship between EMG level and task performance was observed. Exp. 2 investigated the effect of increased EMG responses on cognitive task performance for one level of difficulty. One biofeedback training session did not significantly increase frontalis EMG, and there was no relationship between increased EMG and task performance.

Three recurring electromyographic biofeedback research problems and a laboratory model.

Exp. I investigated three recurring problems in electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback research. (1) Pre-knowledge that research involved biofeedback resulted in a selective bias on the part of students asked to volunteer as subjects. (2) EMG readings were not affected by repeated use of the word relax in verbal instructions. (3) The forearm extensor was the only muscle group which showed a statistically significant effect after one 20-min. training session. Exp. II challenged and clarified results of Exp. I and concluded the study with an empirically derived laboratory model for EMG biofeedback research.