Pain catastrophizing is associated with the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in fibromyalgia

Abstract Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a musculoskeletal chronic pain syndrome that impacts negatively patient's daily lives. Its pathogenesis is characterized by a complex relationship between biological and psychosocial factors not fully understood yet. Pain catastrophizing is associated with FM and is an important predictor of outcomes. This study aimed to answer two questions: (i) whether the allele and genotype frequencies of BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism differs between FM patients and healthy controls (HC); and (ii) if the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is a factor that predicts pain catastrophizing in FM. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 108 FM patients and 108 HC were included. FM patients responded to the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (BP-PCS) to assess pain catastrophizing, as well as other validated tools for anxiety (The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI), depression (Beck Depression Inventory II -BDI-II) and functional aspects (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire - FIQ; Central Sensitization Inventory validated and adapted for Brazilian population - CSI-BP; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI; and Resilience Scale). All subjects were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. Results: Val allele was significantly more frequent in FM patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Also, FM patients with Val/Val genotype showed more pain catastrophizing thoughts, and this genotype was significantly associated with magnification and rumination dimensions of BP-PCS (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there were significant differences in levels of anxiety and symptoms of depression, years of education, and the functional situation between the FM and control groups. Conclusions: The findings show an association of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism with pain catastrophizing in FM, which opens new avenues to comprehend the interplay between molecular genetic characteristics and neuroplasticity mechanisms underpinning FM.(AU)

Memory monitoring and memory control in chronic stroke patients: dissociated processes / Monitoramento de memória e controle de memória em pacientes com avc crônico: processos dissociados

ABSTRACT: Memory problems are common in stroke patients, although little is known about how accurately chronic stroke patients can monitor and control memory processes. Objective: The performance of memory and metamemory in stroke patients and healthy controls were investigated, as well as dissociation between performances. Methods: 10 adults with right hemisphere lesion (mean [M] age=53.2 [SD=9.7]), 10 with left hemisphere lesion (M age=60.4 [SD=6.6]) and 20 healthy participants (M age=56.5 [SD=9.3] with no neurological disease, matched for sex, age and years of education participated in a multiple-case design study. Participants completed a metamemory experimental paradigm, as well as immediate and delayed word recall and recognition tasks. Results: Data indicated that 10 out of the 20 patients presented significantly lower scores compared to controls, two of which had global deficits (functional association). Functional dissociations between memory monitoring (judgments of learning, JOL), control (allocation of study time) and capacity (cued-recall task) among patients were found for eight cases, suggesting these processes are independent. Conclusion: These findings reveal stroke patients may have specific metamemory impairment and can contribute to the understanding of cognitive models of metamemory processing.

RESUMO: Problemas de memória são comuns em pacientes com AVC, embora pouco se saiba sobre a precisão com que pacientes com AVC podem monitorar e controlar processos de memória. Objetivo: O desempenho da memória e metamemória em pacientes com AVC e controles saudáveis ​​foram investigados, bem como a dissociação entre os desempenhos. Métodos: 10 adultos com lesão do hemisfério direito (média [M] idade=53,2 [DP=9,7]), 10 com lesão no hemisfério esquerdo (M=60,4 [DP=6,6]) e 20 participantes saudáveis ​​(M=56,5 [DP=9,3 sem doença neurológica, pareados por sexo, idade e anos de estudo, participaram de um projeto de múltiplos casos, completaram um paradigma experimental de metamemória, bem como palavras de recordação imediata e demorada. Resultados: Os dados indicam 10 dos 20 pacientes apresentados. Escores significativamente inferiores aos controles, dois deles com déficits globais (associação funcional), sendo encontradas dissociações funcionais entre monitoramento da memória (julgamentos de aprendizado, JOL), controle (alocação do tempo de estudo) e capacidade (tarefa de recordação) entre pacientes para oito casos, sugerindo que esses processos são independentes. Conclusão: Esses achados revelam que os pacientes com AVC podem ter comprometimento específico da metamemória, o que contribui para a compreensão dos modelos cognitivos do processamento de metamemória.

