Can Attention and Working Memory Impairments of Intimate Partner Perpetrators Explain Their Risky Decision Making?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators commonly exhibit deficits in a wide range of cognitive domains, such as attention, memory, and executive functions. Executive dysfunctions tend to be related to a preference for disadvantageous decisions, which could be explained by a pattern of focusing on positive outcomes (gains) while disregarding negative ones. Nonetheless, it is less clear whether risk-taking and decision-making problems should be attributed to motivational and/or emotional causes or to cognitive deficits in attention and/or working memory. The main goal of the present study was to examine whether IPV perpetrators can be distinguished from non-violent controls based on their performance on attention, working memory, and decision-making tests from a computerized battery of tests. In addition, this study investigated the potential relationship between attention and working memory impairments in the decision-making abilities of IPV perpetrators. Our data indicated that IPV perpetrators perform worse than controls on measures of attention and sustained attention, processing speed, working memory, spatial span, and decision making. Moreover, IPV perpetrators' preference for disadvantageous and risky decisions could be partially explained by attention and working memory impairments. Our study has enabled us to explore the cognitive deficits underlying IPV perpetration as key factors in reducing IPV risky decisions. Moreover, it reinforces the need to develop specific neuropsychological training in the attention-switching ability in general and working memory, which could lead to improvements in decision-making processes or other executive functions.

Perfil neuropsicológico y efectos de la rehabilitación cognitiva en la leucemia linfoblástica aguda: a propósito de un caso / Neuropsychological profile and cognitive rehabilitation training effects on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a case study

La Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA) infantil es el cáncer pediátrico más frecuente. Actualmente cuenta con un alto porcentaje de supervivencia, pero dichos pacientes presentan secuelas cognitivas secundarias a la enfermedad debidas, principalmente, al tratamiento médico recibido para evitar la recidiva del cáncer. Por lo tanto, resulta necesaria la implementación de programas de rehabilitación cognitiva específicos para este tipo de población. Es por ello que el objetivo del presente estudio fue describir los déficits cognitivos en un varón de 17 años que fue diagnosticado con LLA a los 9 años. Tras la valoración neuropsicológica inicial se desarrolló un programa de rehabilitación cognitiva intensivo durante dos años consecutivos. Realizamos un estudio pre-post en el que administramos el Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II) y la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler para niños (WISC-IV). Los resultados, antes de la intervención, mostraron que el paciente manifestaba una menor velocidad de procesamiento y dificultades de atención sostenida y alternante, comprensión verbal y razonamiento perceptivo. Además, también presentó un número considerable de errores perseverativos, signo de dificultades de flexibilidad cognitiva y control inhibitorio. Dichos déficits mejoraron notablemente tras el programa de rehabilitación cognitiva. En conclusión, nuestro estudio pone de manifiesto la necesidad de aplicar programas de rehabilitación cognitiva tempranos para paliar las secuelas cognitivas derivadas de la LLA y de su tratamiento médico, así como mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente, ya que las mejoras cognitivas redundarán en su rendimiento académico y en su funcionamiento cotidiano.

Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. It currently has a high survival rate, but these patients have cognitive sequelae secondary to the disease, mainly due to the medical treatment received to prevent cancer recurrence. Therefore, it is necessary to implement specific cognitive rehabilitation programs for this type of population. Hence, the main objective of this study was to describe cognitive deficits in a 17-year-old male who was diagnosed with ALL when he was 9 years old. After the initial neuropsychological evaluation, an intensive cognitive rehabilitation program was developed during two consecutive years. We conducted a pre-post study in which we administered the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). Results, before the intervention, showed that the patient presented a lower processing speed and difficulties of sustained and alternating attention, verbal comprehension and perceptive reasoning; in addition to a large number of perseverative errors, sign of self-monitoring difficulties and inhibitory control. These deficits improved markedly after a program of cognitive rehabilitation. In conclusion, our study highlights the need to apply early cognitive rehabilitation programs to alleviate the cognitive sequelae derived from ALL and its medical treatment. In addition, any improvement in their cognitive capabilities will have a positive impact in their academic performance and quality of life.

High Immunoglobulin A Levels Mediate the Association Between High Anger Expression and Low Somatic Symptoms in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators.

It has been hypothesized that anger expression may be associated with increased salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels, which is associated with decreased somatic symptoms, and therefore anger expression may be associated with reduced somatic symptoms in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. This study tested the potential mediating effect of sIgA levels on the relationship between anger expression and respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms in IPV perpetrators and non-violent controls. The sample consisted of IPV perpetrators (n = 19) and controls (n = 21). Saliva samples were collected for assessing sIgA levels. The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 was used to assess anger expression and the Revised version of the Somatic Symptoms Scale developed by Sandín and Chorot to measure somatic symptoms. High anger expression was associated with low levels of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms in IPV perpetrators mediated through high sIgA levels but the same was not true for non-violent controls. This finding supports the hypothesis that for IPV perpetrators, anger expression may be physiologically and psychologically rewarding. Future research examining other immunological parameters is needed to further test this hypothesis. Such effort may illuminate why some IPV perpetrators continue to use violence against their partners.