Effect of Cognitive Training Programs Based on Computer Systems on Executive Functions in Children With ADHD: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the existing literature reporting the effects of computerized cognitive trainings on the executive functions of children with ADHD. METHOD: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA statement; the primary sources used were five electronic databases (Scopus, Science Direct, Pubmed, Springer, Taylor & Francis). RESULTS: 20 articles met the eligibility criteria, data on the training characteristics and the effects on executive functions were extracted, followed by an analysis of bias and the methodological quality of the studies. The results of the studies were widely heterogeneous, largely associated with the variety of training programs and the measurement instruments used. The most studied executive functions were working memory and inhibitory control. Some of the studies reported that the intervention led to significant effects on working memory and attention (N = 7), and improvements in inhibitory control (N = 5) and planning (N = 4) were also reported. At the same time, others did not report the effects of the intervention on these processes. The assessment of the quality of the evidence showed important risk biases among the reviewed studies. CONCLUSION: Some training based on computer systems showed positive effects on the executive functions of working memory, attention, and inhibitory control in children with ADHD. However, other training sessions did not show significant effects. In general, the evidence shows mixed results, a high diversity of measurement instruments, and high risks of bias between the studies. Therefore, the evidence has not been consistent about the general benefits of computerized training on the executive functions of children with ADHD.

Healthy Lifestyles Associated With Socioeconomic Determinants in the Older Adult Population.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of lifestyle in older adults and the study of socioeconomic determinants becomes an essential indicator of the health conditions of older adults. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between socioeconomic factors and healthy lifestyles in older adults. METHODS: Study with a quantitative approach, descriptive type, non-experimental design, cross-sectional in a sample of 407 elderlies who have applied a self-designed instrument for socioeconomic characterization and the FANTASTIC test to assess lifestyle. For data analysis, a bivariate analysis was applied using chi2 and multivariate analysis using ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: 53% of elderlies aged between 60 and 70 years reported their lifestyle as excellent and very good. Age, average household income, and perceived health status are associated with healthy lifestyles in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that in addition to socioeconomic determinants, self-perceived health is a factor that influences the lifestyles of this population.

Emotional processing in bullying: an event-related potential study.

Bullying is a subtype of violence that leads to maladaptive behaviors and emotional responses, with implications for social competence, emotions, and empathy. The present study compared the time course of emotional processing in children who were involved in the dynamics of bullying (i.e., as victims, bullies, and observers) by evaluating event-related potentials [early posterior negativity and late positive potential (LPP)] in different brain regions during a passive visualization task that involved positive, neutral, and negative social pictures. High-density electroencephalograms were recorded in 45 children, 8-12 years old (M = 9.5 years, SD = 1.3), while they observed emotional and neutral social pictures that we selected from the International Affective Picture System. Late positive potential had higher amplitudes in the victim group, especially in posterior and anterior regions. In the central region, LPP was greater toward neutral social pictures in bullying victims. The greater amplitude of LPP in victims was observed during and after the stimulus. The results showed a consistent response with a higher intensity in response to emotional stimuli in the victim group, suggesting a tendency toward hypervigilance that could interfere with emotional regulation.

Impact of Specialized Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Specialized pediatric palliative care (SPPC) is increasingly involved in the care of seriously ill children, yet the evidence on its impact has not been comprehensively reviewed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of providing SPPC to seriously ill children on patient-, caregiver-, and systems-level outcomes. METHODS: We performed a Systematic Review following Cochrane methods. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Global Health, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, LILACS, and Web of Science were searched from January 1996 to June 2018. STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION: We included randomized controlled, cohort, case-control, and before-after studies in which exposure to SPPC services was the intervention of interest. All outcomes reported in these studies were included. Two investigators independently selected articles, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies using standardized criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were included in qualitative synthesis: one nonrandomized controlled trial, 16 cohort studies, and seven before-after studies. Evidence certainty was low. Twenty-one studies had one or more area with high risk of bias, most commonly selection bias, low group comparability, risk for confounding, and inadequate statistical reporting. Studies analyzed 46 domains, operationalized as 136 distinct outcomes. SPPC was associated with better child quality of life scores in all four studies that assessed this outcome. No other outcome showed this consistency. CONCLUSION: Receiving SPPC was associated with better child quality of life. However, the paucity and low certainty of the evidence precluded any firm recommendations about SPPC practice. Larger collaborative networks and greater consensus regarding SPPC research standards are needed.

