[Evaluation of the higher brain functions in 1st and 7th grade schoolchildren belonging to two different socioeconomic groups]. / Evaluación de las funciones cerebrales superiores en niños de 1 y 7 grado, pertenecientes a dos grupos socioeconómicos diferentes.

INTRODUCTION: The higher brain functions, together with the devices that sustain them, are essential assets belonging to human beings which are used to situate themselves in the world. They can be studied by conducting neuropsychological tests, the results of which vary according to demographic factors, such as age, sex, hand dominance, culture and level of schooling. The socioeconomic level (SEL) is another factor to be taken into account and must also be evaluated. AIMS: Our objective was to evaluate and analyse the influence of SEL on the results obtained from neuropsychological tests carried out in normal school-age children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 401 normal children, of both sexes, taken at random, at the beginning (1st grade, 6 years old) and at the end (7th grade, 12 years old) of elementary school and belonging to two different SEL: high and low. Schools belonging to different categories were selected: public, private, urban and suburban. A battery of tests that is commonly used in Neuropsychology was utilised to evaluate laterality, spatial orientation, integration (Bender's test and the Rey figure test), attention, memory and the areas of language, gnosis and praxis. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in relation to the SEL in the 1st and 7th grade tests: 20/27 (74%) and 17/27 (62%), respectively. These always meant lower results in the low SEL, except body scheme, ideomotor praxis and phonological coding, which in the 7th grade run in the opposite direction. Results were not related to the type of school (urban-suburban, public-private), sex, laterality or teachers' characteristics. Differences were more striking in the area of language, basic devices (attention, memory) and in the tests that integrate several different functions (Bender's test, Rey figure test). CONCLUSIONS: SEL is linked to the results obtained in neuropsychological evaluation tests. There is a direct relationship with low results in the low level. There is also a correlation between certain family characteristics associated to the SEL and the scores in the cognitive evaluation tests.

Evaluación de las funciones cerebrales superiores en niños de 1. º y 7. º grado pertenecientes a dos grupos socioeconómicos diferentes / Evaluation of the higher brain functions in 1st and 7th grade schoolchildren belonging to two different socioeconomic groups

Introducción. Las funciones cerebrales superiores y los dispositivos que las sustentan son posesiones fundamentales de los seres humanos, con las cuales se insertan en el mundo. Su estudio puede realizarse mediante pruebas neuropsicológicas, cuyos resultados varían en función de factores demográficos como la edad, el sexo, la dominancia manual, la cultura y el nivel educativo. El nivel socio-económico (NSE) es otro factor a tener en cuenta y que requiere su evaluación. Objetivo. Evaluar y analizar la influencia del NSE en los resultados obtenidos mediante pruebas neuropsicológicas en niños normales en edad escolar. Sujetos y métodos. Se estudiaron 401 niños normales, de ambos sexos, tomados al azar, al comienzo (1.er grado, 6 años) y al final (7.º grado, 12 años) de la escuela primaria y pertenecientes a dos NSE: alto y bajo. Se seleccionaron escuelas de diferentes categorías: públicas, privadas, urbanas y suburbanas. Se utilizó una batería de pruebas de uso habitual en Neuropsicología destinadas a evaluar la lateralidad, la orientación espacial, la integración (test de Bender y figura de Rey), la atención, la memoria y las áreas del lenguaje, las gnosias y las praxias. Resultados. Se encontraron diferencias significativas relacionadas con el NSE en las pruebas de 1.er y 7.º grados: 20/27 (74%) y 17/27 (62%), respectivamente. Los resultados siempre fueron más bajos en el NSE bajo, con la excepción de esquema corporal, praxias ideomotoras y código fonológico, que en 7.º grado invierten el sentido. Los resultados no se relacionaron con el tipo de escuela (urbana-suburbana, pública-privada), el sexo, la lateralidad o las características de los docentes. Las diferencias fueron más marcadas en el área del lenguaje, de los dispositivos básicos (atención, memoria) y de las pruebas que integran varias funciones (test de Bender, figura de Rey). Conclusiones. El NSE se asocia con los resultados obtenidos en las pruebas de evaluación neuropsicológica. La relación es directa con resultados bajos en el nivel bajo. Ciertas características familiares asociadas al NSE se correlacionan con los resultados de las pruebas de evaluación cognitiva

Introduction. The higher brain functions, together with the devices that sustain them, are essential assets belonging to human beings which are used to situate themselves in the world. They can be studied by conducting neuropsychological tests, the results of which vary according to demographic factors, such as age, sex, hand dominance, culture and level of schooling. The socioeconomic level (SEL) is another factor to be taken into account and must also be evaluated. Aims. Our objective was to evaluate and analyse the influence of SEL on the results obtained from neuropsychological tests carried out in normal school-age children. Subjects and methods. We studied 401 normal children, of both sexes, taken at random, at the beginning (1st grade, 6 years old) and at the end (7th grade, 12 years old) of elementary school and belonging to two different SEL: high and low. Schools belonging to different categories were selected: public, private, urban and suburban. A battery of tests that is commonly used in Neuropsychology was utilised to evaluate laterality, spatial orientation, integration (Bender's test and the Rey figure test), attention, memory and the areas of language, gnosis and praxis. Results. Significant differences were found in relation to the SEL in the 1st and 7th grade tests: 20/27 (74%) and 17/27 (62%), respectively. These always meant lower results in the low SEL, except body scheme, ideomotor praxis and phonological coding, which in the 7th grade run in the opposite direction. Results were not related to the type of school (urban-suburban, public-private), sex, laterality or teachers' characteristics. Differences were more striking in the area of language, basic devices (attention, memory) and in the tests that integrate several different functions (Bender’s test, Rey figure test). Conclusions. SEL is linked to the results obtained in neuropsychological evaluation tests. There is a direct relationship with low results in the low level. There is also a correlation between certain family characteristics associated to the SEL and the scores in the cognitive evaluation tests

