Serum cortisol levels and neuropsychological impairments in patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between neuropsychological variables and serum cortisol levels as a measure of physiological stress in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 60 women was intentionally selected: 30 with Fibromyalgia diagnosis and 30 with normal controls. Cortisol levels were determined using two blood samples (AM and PM) and a neuropsychological and emotional battery was applied with a standardized protocol in Colombian population to evaluate different cognitive domains. Comparative and correlational non-parametric analyzes were performed, a multiple regression analysis to determine influences between variables. RESULTS: Significant differences between the study groups in the neuropsychological variables (attention, memory, language, visual-constructive praxis and executive functions (EF), (p<0.05) were found, obtaining better scores in the control group. Significant correlations between the cortisol profile, with false acknowledgments of Rey auditory- verbal learning test, and with perseverative errors of the Wisconsin test were found. Multiple regression analysis predicts the influence of memory and EF variables on the cortisol profile in an 88.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that, in patients with FM, there are neuropsychological alterations, mainly in executive functioning (cognitive flexibility) and episodic memory (evocation and storage). Likewise, executive dysfunction is related to physiological stress reciprocally and in turn are conditioned by emotional alterations such as symptoms of depression, which supports the neurophysiological model that compromises the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the prefrontal cortex, rich in corticosteroid receptors.

Anxiety, Self-esteem and Body Image in Girls with Precocious Puberty. / Ansiedad, autoestima e imagen corporal en niñas con diagnóstico de pubertad precoz.

Currently, the age of onset for pubertal changes is decreasing, especially in girls, which may have an impact on psychosocial factors such as anxiety, self-esteem and body image. The aim of the present study is to compare these variables in two groups: a group of 15 girls with precocious puberty and a group of 16 girls of the same age without precocious puberty. A non-experimental descriptive design was used and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to measure variables. Significant differences were found in Anxiety and Body Image levels between groups, but there were no differences in Self-Esteem levels. In conclusion, the findings show girls with early onset pubertal changes present high anxiety levels and negative body image compared to girls who start pubertal changes at the normal time.

Ansiedad, autoestima e imagen corporal en niñas con diagnóstico de pubertad precoz / Anxiety, Self-esteem and Body Image in Girls with Precocious Puberty

resumen Actualmente se está produciendo una disminución de la edad de inicio de los cambios puberales, particularmente en las niñas, lo cual puede incidir en variables como ansiedad, autoestima e imagen corporal. El objetivo es establecer una comparación de estas variables en 2 grupos: uno de 15 niñas diagnosticadas de pubertad precoz y otro grupo de 16 niñas sin ese diagnóstico. Se realizó un diseño descriptivo no experimental, y para la medición de variables se utilizaron el State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) y el Self Description Questionnaire (SDQ). Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos en los niveles de ansiedad y de imagen corporal, pero no en los de autoestima. A través de los hallazgos obtenidos, se evidencia que las niñas que inician los cambios puberales de manera precoz sufren altos niveles de ansiedad y tienen una imagen corporal de sí mismas más negativa que las niñas que inician los cambios puberales en el momento normativo.

abstract Currently, the age of onset for pubertal changes is decreasing, especially in girls, which may have an impact on psychosocial factors such as anxiety, self-esteem and body image. The aim of the present study is to compare these variables in two groups: a group of 15 girls with precocious puberty and a group of 16 girls of the same age without precocious puberty. A non-experimental descriptive design was used and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to measure variables. Significant differences were found in Anxiety and Body Image levels between groups, but there were no differences in Self-Esteem levels. In conclusion, the findings show girls with early onset pubertal changes present high anxiety levels and negative body image compared to girls who start pubertal changes at the normal time.