Desempeño de la cognición social en niños y niñas inmersos en la dinámica del acoso escolar en la ciudad de Neiva, Colombia / Performance of social cognition in boys and girls immersed in the dynamics of bullying in the city of Neiva, Huila (Colombia)

Resumen La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo comparar el desempeño en ejecución de las pruebas de cognición social en los perfiles de niños y niñas vinculados al acoso escolar en una institución educativa pública de la ciudad de Neiva. Con un diseño de tipo transversal y a través de un muestreo no probabilístico de tipo intencional, se evaluaron 103 estudiantes de básica primaria, seleccionados de acuerdo con los criterios de elegibilidad. Los resultados mostraron una mayor frecuencia de niños que se identificaron como observadores-víctimas y un desempeño inferior en las pruebas de faux pas (metida de pata), historias extrañas de Happé y test de miradas en la comparación por perfiles de acoso escolar y la edad. Los resultados sugieren profundizar en estudios que relacionen la convivencia escolar y el desarrollo de la cognición social con las características sociodemográficas y culturales en la población estudiada.

Abstract The objective of this research was to compare the performance of social cognition tests in the profiles of boys and girls linked to bullying in a public educational institution in the city of Neiva. With a cross-type design and through a non-probabilistic sampling of intentional type, 103 primary school students selected according to the eligibility criteria were evaluated. The results showed a higher frequency of children who identified themselves as observers-victims and a lower performance in faux pas-boobs, strange stories by Happé and a comparison test by profiles of bullying and age. The results suggest deepening studies that relate school life and the development of social cognition with sociodemographic and cultural characteristics in the population studied.

Desarrollo e implementación del componente neonatal de la encuesta anual de recursos humanos en salud para cuidados paliativos / Development and implementation of the neonatal component of the annual survey of human resources in health for palliative care

INTRODUCCIÓN Se estima que un 3% de los nacidos vivos tendrán una enfermedad que amenaza la vida. La mayoría de estos niños se internarán en una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN). Los Cuidados Paliativos (CP), alivian el sufrimiento y mejoran la calidad de vida, pudiendo integrarse a las UCIN. Se desconoce el grado de capacitación del personal de las UCIN así como su integración con CP. OBJETIVO Caracterizar grado de capacitación y competencias auto-percibidas en CP de profesionales que trabajan en UCIN de Argentina, y evaluar aspectos seleccionados de la provisión de CP. MÉTODO Estudio de corte transversal, realizado en servicios de neonatología de nivel IIIB(n=100). INSTRUMENTO Encuesta semiestructurada, online y autoadministrada con un módulo Institucional (jefes de servicio) y otro individual (administrado a médicos de planta y jefe/a de enfermería). Estadística descriptiva, chi2. RESULTADOS De las 100 instituciones que conformaban la muestra, se pudo identificar al jefe de servicio en 68 y 59 de ellos participaron de la encuesta; en 20 instituciones hay un equipo de CP; la tasa de respuesta fue 59% para el institucional y 52% del individual. La presencia de equipos de CP se asoció a mayor utilización de escalas del dolor (médicos p=0.003 / enfermeros p=0.008) y mayor reporte de competencias autopercibidas en cuidados paliativos de los profesionales de la salud. DISCUSIÓN Se pudo obtener información completa acerca competencias y prácticas de los profesionales de la salud en cuidados paliativos que trabajan en UCIN. Las prácticas institucionales respecto al fallecimiento de un neonato incluyen a las familias. Sin embargo, el personal médico y de enfermería de instituciones con equipos de CP se perciben más competentes respecto del uso de estrategias paliativas en la atención de sus pacientes, específicamente, en evaluar y tratar el dolor, comunicarse con las familias y decidir la adecuación del esfuerzo terapéutico

