Trauma Shaping the Psychopathological Correlates of Patients with Long-COVID: A 6-Months Longitudinal Study with Repeated Measures Mixed Models.

This research aimed at investigating how the experience of trauma can influence the psychological correlates of long-COVID over time in a clinical sample of patients hospitalized because of COVID-19. Through a longitudinal research design, 70 post-acute patients with COVID-19 were followed-up after hospital discharge in 3-time points up to 6 months and completed the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90 R). Repeated measures mixed models with random intercept were used to evaluate the effect of trauma (yes/no) over time (T1, T2, T3) on the SCL-90-R scales. Results showed that patients with trauma display significantly worse psychological outcomes in all the SCL-90-R dimensions [all padj < .05 for the principal effects of trauma(y)], especially in symptoms of depression [time 2 vs time 1*trauma(y): b = -3.86, 95%CI (-7.18, -0.53), padj = .035; time 3 vs time 1*trauma(y): b = -4.77, 95%CI (-8.10, -1.45), padj = .011], anxiety [time 3 vs time 1*trauma(y): b = -4.54, 95%CI (-7.72, -1.37), padj = .011], and obsessive-compulsive difficulties [time 3 vs time 1*trauma(y): b = -4.03, 95%CI (-7.20, -0.86), padj = .027]. These findings shed light on the long-term psychological consequences of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients and highlight the key role of trauma, suggesting its assessment to tailor psychological interventions.

Risk and Protective Factors of Psychological Distress in Patients Who Recovered From COVID-19: The Role of Cognitive Reserve.

Recent studies reported the development of psychological distress symptoms in patients who recovered from COVID-19. However, evidence is still scarce and new data are needed to define the exact risk and protective factors that can explain the variability in symptoms manifestation. In this study, we enrolled 257 patients who recovered from COVID-19 and we evaluated the levels of psychological distress through the Symptoms Checklist-90-R scale. Data concerning illness-related variables were collected from medical records, while the presence of subjective cognitive difficulties, both before and after the illness, as well as the level of the cognitive reserve (CR), were assessed over a clinical interview. Results revealed that being female and reporting the presence of subjective cognitive difficulties after COVID-19 were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. At the same time, being admitted to the hospital and having a high CR were protective factors. Adding new information to this emerging research field, our results highlight the importance of a complete psychological and cognitive assessment in patients with COVID-19.

Cognitive and Psychological Sequelae of COVID-19: Age Differences in Facing the Pandemic.

Literature about the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is currently focusing on the potential cognitive and neuropsychiatric sequelae observed in individuals receiving intensive care unit (ICU) treatments. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the differences in cognitive and psychological sequelae of COVID-19 between younger and older adults, regardless of being admitted to the ICU or not. The study involved 299 recovered individuals (from 18 to 90 years old), who underwent a comprehensive cognitive and psychological assessment. Linear regression models were conducted separately for Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) scores to investigate the effect of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on them. Separate linear regression models were then applied sorting participants by age: younger adults (<65 years) and older adults (≥65 years). In the whole sample, PCL scores were predicted by the intensity of care received, by being intubated, and by the persistence of cough after 1 month after hospitalization. Only age had instead an effect on cognition. In younger adults, PCL scores were predicted by the presence of neurological symptoms, by the intensity of care received, and by being intubated; MoCA scores were only predicted by the intensity of care received. No significant associations were found in older adults. Psychological negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic particularly affect individuals under 65 years old, who also subjectively report cognitive sequelae associated with the infection. Individuals over 65 years old, instead, seem to be free from psychological and cognitive difficulties due to COVID-19.

Italian revised memory and behavior problems checklist (It-RMBPC): validation and psychometric properties in Alzheimer's disease caregivers.

