Psychometric characteristics of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) as an early detection instrument for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) assesses everyday memory by means of tasks which mimic daily challenges. The objective was to examine the validity of the Brazilian version of the RBMT to detect cognitive decline. METHODS: 195 older adults were diagnosed as normal controls (NC) or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) by a multidisciplinary team, after participants completed clinical and neuropsychological protocols. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was high for the total sample for the RBMT profile (PS) and screening scores (SS) (PS = 0.91, SS = 0.87) and for the AD group (PS = 0.84, SS = 0.85), and moderate for the MCI (PS = 0.62, SS = 0.55) and NC (PS = 0.62, SS = 0.60) groups. RBMT total scores, Appointment, Pictures, Immediate and Delayed Story, Immediate and Delayed Route, Delayed Message and Date contributed to differentiate NC from MCI. ROC curve analyses indicated high accuracy to differentiate NC from AD patients, and, moderate accuracy to differentiate NC from MCI. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the RBMT seems to be an appropriate instrument to identify memory decline in Brazilian older adults.

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the DAFS-R in a sample of Brazilian older adults.

The Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised (DAFS-R) is an instrument developed to objectively measure functional capacities required for independent living. The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the DAFS-R for Brazilian Portuguese (DAFS-BR) and to evaluate its reliability and validity. The DAFS-BR was administered to 89 older patients classified previously as normal controls, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results indicated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78) in the total sample. The DAFS-BR showed high interobserver reliability (0.996; p < .001) as well as test-retest stability over 1-week interval (0.995; p < .001). Correlation between the DAFS-BR total score and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) was moderate and significant (r = -.65, p < .001) in the total sample, whereas it did not reach statistical significance within each diagnostic group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that DAFS-BR has good sensitivity and specificity to identify MCI and AD. Results suggest that DAFS-BR can document degrees of severity of functional impairment among Brazilian older adults.

Profiles of functional deficits in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: benefits from objective measurement.

The magnitude of functional impairment that may indicate the threshold between MCI and incipient Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been clearly defined. The objective was to examine the pattern of functional impairment in the continuum MCI-AD. Eighty-nine older adults (32 cognitively unimpaired, 31 MCI, and 26 AD patients) were examined with the Brazilian version of the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS-BR) at a university-based memory clinic. MCI patients were sub-divided according to the progression to AD upon follow-up, and had baseline cognitive, functional and biological variables analyzed. MCI patients displayed mild deficits in functional abilities, with intermediate scores as compared to controls and AD. The DAFS-BR items that differentiated MCI from controls involved the ability to deal with finances and shopping skills. At baseline, scores obtained by MCI patients who converted to AD were not significantly different from scores of nonconverters. The magnitude of functional deficits was associated with AD-like pathological findings in the CSF. In conclusion, MCI patients present with early functional changes in complex, instrumental abilities that require the integrity of memory and executive functions. The objective measurement of the functional state may help identify older adults with increased risk of developing dementia in the MCI-AD continuum.

Transtorno de personalidade na terceira idade / Personality disorders in an elderly patient

CONTEXTO: Dificuldades interpessoais, instabilidade afetiva, distorções da relação médico-paciente e respostas imprevisíveis às intervenções são características centrais aos transtornos de personalidade que são encontradas tanto em pacientes jovens, como em adultos idosos. RELATO DE CASO: Encontra-se aqui descrito um caso de transtorno de personalidade em paciente de 68 anos de idade, com transtorno de personalidade do tipo histriônica e outras comorbidades psiquiátricas. CONCLUSÃO: Transtorno de personalidade é um diagnóstico raramente aventado no tratamento psiquiátrico no paciente idoso de difícil manejo. Deve-se nestes casos fazer uma investigação mais aprofundada do funcionamento da personalidade, pois a presença e a severidade do transtorno de personalidade têm implicações no plano da assistência de ambos os tratamentos psicológico e farmacológico.

CONTEXT: Interpersonal difficulties, affective instability, distortions of the clinician-patient relationship, and unpredictable responses to clinical interventions, are characteristics found in older adults as well as in younger patients with personality disorders. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 68 years old patient with histrionic personality disorder and other psychiatric comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Personality disorders are frequently overlooked in the diagnostic workout of complex psychogeriatric syndromes, and require a comprehensive assessment of personality traits. The correct identification of personality disorders and their subtypes is critical for planning the therapeutic approach, including pharmacotherapy and psychological management.

Aspectos psicológicos envolvidos no processo de cronificaçãoáálgica / Involved psychological aspects in the chronic pain process

Métodos de assistência psicológica se tornaram, nas últimas décadas, um componente integral no tratamento de indivíduos com dor persistente. O presente artigo trata do envolvimento de aspectos psicológicos aliados aos fisiológicos, no processo de cronificação álgica. A assistência psicológica é baseada na avaliação e intervenção psicológica que inclui: história clínicainformada pelo próprio paciente, história psicológica,características de personalidade, crenças sobre dor edanos, relatório de dor e limitações funcionais e desenvolvimento de estratégias para enfrentamento da dor. A prática diária das clínicas de dor tem mostradoque fatores psicológicos têm uma poderosa influência no tratamento de pacientes com dor crônica, inclusive aqueles que obtiveram pouca resposta ao tratamento biomédico convencional...