Distinct aspects of pain catastrophizing according to chronic pain syndromes

Introduction: Catastrophizing is the tendency to magnify the threat value of pain and has been associated with measures of physical and psychological disability among individuals with several pain conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pain catastrophizing is differentially associated with distinct pain syndromes. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including 158 patients (40 with fibromyalgia, 25 with myofascial pain syndrome, 33 with chronic tensional type headache, 33 with endometriosis, and 27 with knee osteoarthritis) and 93 healthy subjects. The recruitment procedure occurred in concurrence with randomized controlled trials. Participants answered the following instruments: Brazilian Portuguese Pain-Catastrophizing Scale, Beck Depression Inventory II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, visual analogue scale for pain, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: For the total pain catastrophizing score, patients with endometriosis had significantly more catastrophizing thoughts than knee osteoarthritis (p < 0.05). Healthy participants had lower scores than any clinical group. More interestingly were the dimensions of pain catastrophizing, which showed significant differences in more than two groups, especially magnification scores, since these scores were able to discriminate, in a particular way, the majority of clinical samples from each other. We also observed differences between rumination, magnification and helplessness scores in all groups, suggesting that the characteristics of pain catastrophizing are distinct according to the pain disorder. Conclusions: The results suggest that dimensions of pain catastrophizing differ between pain syndromes. Therefore, it is important that researchers and clinicians focus on cognitive and emotional aspects of pain perception to have more successful interventions.

Conhecimento e autoeficácia de memória em adultos: relações com indicadores socioeducacionais / Memory knowledge and memory self-efficacy in adults: relations with social and educational indicators / Conocimiento y autoeficacia de memoria: relaciones con indicadores socioeducativos

Este estudo comparou o conhecimento e a autoeficácia de memória (metamemória) medidos por meio do Questionário de Metamemória em Adultos (MIA), em adultos entre 28 e 59 anos de idade, divididos em dois grupos de escolaridade: até o Ensino Médio (n = 20) e com Ensino Superior (n = 20) completos. Também foi investigada a associação entre metamemória e nível socioeconômico (NSE) e entre frequência de hábitos de leitura (HL) e escrita (HE) na amostra total. Os resultados mostraram que adultos com Ensino Superior completo relataram maior percepção de Controle, maiores Conhecimento e uso de Estratégias de memória em comparação ao outro grupo. Adultos com mais altos NSE, HL e HE relataram conhecer mais estratégias de memória e controlar melhor suas habilidades mnemônicas. Esses indicadores socioeducacionais podem estar associados a um funcionamento metacognitivo mais adaptado. O estudo discute o papel do perfil educacional e das atividades intelectuais de adultos saudáveis economicamente ativos.

This study compared Memory Knowledge and Memory Self-Efficacy (Metamemory), assessed by the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire (MIA), in adults aged from 28 to 59 years, allocated in two educational level groups: up to complete Secondary Education (n = 20) and complete Undergraduates (n = 20). Moreover, we have examined the association between Metamemory and socioeconomic status (SES), and frequency of reading (RH) and writing (WH) habits in the total sample. Results showed that Undergraduate adults perceived themselves with more control over memory and more memory knowledge and usage of strategies compared to the other group. In general, adults with higher SES, RH and WH reported more memory Strategies and more Control over mnemonic abilities. These educational and socioeconomic indicators may be associated with a refined cognitive functioning. We discuss the role of educational profile and intellectual activities in healthy and economically active adults.

Este estudio comparó el Conocimiento y la Eficacia de la memoria (metamemoria), medido por el Cuestionario de Metamemoria para Adultos (MIA). Se evaluaron adultos entre 28 y 59 años, divididos en dos grupos: educación hasta la secundaria (n = 20) y educación superior completa (n = 20). También se investigó la asociación entre metamemoria y el nivel socioeconómico (NSE) y la frecuencia de los hábitos de lectura (HL) y escritura (HE) en la muestra total. Los resultados mostraron que los adultos con educación superior informaron una mayor percepción de Control, mayor Conocimiento y uso de Estrategias de memoria en comparación con el otro grupo. Los adultos con mayor NSE, HL, y HE relataron conocer más estrategias de memoria y controlar mejor sus habilidades mnemónicas. Estos indicadores sociales y educativas pueden estar asociados con un funcionamiento metacognitivo más adecuado. Este estudio analizó el papel del perfil educativo y de las actividades intelectuales de los adultos sanos económicamente activos.

