ASSESSING THE HUMORAL RESPONSE TO AND SAFETY OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE EQUINE WEST NILE VIRUS VACCINE IN A ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION BREEDING POPULATION OF ENDANGERED GREATER SAGE-GROUSE (CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS).

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are an endangered species in Canada and have been extirpated from five states in the United States. Infectious diseases can pose a challenge to conservation efforts, and the greater sage-grouse is susceptible to West Nile virus (WNV). This study measured the humoral response to a commercially available WNV vaccine in a zoo-based conservation breeding population of greater sage-grouse. Since the initiation of the conservation program in 2014, all sage-grouse at the Calgary Zoo's Wildlife Conservation Centre have been vaccinated against WNV. Juveniles received a series of three vaccines every 2-3 wk starting around 2 wk of age; adults had received the same vaccination series at hatch and had since been boostered annually. Antibody titers were measured on 60 serum samples from 36 juveniles and 18 adults collected in 2018 using either serum neutralization or plaque-reduction neutralization methods. No detectable antibody response was noted in juveniles after their second (n = 17) or third booster vaccinations (n = 23). Only 35% of 20 adult samples collected had positive titers even after multiple years of vaccination. Only two cases of adverse vaccine reaction have been noted in this species with over 800 doses being administered between 2014 and 2020. Despite a lack of antibody response in juveniles and most adults, there have been no WNV-associated deaths in this population even with confirmed cases of WNV in free-ranging greater sage-grouse and other species in the area during this time frame, suggesting that cell-mediated immunity may be of greater importance for protection against WNV infections in this species. The initial vaccination series was changed in 2019 to a series of only two doses of vaccine, and no clinical cases or mortality from WNV occurred in 2019 or 2020 with the new protocol.

Faecal metabolites and hair cortisol as biological markers of HPA-axis activity in the Rocky mountain goat.

Monitoring glucocorticoids in faeces and hair is increasingly used in ecological studies and provides a powerful and minimally intrusive mean to identify physiological challenges faced by wild animals. Using a cortisol and a corticosterone immunoassays, we conducted an adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) challenge with five weekly repeated injections to validate the use of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and hair cortisol concentration as biological markers of the HPA-axis activity in captive mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). We also investigated the effect of endogenous (age, sex, reproductive status) and methodological (faecal sample collection date, freezing delay and hair type) variables on cortisol values using faecal and hair samples collected from marked wild mountain goats during a long-term study. The cortisol enzyme immunoassay was reliable for mountain goat faeces and hair, and was sensitive enough to detect a clear rise in glucocorticoid concentration following ACTH injections for both matrices. Age and sex had no detectable effect on faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, but hair cortisol concentration was higher in kids and yearlings than in older goats, and lower in adult males compared to adult females. Reproductive status had no detectable effect on both faecal and hair measurements. Faecal metabolite concentrations increased with sample collection date in late spring until mid-summer and decreased afterward until early fall. Guard hair had nearly twice as much cortisol per gram as undercoat hair. Prolonged delay to freezing reduced the concentration of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, but degradation seemed limited when samples were exposed to wind and sun or when ambient temperature was low. We conclude that faeces and hair can be used as valid biomarkers of the HPA-axis activity in mountain goat provided that confounding variables are taken into account when interpreting measurements.

Long-Term Cognitive and Psychological Functioning in Post-Electroconvulsive Therapy Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is associated with positive outcomes for treatment-resistant mood disorders in the short term. However, there is limited research on long-term cognitive or psychological changes beyond 1 year after -ECT. This study evaluated long-term outcomes in cognitive functioning, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life for individuals who had undergone ECT. METHODS: Eligible participants (N = 294) who completed a brief pre-ECT neuropsychological assessment within the last 14 years were recruited for a follow-up evaluation; a limited sample agreed to follow-up testing (n = 34). At follow-up, participants were administered cognitive measures (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status [RBANS], Wide Range Achievement Test-4 Word Reading, Trail Making Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition Letter Number Sequence and Digit Span, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test), along with emotional functioning measures (Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition [BDI-II] and Beck Anxiety Inventory) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF quality of life measure. Follow-up-testing occurred on average (SD) 6.01 (3.5) years after last ECT treatment. RESULTS: At follow-up, a paired t test showed a large and robust reduction in mean BDI-II score. Scores in cognitive domains remained largely unchanged. A trend was observed for a mean reduction in RBANS visual spatial scores. Lower BDI-II scores were significantly associated with higher RBANS scores and improved quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: For some ECT patients, memory, cognitive functioning, and decreases in depressive symptoms can remain intact and stable even several years after ECT. However, the selective sampling at follow-up makes these results difficult to generalize to all post-ECT patients. Future research should examine what variables may predict stable cognitive functioning and a decline in psychiatric symptoms after ECT.

