[Methodological issues of cognitive impairment studies in pediatric multiple sclerosis patients]. / Metodologicheskie problemy issledovaniia kognitivnykh narushenii u detei i podrostkov s rasseiannym sklerozom.

The article provides a review of the characteristics of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) and methods for its assessment in children. The features of the most frequently used neuropsychological batteries, with consideration of specifics of cognitive impairment in MS, and data on assessment of a state of cognitive functions obtained using neuropsychological tests are presented. The authors also discuss the issue of a long-term impact of the disease on a state of cognitive functions. Clinical factors, which can lead to cognitive impairment (type of multiple sclerosis, age at manifestation, number of relapses), are described.

[Psychological development of children with opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome and its correlation with age and disease onset]. / Psikhicheskoe razvitie detei s opsoklonus-mioklonus-sindromom s uchetom razlichii v vozraste, vremeni debiuta i sroka techeniia zabolevaniia.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare neurological disorder with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. There is not enough knowledge about psychological development of children with OMS. AIM: To study an influence of the time of disease onset and children's age and type of disease course on psychological development of children with OMS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 26 children with OMS of age between 1 year 7 months and 13 years, 10 boys and 16 girls. The following methods were used: analysis of patient's development records, psychological interview with parents, assessment of emotional, behavioral, motion state and interpersonal relations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The disease onset at the early stage of ontogenesis (before 3 years) results into severe psychological disorders. Patients at the age between 3 and 5 years demonstrate the maximal number of developmental delays with possibilities of compensation. The article discusses a possible role of psychotraumatic and psychosocial factors in psychological disorders in children with OMS. The influence of age should be taken into account in planning of treatment and rehabilitation and evaluation of disease prognosis.

[Neuropsychological evaluation of children in low conciseness state after a severe traumatic brain injury]. / Neiropsikhologicheskaia diagnostika snizhennogo urovnia soznaniia posle tiazheloi cherepno-mozgovoi travmy u detei.

AIM: To follow up patterns of cognitive recovery in children (6-17 years of age) at the first four months after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen children with TBI (GCS ≤8) were evaluated with the Coma Recovery Scale-R (CRS). Children were stratified into three groups according to their consciousness recovery. Seven children regained their consciousness completely and were assessed by the Luria Neuropsychological Battery test. Six children remained in the minimally conscious state (MCS) and were tested by the adapted procedure of neuropsychological assessment during the first four months. Four children with low level of consciousness were evaluated with CRS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The most destroying functions at the early recovery period were the processing speed (neurodynamics of mental activity), executive functions and memory. Children with the anterior cortex damage had the slowest dynamics of recovery. The slower dynamics of consciousness recovery was combined with severe primary damages of visual gnosis, speech and executive functions according to neuropsychological examination. The positive dynamics of consciousness recovery was combined with early behavioral changes and the greater rate of behavioral changes.