A short version of the questionnaire of metamemory in adulthood (MIA) in portuguese

The aim of this study was to develop a short version of the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire (MIA) in Brazilian Portuguese. The original MIA is an instrument in english composed by 108 items, divided into seven dimensions of metamemory (Strategy, Task, Capacity, Change, Anxiety, Achievement and Locus). Despite of being widely used, the extension of the instrument makes its application impractical in many contexts, reinforcing the need for a short version. A total of 472 participants answered the original full version of the MIA. First, Item Response Theory (IRT) analyses revealed that nine items of the instrument could be excluded due to poor infit and outfit values. After exploratory factor analyses, the 99 items left were judged by five experts that chose the most appropriate items following previously established criteria (factor loading, repetitiveness, bad writing, and temporal/cultural inadequacy). A 39-items version (MIAr) was obtained, with the same factorial structure of the original MIA. The MIAr demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency indexes, as well as evidences of convergent validity and validity based on the response process. The results revealed that the MIAr achieved good psychometric properties, serving as a more parsimonious and practical option for metamemory assessment. (AU)

Memory monitoring and control in young and intermediate-age adults / Monitoramento e controle de memória em adultos jovens e de idade intermediária / Monitoreo y Control de Memoria en Adultos Jóvenes y de Edad Intermediaria

The way adults perceive and regulate learning (metamemory) is an important indicator of how they perform on memory tasks. This study assessed memory monitoring, control and performance in young and intermediate-age adults according to item type (with or without semantic relation), type of judgment of learning (JOL - immediate or delayed), and age. Twenty-six young adults (M = 22 years old) and 18 intermediate-age adults (M = 47 years old) participated, who responded to an experimental paradigm to evaluate metamemory. Results showed that related word-pairs received higher magnitude for the JOLs and better cued-recall scores. JOLs’ accuracy was similar between the age groups, delayed JOLs being more accurate only for young adults. Intermediate-age adults apparently based their allocation of study time less on JOLs or cued-recall than young adults.

A maneira como adultos percebem e regulam a aprendizagem (metamemória) é importante indicador de como desempenham tarefas de memória. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o monitoramento, o controle e o desempenho de memória em adultos jovens e de idade intermediária conforme tipo de item na tarefa (pares de palavras com e sem relação semântica), o momento em que os JOLs foram feitos (JOLs imediatos e tardios) e idade. Participaram 26 adultos jovens (M = 22 anos) e 18 adultos de idade intermediária (M = 47 anos), que responderam a um paradigma experimental de metamemória. Observou-se que pares de palavras relacionados levaram à maior magnitude dos JOLs e melhores escores na evocação com pista. A precisão dos JOLs foi semelhante para os grupos etários, sendo JOLs tardios mais precisos apenas para adultos jovens. Adultos de idade intermediária contaram menos com seus JOLs ou com a evocação com pista para guiar o tempo de reestudo do que adultos jovens.

La forma en que los adultos perciben y regulan el aprendizaje (metamemoria) es un indicador importante de cómo ejecutan tareas de memoria. La finalidad de este estudio fue evaluar el monitoreo, control y desempeño de memoria en adultos jóvenes y de edad intermediaria de acuerdo al tipo de estímulo (pares de palabras con o sin relación semántica), tipo de juzgamiento de aprendizaje (JOL - inmediato y retrasado), y edad. Participaron 26 adultos jóvenes (M = 22 años de edad) y 18 adultos de edad intermediaria (M = 47 años), que respondieron a un paradigma experimental de metamemória. Fue observado que los pares de palabras relacionadas condujeron a un aumento de magnitud de los JOLs y una mejor recuperación con pista. La precisión de JOL fue similar en ambos grupos de edad, siendo que JOLs retrasados tuvieran mayor precisión sólo para adultos jóvenes. Adultos de edad intermediaria parecen haber basado su tiempo de re-estudio menos en sus JOLs o recuperación con pista que los adultos jóvenes.