Behavioral and psychiatric symptoms (BPSD), common in persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD), are known to be associated with caregiver burdening. Therefore, early recognition of BPSD is necessary to protect these caregivers. The aim of this validation study was to test the internal consistency, test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of an Italian translation of the revised memory and behavior problems checklist (RMBPC), as it demonstrated high plasticity in timely measuring the day-to-day BPSD changes that challenge caregivers. A cohort of 355 dyads composed of AD subjects and their principal caregivers were assessed with the Italian version of RMPBC capitalizing on the information provided by the latter ones. The results were compared with the ones from other predictors (i.e., the Zarit Burben Interview, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the EurQuality of Life, the neuropsychiatric symptoms). The validity and stability of the It-RMBPC resulted being solid and concurrent reliability resulted having higher correlations with principal caregiver anxiety level. Future studies on the role of BPSD in fostering anxiety in AD principal caregivers are merited.

Confounders in the detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a neuropsychological and quantified EEG study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic alcohol misuse, HCV infection and cirrhosis may cause cognitive alterations. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of alcohol misuse, HCV infection and cirrhosis per se on the neuropsychological and electroencephalogram (EEG) profile and to evaluate the role of alcohol misuse and HCV infections as potential confounding factors in the detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. METHODS: A comprehensive neuropsychological profile and EEG spectral parameters were obtained in six age-matched groups of 30 subjects each: (i) HCV-related hepatitis without cirrhosis, (ii) chronic alcohol abusers, (iii) patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, (iv) alcohol-related cirrhosis, (v) cirrhosis not related to alcohol or HCV and (vi) healthy subjects. Cirrhotic patients were matched for MELD score. RESULTS: The factor 'cirrhosis' was associated with low Phonemic Verbal Fluency (PVF) and Difference between Trail Making Test B and A (TMT) (B-A) (P < 0.001). Chronic alcohol misuse was associated with low PVF, TMT (B-A), Memory with Interference Task at 10 (ITM 10) and 30 s (ITM 30) (all P < 0.05). An interaction was found between the factors 'cirrhosis', 'alcohol misuse' and tests (P < 0.01). HCV hepatitis reduced ITM 10 (P < 0.05), but no interaction was found between 'cirrhosis', 'HCV infection' and tests (P = 0.14). The EEG parameters were mainly influenced by 'cirrhosis' (P < 0.05), and EEG alterations were more pronounced in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhosis per se, chronic alcohol misuse and HCV infection were found to be associated with cognitive dysfunction. In patients with cirrhosis, the interaction with alcohol misuse further impinged on brain dysfunction.

Split-brain syndrome after hepatic transplantation: a tacrolimus-related vasculitis?

An unusual case of inter-haemispheric disconnection syndrome occurring in a patient who had undergone hepatic transplantation is presented. The underlying disorder, at first wrongly interpreted as encephalitis, was found to be severe, diffuse cerebral vasculitis. The hypothesis that treatment with tacrolimus might have caused, or at least favoured the vascular damage is discussed.

Detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: normalization and optimization of the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score. A neuropsychological and quantified EEG study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES) and EEG are used to detect minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). We aimed at standardizing PHES in Italy and comparing Italian, German and Spanish norms in EEG characterized cirrhotic patients. METHODS: PHES was standardized on 228 normal individuals. Repeatability was studied in 128 individuals. One hundred patients with liver cirrhosis underwent EEG and PHES which was computed on the Spanish, German and the Italian norms. RESULTS: Age and education levels were predictors of psychometric tests; therefore, adjusted Z scores were calculated. Practice effect (p<0.01) was detected. In the patients, the Italian norms were closer to the Spanish norms (difference -0.14+/-1.32, p=0.29) than to the Germans ones (difference 1.97+/-2.07, p<0.001). The PHES calculated on the Italian norms was correlated with the EEG mean dominant frequency more closely than the ones calculated on the German and Spanish norms (r=0.38, r=0.31, r=0.33, respectively -p<0.01). The detection of MHE on the basis of PHES and EEG showed limited agreement (73%, Cohen's K=0.32). CONCLUSIONS: (i) Valid norms for PHES were produced, (ii) clues for the use of common norms in Latin Countries were found, (iii) different findings between PHES and EEG possibly reflect various features of MHE.