Estudio exploratorio de la relación entre los accidentes cerebrovasculares y las estructuras de personalidad / An exploratory study of the relation between cerebrovascular accidents and personality structures

Introducción. Durante los últimos años, los aspectos psicológicos vinculados al accidente cerebrovascular (ACV) se estudiaron preferentemente a partir de las consecuencias que éste genera. Objetivos. Explorar el tipo de relación existente entre el ACV y las estructuras de personalidad como factor de riesgo (FR) premórbido, incluida su posible relación con las características de la lesión cerebral. Pacientes y métodos. Se evaluaron 97 pacientes internados consecutivamente por un primer ACV y se llevó acabo un seguimiento de 38 de ellos. En el episodio agudo y en el seguimiento se recabaron datos de la historia clínica y los estudios de neuroimagen y se administró una entrevista semiestructurada al paciente o familiar. Resultados. Se encontró un predominio de rasgos de personalidad similares a los de la `personalidad tipo A'. Estos rasgos se agrupan en las estructuras: ánimo variable (depresiva), sobre adaptada, lógica (obsesiva) y suspicaz-desconfiada (paranoide), con un claro predominio de rasgos de escasa tolerancia a la frustración, irritabilidad, descuido o abuso del cuerpo, exigencia, perfeccionismo, rigidez, pensamiento mágico y enfermedad entendida como debilidad o desgracia y salud como un `deber ser'. También se encontraron con una frecuencia significativa estados depresivos con o sin ansiedad. Ninguno de estos estados o reacciones se asoció con alguna lesión cerebral en particular, ni en su tipo ni en su topografía. Conclusiones. Los resultados muestran una tendencia similar a los estudios con pacientes cardíacos y neurológicos agrupables bajo la denominación de `personalidad tipo A'. Por tanto, puede considerarse a la `personalidad tipoA' como un factor vinculado a las enfermedades vasculares con compromiso, al menos, en dos territorios (cardíaco y cerebral). Queda por dilucidar si en el territorio cerebral es sólo un FR o una condición necesaria o suficiente. La evaluación psicológica de los sujetos en riesgo o ya afectados por un ACV es relevante, y se debe tener en cuenta tanto en la prevención como en la terapéutica y rehabilitación (AU)

Introduction. In recent years the psychological aspects linked with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) have often been studied from the consequences they generate. Aims. To explore the type of relation that exists between CVA and personality structures as a premorbid risk factor (RF), including their possible relation to the characteristics of brain injury. Patients and methods. 97 patients who were admitted to hospital consecutively for a first CVA were evaluated and a follow-up was carried out on 38 of them. In the acute episode and in the follow-up we collected data about their medical history, from studies using neuroimaging and from a semi-structured interview which was administered to the patient or a relative. Results. A predominance of personality traits similar to those of ‘type A personality’ was found. These traits are grouped in the following structures: moody (depressive), over-adapted, logical (obsessive) and suspicious-distrustful (paranoid), with a clear predominance of traits of low tolerance to frustration, irritability, lack of care for or abuse of the body, exigency, perfectionism, rigidity, magical thought and illness understood as being weakness or bad luck and health as a ‘must be’. Depressive states, with or without anxiety, were also found with significant frequency. None of these states or reactions was associated to any kind of brain injury in particular, both in their type and in their topography. Conclusions. Results show a tendency that is similar to studies with heart patients and with patients with CVA that have already been published and can be grouped under the denomination of ‘type A personality’. Therefore, type A personality can be considered as a factor linked to vascular diseases involving at least two territories (heart and brain). It remains to be ascertained whether the brain territory is only a RF or a necessary or sufficient condition. Psychological evaluation of the subjects at risk or already affected by a CVA is relevant and to be taken into account in both prevention and therapy and rehabilitation (AU)

[An exploratory study of the relation between cerebrovascular accidents and personality structures]. / Estudio exploratorio de la relación entre los accidentes cerebrovasculares y las estructuras de personalidad.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years the psychological aspects linked with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) have often been studied from the consequences they generate. AIMS. To explore the type of relation that exists between CVA and personality structures as a premorbid risk factor (RF), including their possible relation to the characteristics of brain injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 97 patients who were admitted to hospital consecutively for a first CVA were evaluated and a follow up was carried out on 38 of them. In the acute episode and in the follow up we collected data about their medical history, from studies using neuroimaging and from a semi structured interview which was administered to the patient or a relative. RESULTS: A predominance of personality traits similar to those of type A personality was found. These traits are grouped in the following structures: moody (depressive), over adapted, logical (obsessive) and suspicious distrustful (paranoid), with a clear predominance of traits of low tolerance to frustration, irritability, lack of care for or abuse of the body, exigency, perfectionism, rigidity, magical thought and illness understood as being weakness or bad luck and health as a must be . Depressive states, with or without anxiety, were also found with significant frequency. None of these states or reactions was associated to any kind of brain injury in particular, both in their type and in their topography. CONCLUSIONS: Results show a tendency that is similar to studies with heart patients and with patients with CVA that have already been published and can be grouped under the denomination of type A personality . Therefore, type A personality can be considered as a factor linked to vascular diseases involving at least two territories (heart and brain). It remains to be ascertained whether the brain territory is only a RF or a necessary or sufficient condition. Psychological evaluation of the subjects at risk or already affected by a CVA is relevant and to be taken into account in both prevention and therapy and rehabilitation.