Auditory-verbal declarative and operating memory among patients suffering from depressive disorders - preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Dysfunctions of auditory-verbal declarative and working memory are observed in patients with depressive disorders (DD). The authors wanted to see, whether antidepressive therapy improved the efficiency of cognitive processes among patients suffering from DD and determine possible associations between auditory-verbal declarative and working memory performance, evaluated before treatment vs. remission degree after treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in 87 subjects, patients with depressive disorders (n=30, DD) and healthy subjects (n=57, CG, control group). The AVLT (Auditory Verbal Learning Test) and the Stroop Test were used. RESULTS: CG obtained higher results vs. DD-I (the evaluation started on the therapy onset) in the Stroop Test-RCNb (Reading Colour Names in Black)/time, NCWd (Naming Colour of Word - Different)/time, NCWd/errors, AVLT: the number of words after 30 minutes. CG demonstrated higher results than DD-II (following eight weeks of pharmacological treatment) in RCNb/time, NCWd/time, AVLT: the number of words in the first trial, the number of words after 30 minutes. Compared to DD-I, DD-II achieved better results in NCWd/errors. No statistically significant differences were observed in both tests between the patients with remission and without remission. Statistical analysis revealed the lack of significant dependences among HDRS after treatment and cognitive functions before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive disorders are associated with deteriorated efficiency of auditory-verbal declarative and working memory. No improvement was observed in the efficiency of auditory-verbal declarative or working memory after 8-week therapy. The performance level of cognitive processes before pharmacotherapy has no effect on the intensity of depression symptoms after therapy.

[Room for the improvement of soldier selection for the landing brigade]. / Mozliwosci usprawnienia doboru zolnierzy do Brygady Desantowo-Szturmowej.

After realization of psychological examinations the authors identified and qualified personality traits which co-determine effectiveness in performing duties by soldiers in the Brigade. The authors worked out a set of psychological tests which facilitate for selection and classification of recruits to the Brigade.

[Personality determinants of effectiveness in performing duties by soldiers in active service in the landing-shock brigade]. / Osobowosciowe wyznaczniki efektywnosci funkcjonowania zolnierzy zasadniczej sluzby wojskowej w Brygadzie Desantowo-Szturmowej.

After studies in the Brigade the authors identified and qualified personality traits which co-determine effectiveness in performing duties in active service. The efficiency of performing duties is determined by: high emotional resistance, high level of ability to logical conclusion, high level of self-control, low extroversion level, lack of antisocial tendencies. The authors worked out some indications concerning choice and selection for this military formation.

[Mental disorders in active service men as a reason for premature discharge from the army]. / Zaburzenia psychiczne u zolnierzy sluzby zasadniczej jako przyczyna przedwczesnego zwolnienia z wojska.

The authors, on the basis of analysis of medical records of 94 active service men hospitalized in the Department of Psychiatry, conclude that the frequency of premature elimination from the army was personality disorder (55.3%) and disadaptation syndromes (24.5%). Revealed in (94.7%) cases symptoms of disadaptation occurred during the first year of duty.

[The role of psychological examinations of candidates for the Military Medical Academy]. / Rola badan psychologicznych kandydatów na uczelnie na przykladzie Wojskowej Akademii Medycznej.

The basic purpose of the work was determination of personality factors of the lack of adaptation ability in the academy and the same time checking the usefulness of psychological prognosis in the range of adaptative abilities at the Military Medical Academy. R.B. Cattell's Personality Questionnaire and H. Gough's Psychological Investory were applied in the investigations in the period of recruitment. Conclusions point explicitly to the dependence between the level of maturity of the personality structure and adaptative abilities and confirm the usefulness of psychological prognosis in the time of the selection of candidates to Military Medical Academy.

[Psychological evaluation of postoperative pain and its significance for treatment]. / Psychologiczna ocena bólu pooperacyjnego i jej znaczenie w leczeniu.

The results of tests applied to two groups of the patients who underwent elective surgeries are being discussed. The patients were selected with the aid of J.C. Raven's Intelligence Quotient, H.J. Eysenck's Personality Inventory, J. Taylor's Personality Scale, and Spielberg's S.T.A.I. The patients were operated at the Casualty and Orthopaedic Surgery Department of the Surgical Institute, Military Academy of Medicine. Postoperative analgesia was achieved with i.m. pethidine (1 mg/kg b.w.) in the group of 30 patients with low intensity of neurosis and anxiety while the group of 60 patients with high level of neurosis and anxiety required three different techniques: pethidine (dose as above) intravenously, electric stimulation and placebo stimulation. The following tests were applied to all patients before surgery and on the three postoperative days: 1) evaluation of anxiety level, 2) determination and detection of pain points, 3) pain intensity determination, 4) determination of the dose of analgetic agent required for pain abolishment. Other factors determined included: 1) efficiency of both electric and placebo efficacy, 2) analgesic drug dose vs. pain intensity, 3) pain vs. anxiety ratio. The obtained results indicated that considerable oscillations of the emotional tension are observed in both pre- and postoperative periods. Intensity of pain and its compliance to the treatment are closely related to the level of anxiety. Psychological examination performed in patients preoperatively enables to foresee the postoperative pain intensity and to plan the course of therapy.