Niveles de cortisol sérico y alteraciones neuropsicológicas en pacientes con diagnóstico de Fibromialgia / Serum cortisol levels and neuropsychological impairments in patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia

Objetivo. Describir la relación entre variables neuropsicológicas y niveles de cortisol sérico; como una medida de estrés fisiológico; en pacientes con fibromialgia. Metodología. Se seleccionó intencionalmente una muestra de 60 mujeres: 30 con diagnóstico de Fibromialgia y 30 controles normales. Se determinaron los niveles de cortisol mediante dos muestras de sangre (AM y PM) y se realizó una batería neuropsicológica y emocional, con un protocolo estandarizado en población colombiana para evaluar diferentes dominios cognitivos. Se hicieron análisis comparativo y correlacional no paramétrico, un análisis de regresión múltiple para determinar influencias entre las variables. Resultados. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos de estudio en las variables neuropsicológicas (atención, memoria, lenguaje, praxis viso-constructiva y funciones ejecutivas (FE), (p<0,05), obteniendo mejores puntajes el grupo control. Se hallaron correlaciones significativas entre el perfil de cortisol, con falsos reconocimientos del test de aprendizaje auditivo verbal de Rey y con errores perseverativos del test de Wisconsin. El análisis de regresión múltiple predice la influencia de las variables de memoria y FE en el perfil de cortisol en un 88,7%. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos demuestran que, en pacientes con FM, existen alteraciones neuropsicológicas, principalmente en funcionamiento ejecutivo (flexibilidad cognitiva) y memoria episódica (evocación y almacenamiento). Igualmente, la disfunción ejecutiva está relacionada con el estrés fisiológico de manera recíproca y a su vez son condicionadas por alteraciones emocionales como síntomas de depresión, lo cual soporta el modelo neurofisiológico que compromete el eje hipotálamo-hipófisis-adrenal y la corteza pre-frontal, rica en receptores de córticoesteroides (AU)

Objective. To describe the relationship between neuro-psychological variables and serum cortisol levels as a measure of physiological stress in patients with fibromyalgia. Methodology. A sample of 60 women was intentionally selected: 30 with Fibromyalgia diagnosis and 30 with normal controls. Cortisol levels were determined using two blood samples (AM and PM) and a neuropsychological and emotional battery was applied with a standardized protocol in Colombian population to evaluate different cognitive domains. Comparative and correlational non-parametric analyzes were performed, a multiple regression analysis to determine influences between variables. Results. Significant differences between the study groups in the neuropsychological variables (attention, memory, language, visual-constructive praxis and executive functions (EF), (p<0.05) were found, obtaining better scores in the control group. Significant correlations between the cortisol profile, with false acknowledgments of Rey auditory-verbal learning test, and with perseverative errors of the Wisconsin test were found. Multiple regression analysis predicts the influence of memory and EF variables on the cortisol profile in an 88.7%. Conclusions. The findings show that, in patients with FM, there are neuropsychological alterations, mainly in executive functioning (cognitive flexibility) and episodic memory (evocation and storage). Likewise, executive dysfunction is related to physiological stress reciprocally and in turn are conditioned by emotional alterations such as symptoms of depression, which supports the neurophysiological model that compromises the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the prefrontal cortex, rich in corticosteroid receptors (AU)

Estudio de prevalência de dificultades de lectura en niños escolarizados de 7 años de Barranquilla (Colombia) / The prevalence of reading difficulties in 7-year old children in the city of Barranquilla (Colombia)

Este artículo muestra los resultados preliminares de una investigación en la que se establece el nivel de prevalencia de dificultades en la lectura en niños de siete años, pertenecientes a 4 colegios privados no bilingües de estrato socioeconómico medio alto de la ciudad de Barranquilla (Colombia). Para esta investigación se utilizaron el CEPA, WISC-R Abreviado, Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI). Se determinó que la prevalencia de dificultades de lectura en la población de estudio fue de 3.32%.

This article shows research preliminary results, in which the prevalence level of reading disabilities is established in 7-year old children belonging to 4 middle class private non-bilingual schools in the district of Barranquilla. The assessment tools used for this study were CEPA, Abbreviated WISC-R and ENI (Neuropsychological Children Evaluation). The reading disabilities prevalence level was determined to be, in this study, of 3.32%.