Tarefa experimental de metamemória para avaliar monitoramento e controle de memória / Metamemory experimental task to evaluate memory monitoring and control / Tarea experimental de metamemoria para evaluar monitoreo y control de memoria

Tarefas experimentais para avaliar processos de monitoramento e controle de memória permitem o exame online dessas habilidades. No âmbito nacional, estas tarefas ainda precisam ser desenvolvidas, facilitando e incentivando projetos de pesquisa futuros. Este artigo apresenta os passos para a construção de uma tarefa para avaliação dos processos de monitoramento e controle. No Estudo 1, é descrita a seleção de 100 estímulos (pares de palavra pista-alvo) e suas características psicolinguísticas. O Estudo 2 apresenta dados do estudo piloto da tarefa com dez adultos, com foco na avaliação do monitoramento. No Estudo 3, são apresentados dados de processos de monitoramento e controle num estudo piloto com 12 universitários, um caso clínico pós-AVC e dois idosos neurologicamente saudáveis. Os resultados apontaram a necessidade de duas versões da tarefa, para diferentes populações, que permitisse a variabilidade dos dados intra e entre participantes. Também surgiram achados preliminares pertinentes a importantes hipóteses da área da metamemória...

Experimental tasks for the assessment of monitoring and control memory processes allow the online exam of these abilities. In the national field these tasks still need to be elaborated in order to facilitate and stimulate future research projects. This article presents the steps for the elaboration of a task for examining memory monitoring and control processes. In Study 1 we describe the selection of 100 stimuli (cue-target word pairs) and its psycholinguistic aspects. Study 2 presents data of a pilot-study of the task with ten adults, focusing on the evaluation of monitoring processes. In Study 3 we show data of monitoring and control processes of a pilot-study with 12 undergraduate students as well as a clinical case of stroke and two neurologically unimpaired elderly people. Results suggest the need of two different versions of the task for different populations, which would allow enough variance within and between participants. In addition, other preliminary findings relevant for current metamemory hypothesis are presented...

Tareas experimentales para evaluar procesos de monitoreo y control de la memoria permiten el examen online de estas habilidades. A nivel nacional, estas tareas todavía necesitan ser desarrolladas, para facilitar y promover futuros proyectos de investigación. Este estudio presenta los pasos ejecutados para la construcción de una tarea para evaluar los procesos de monitoreo y control. El Estudio 1 describe la selección de 100 pares de estímulos (señal-test) y sus características psicolingüísticas. El Estudio 2 presenta datos de un estudio piloto con diez adultos, centrándose en la evaluación del monitoreo. En el Estudio 3 se presentan los datos de procesos de monitoreo y control de un estudio piloto con 12 universitarios, un caso clínico de accidente cerebrovascular y dos ancianos neurológicamente sanos. Los resultados indicaron la necesidad de dos versiones de la tarea, para diferentes poblaciones, permitiendo variabilidad de los datos dentro y entre los participantes. Además, surgieron otros hallazgos preliminares pertinentes a importantes hipótesis en metamemoria...

Evidence of criterion validity for the Benton Visual Retention Test: comparison between older adults with and without a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

The present study sought to provide evidence of criterion validity for the Benton Visual Retention Test by making comparisons between older adults with and without a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The control group was composed of 50 older adults, and the clinical group was composed by 16 subjects. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, including χ² test, F and Wald statistics, t-test, analyses of covariance with α = .05, and effect size calculations. We used a sociodemographic data form, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and Mini Mental State Examination. Despite the small clinical sample size, the results pointed to evidence of validity for the Benton Visual Retention Test for Administration A (Memory) and Administration C (Copy). The clinical group had significantly poorer performance on most scores. These results also indicate important deficits in other neuropsychological functions in Alzheimer's disease...