Característica Neuroendocrinas del trauma temprano y su relación con el bullying / Neuroendocrine characteristics of early trauma and its relation to bullying

Resumen El objetivo del presente artículo es revisar el sustento teórico de los mecanismos neurobiológicos y neuroendocrinos que se desarrollan con el trauma temprano, los cuales pueden ser generadores de vulnerabilidad cognitiva y emocional en los sujetos expuestos a ambientes con características de maltrato infantil; por otro lado, se pretende identificar la relación existente entre la vulnerabilidad temprana expresada cognitiva y afectivamente con las relaciones concernientes a perfiles de niños víctimas de acoso escolar en la primera infancia y proponer un esquema explicativo para el desarrollo de perfiles de vulnerabilidad o resiliencia a partir del rol que cumple la escuela como factor protector para la modificación de la expresión de los genes en los niños, niñas y adolescentes en condiciones de vulnerabilidad.

Abstract The aim of this article is to review the theoretical basis of neurobiological and neuroendocrine mechanisms that develop early trauma, which can be generators cognitive and emotional vulnerability in subjects exposed to environments with characteristics of child abuse; furthermore, it seeks to identify the relationship between early vulnerability cognitive expressed and affectively with relationships concerning profiles of child victims of bullying in early childhood and propose an explanatory framework for the development of profiles of vulnerability or resilience from the role that school as a protective factor for modifying the expression of genes in children and adolescents in vulnerable conditions.

Toma de decisiones en menores con factores de riesgo para el Trastorno Disocial de la Conducta / Decision making in minors with risk factor of dissocial behavior disorder

Introducción. Existe la hipótesis de que las emociones participan del proceso cognitivo de la toma de decisiones guiando la conducta y dotando a la experiencia de una cualidad positiva o negativa que permite la adaptación del individuo al medio social. Método: La muestra estuvo conformada por 81 menores de edad (48 que cumplían con uno o dos criterios del DSM-IV y 33 sin alteraciones de comportamiento). Se utilizó la Escala Muldimensional de la Conducta, el SNAP IV y el Check list para TDC como instrumentos de tamizaje para su selección, posteriormente se realizó la evaluación con la versión computarizada de la IGT (Iowa Gambling Task). Resultados: Se dan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo estudio y de comparación para la selección de las barajas desventajosas B durante la ejecución de la tarea. Los menores en riesgo presentaron un desempeño menor para la prueba general de toma de decisiones. Discusión: Los resultados indican la presencia de alteraciones en los procesos de toma de decisiones de los menores que presentan uno o dos criterios clínicos para desarrollar el TDC.

Introduction: There is a hypothesis that proposes that emotions take part in the cognitive process related to decision-making behavior; such processes provide experience of a positive or negative quality that allows the adaptation of a human being to a social background. Methods: There were 81 minors participants (48 qualified with one or two standards of DSM-IV and 33 without conduct disorders). We used Multidimensional Scale of Conduct, SNAP IV, and checklist for CD as screening instruments for its selection, and later we performed the assessment with the online version of IGT (Iowa Gambling Task). Results: A statistically significant difference was present between study and control groups in the selection of unfavorable decks of cards. Those children affected by behavioral disorders presented lower results in the general decision-making test. Conclusions: Results suggest the presence of disorders in decision-making in minors that present one or two clinical criteria to develop CD. This could be due to difficulties in contingency processing for unfavorable decisions, which prevented them from generating somatic states based on the possible future consequences.