Graph analysis of semantic word association among children, adults, and the elderly / Análise de grafos de associação semântica de palavras entre crianças, adultos e idosos

This study used graph analysis to investigate how age differences modify the structure of semantic word association networks of children and adults and if the networks present a small-world structure and a scale-free distribution which are typical of natural languages. Three age groups of Brazilian Portuguese speakers (children, adults and elderly people) participated in the experiment. Quantitative and qualitative measures suggested that adults and elderly speakers have similar network structures. Children's network showed fewer nodes, connections and clusters, and longer inter-node distances. All networks presented a small-world structure, but they did not show entirely scale-free distributions. These results suggest that from childhood to adulthood, there is an increase not only in the number of words semantically linked to a target but also an increase in the connectivity of the network.

Este estudo utilizou análise de grafos para investigar como a idade modifica a estrutura das redes de associações semânticas de palavras de crianças e adultos e se estas redes apresentam estrutura small-world e distribuição scale-free típicas de linguagens naturais. Participaram dos experimentos três grupos etários (crianças, adultos e idosos) falantes do Português Brasileiro. Medidas quantitativas e qualitativas sugeriram que adultos e idosos possuem redes semelhantes quanto a número de nós, conexões e agrupamentos. A rede das crianças expressou menor número de nós, conexões e agrupamentos e maiores distancias inter-nós. As redes apresentaram uma estrutura small-world, mas não uma distribuição scale-free completa. Os resultados sugerem que além do número de palavras semanticamente associadas aos alvos aumentar das crianças para os adultos, as redes se tornaram mais conectadas.

Tasks for assessment of the episodic buffer: a systematic review

The aim of the present study was to review the tasks that have been used to assess the functioning of the episodic buffer in Baddeley's multicomponent model of working memory. A systematic review of studies published from January 2000 to February 2013 was conducted. The search term "episodic buffer" was used in the Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, and BVS-Psi databases. The selected articles consisted of empirical studies that used tasks to assess the episodic buffer. Theoretical and review papers and studies with animals were excluded. The final sample comprised 36 papers. The tasks were categorized as experimental tasks or standardized tests. The experimental tasks were grouped by modality (unimodal or crossmodal) and described according to four criteria: task to be performed, type of stimulus used, secondary task employed, if any, and retention interval. The standardized tests included classical measures of working memory. Some tasks were found not to meet experimental criteria that were needed to evaluate the episodic buffer. Moreover, some of the standardized tests did not provide theoretical arguments or empirical evidence that the episodic buffer is recruited to perform them. The results are discussed in the context of the multicomponent model of working memory...

Estudo comparativo das associações semânticas de palavras entre adultos jovens e idosos / Comparative study of the semantic word associations between young and elderly adults

Associações de palavras vêm sendo investigadas recentemente, porém há pouco consenso acerca das mudanças nestas associações entre faixas etárias. Este estudo comparou associações semânticas de palavras entre 108 adultos jovens universitários (M = 22,17; DP = 6,04) e 57 idosos (M = 70,89; DP = 6,87). Uma tarefa de associação semântica foi utilizada. A força de associação direta entre estímulos e palavras mais fortemente associadas permaneceu constante entre os grupos. O tamanho do conjunto total e o número de respostas diferentes foram maiores para o grupo de adultos. O índice de diversidade de respostas foi maior para os adultos. Estas diferenças podem ser consideradas na construção de tarefas com estímulos verbais para avaliar memória e linguagem em diferentes faixas etárias.

The number of studies on word associations have increased recently. However, little agreement exists about age differences in relation to these associations. The semantic word associations of 108 adult college students (M = 22.17; SD = 6.04), and 57 elderly (M = 70.89; SD = 6.87) were compared using a semantic word association task. The strength between the stimuli and the strongest word associated were similar for both groups. The number of different words and the total amount of associated words were higher for the adults. Finally, the diversity index of responses was higher for the adults. Future research on memory and language can consider these age differences when developing tasks with verbal stimuli.

Semantic word association: comparative data for Brazilian children and adults

The construction of associated word lists is important for the elaboration of psychological and neuropsychological tasks and experiments. It remains unknown whether differences exist in the semantic associations of words from childhood to adulthood, possibly indicating important lexico-semantic developmental changes that influence neuropsychological assessment. The present study compared semantic word associations in children and adults in terms of forward associative strength and set size. The participants included 247 children from the third grade of elementary school, aged 7 to 11 years (M = 9.17 years, SD = 0.83 years), and 108 adults, aged 16 to 49 years (M = 22.17 years, SD = 6.04 years) from the study of Salles et al. (2008). The task consisted of the participants responding to the first word that came to mind (associate) with a meaning related to each of 87 words presented aloud (target). The children's responses had significantly higher forward associative strength between the target and most frequent associate word and a smaller response diversity index. Although the meaning and total set size did not significantly differ between groups, 40.2% of the targets had a large meaning set size in the children compared with only 10.3% in the adults. Among the most strongly associated pairs, 56.3% were equal between the sample groups. These results suggest that the selection of stimuli for the construction of verbal cognitive tasks should consider specific word association norms for different ages.

Escala de afetos positivos e negativos para adolescentes: adaptação, normatização e evidências de validade / Positive and negative affect scale for adolescents: adaptation, standardization and validity evidence / Escala de afectos positivos y negativos para adolescentes: adaptación, normalización y evidencias de validez

O objetivo deste estudo foi adaptar uma escala de afetos positivos e negativos para adolescentes. Participaram 425 estudantes com idades entre 14 e 19 anos. As escalas foram respondidas pelos estudantes em sala de aula. A análise de componentes principais revelou uma solução bifatorial satisfatória. O primeiro componente referente a afetos positivos apresentou eigenvalue de 8,1 e explicou 29 por cento da variância total. O segundo fator, referente a afetos negativos, apresentou eigenvalue de 3,6 e explicou 12,4 por cento da variância total. A consistência interna medida pelo alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,88 para as ambas as subescalas. Foram verificadas correlações positivas de afeto positivo com autoestima e satisfação de vida, e negativas de afeto negativo com essas variáveis. Ademais, verificaram-se escores de afetos positivos mais elevados em meninos e escores de afetos negativos mais elevados em meninas. Normas regionais para interpretação desses escores são fornecidas.

This study aimed to adapt a positive and negative affect scale for adolescents. Participants were 425 students, aged between 14 and 19 years. Students were tested in their classrooms. Principal component analysis revealed a bifactorial solution. The first factor, positive affect, had an eigenvalue of 8.1 and explained 29 percent of the total variance. The second factor, negative affect, had an eigenvalue of 3.6 and explained 12.4 percent of the total variance. Internal consistency, Cronbach’s alpha, was .88 for both positive and negative affect scales. Positive correlations were found between positive affect and self-esteem and life satisfaction. Negative correlations were found between negative affect and these two variables. In addition, males presented higher scores of positive affect, while females showed higher scores of negative affect. Local norms for interpreting scores are presented.

El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar una escala de afectos positivos y negativos para adolescentes. Participaron 425 estudiantes con edades entre 14 y 19 anos. Las escalas fueron respondidas por los estudiantes en sala de clase. El análisis de componentes principales reveló una solución bifactorial satisfactoria. El primer componente referente a afectos positivos presentó eigenvalue de 8,1 y explicó 29 por ciento de la varianza total. El segundo factor, referente a afectos negativos, presentó eigenvalue de 3,6 y explicó 12,4 por ciento de la varianza total. La consistencia interna medida por el alfa de Cronbach fue de 0,88 para ambas subescalas. Fueron verificadas correlaciones positivas de afecto positivo con autoestima y satisfacción de vida, y negativas de afecto negativo con esas variables. Además, se verificaron escores de afectos positivos más elevados en niños y escores de afectos negativos más elevados en niñas. Normas regionales para interpretación de eses escores son fornecidas.