The risk environment of anabolic-androgenic steroid users in the UK: Examining motivations, practices and accounts of use.

BACKGROUND: The numbers using illicit anabolic-androgenic steroids are a cause of concern for those seeking to reduce health harms. Using the 'risk environment' as a conceptual framework to better comprehend how steroid users' practices and perspectives impact on health risks, this paper examines steroid user motivations, patterns of use, and the ways in which these practices are accounted for. METHODS: As part of a wider mixed-method study into performance and image enhancing drug (PIED) use and supply in one mid-sized city in South West England, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 22 steroid users. Participants were recruited from a local safer injecting service, rather than bodybuilding gyms, in order to access a wider cross-section of steroid users. A limitation of this approach is potential sample bias towards those showing more health optimising behaviours. RESULTS: The research findings highlight that patterns of steroid use varied according to motivation for use, experience and knowledge gained. Most reported having had little or no knowledge on steroids prior to use, with first use being based on information gained from fellow users or suppliers-sometimes inaccurate or incomplete. In accounting for their practices, many users differentiated themselves from other groups of steroid users-for example, older users expressed concern over patterns of use of younger and (what they saw as) inexperienced steroid users. Implicit in these accounts were intimations that the 'other' group engaged in riskier behaviour than they did. CONCLUSION: Examining social contexts of use and user beliefs and motivations is vital to understanding how 'risk' behaviours are experienced so that this, in turn, informs harm reduction strategies. This paper examines the ways in which use of steroids is socially situated and the implications of this for policy and practice.

Resultados de un programa de rehabilitación neurocognitiva en pacientes con secuelas de trauma craneoencefálico / Results from a neurocognitive rehab program on patients with sequelae of traumatic brain injury

Introducción: Los procesos de rehabilitación neurocognitiva se ven afectados por la ineficiencia en el seguimiento posterior a la hospitalización, desde una perspectiva de intervención multidisciplinar en la rehabilitación se considera la mejoría de las secuelas que afectan las condiciones cognitivas, emocionales, conductuales, sociales y vocacionales del paciente. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de un programa de rehabilitación neurocognitiva en los procesos de atención, memoria y función ejecutiva en pacientes con secuelas por TEC. Métodos: El programa de rehabilitación neurocognitiva se clasificó de acuerdo al proceso cognitivo objeto de intervención: (orientación, atención, memoria, funciones ejecutivas, lenguaje, aspectos comportamentales y emocionales) y se desarrolló en 60 sesiones individuales y 10 grupales durante un período de 5 meses. Resultados: En función de las puntuaciones del Neuropsi los pacientes del grupo estudio mostraron mejor desempeño, observándose diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos en los procesos de memoria (p = 0,018) y atención y funciones ejecutivas (p = 0,028). Conclusiones: Dada las características preliminares del estudio se precisa que los cambios observados en la cognición, especialmente en el proceso atencional de los pacientes podrían estar relacionados a la implementación del programa neurocognitivo.

Introduction: Neurocognitive rehabilitation have been affected by careless monitoring provided after hospitalization. Following a multidisciplinary intervention during rehab, some improvement is expected with regards complications affecting a patient’s cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social and vocational circumstances. Objective: To assess the effect of a rehabilitation program neurocognitive processes attention, memory and executive function in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: This would be measure through a neurocognitive rehabilitation program demonstrated with results based on the memory function and attention span. This neurocognitive rehabilitation program is design to highlight the cognitive process that act as an object ofintervention: (guidance/orientation, attention, memory, executive functions, languages, behavioral manners and affective) and it was developed through 60 individual sessions and 10 collective sessions over 5 months. Results: In the results provided by the NEUROPSI test, patients from the study group showed a better performance, and significant differences were observed in memory process, attention span (p = 0,0018) and executive function (p = 0,028). Conclusions: Given thepreliminaryfindings from the study, we suggest that changes in cognition during a patient’s attention span could be linked to the implementation of this neurocognitive program.