A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE SEASONALITY ON SEMINAL PLASMA CHARACTERISTICS IN NORTH AMERICAN BISON (BISON BISON).

The two subspecies of the North American bison, plains ( Bison bison bison) and wood ( Bison bison athabascae) bison, are seasonal breeders. The objective of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the effects of season on semen. To test the hypothesis that there are seasonal effects on seminal plasma, protein profiles of seminal plasma from plains and wood bison (n = 2 of each subspecies) were compared between breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of seminal plasma proteins, 54 of 170 spots (plains bison) and 19 of 153 spots (wood bison) had differential expression (≥2-fold; P < 0.01) between seasons. Based on immunoblotting, BSP5 and TIMP-2 (two fertility-associated proteins in cattle) were higher during the breeding vs. nonbreeding season. Furthermore, epididymal sperm incubated with seminal plasma from the nonbreeding season had lower postthaw progressive motility (17.33 ± 7.47 vs. 22.09 ± 6.67%; mean ± SD) and an increased ability to undergo a lysophosphatidylcholine-induced acrosome reaction (77.83 ± 8.47 vs. 52.67 ± 7.76%; mean ± SD) as compared to epididymal sperm incubated with seminal plasma from the breeding season. In a heterologous in vitro fertilization system (using bovine oocytes), cleavage rate was higher for sperm exposed to seminal plasma from the breeding vs. the nonbreeding season (75.35 ± 16.55 vs. 33.63 ± 12.44%; mean ± SD). This study suggested that differential expression of seminal plasma characteristics modulating sperm function is one of the mechanisms by which reproductive seasonality affects sperm function in the North American bison.

Use of perceptual memory as a performance validity indicator: initial validation with simulated mild traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: Many commonly employed performance validity tests (PVTs) are several decades old and vulnerable to compromise, leading to a need for novel instruments. Because implicit/non-declarative memory may be robust to brain damage, tasks that rely upon such memory may serve as an effective PVT. Using a simulation design, this experiment evaluated whether novel tasks that rely upon perceptual memory hold promise as PVTs. METHOD: Sixty healthy participants were provided instructions to simulate symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and they were compared to a group of 20 honest responding individuals. Simulator groups received varying levels of information concerning TBI symptoms, resulting in naïve, sophisticated, and test-coached groups. The Word Memory Test, Test of Memory Malingering, and California Verbal Learning Test-II Forced Choice Recognition Test were administered. To assess perceptual memory, selected images from the Gollin Incomplete Figures and Mooney Closure Test were presented as visual perception tasks. After brief delays, memory for the images was assessed. RESULTS: No group differences emerged on the perception trials of the Gollin and Mooney figures, but simulators remembered fewer images than the honest responders. Simulator groups differed on the standard PVTs, but they performed equivalently on the Gollin and Mooney figures, implying robustness to coaching. Relying upon a criterion of 90% specificity, the Gollin and Mooney figures achieved at least 90% sensitivity, comparing favorably to the standard PVTs. CONCLUSIONS: The Gollin and Mooney figures hold promise as novel PVTs. As perceptual memory tests, they may be relatively robust to brain damage, but future research involving clinical samples is necessary to substantiate this assertion.

Introducing the North American Association of Practicum Sites in Neuropsychology (NAPSN): development of a new organization devoted to facilitating high quality practicum training.

Introduction: In February 2023, a work group began to develop a new North American organization in neuropsychology to represent and support practicum-training sites. While other training-focused organizations such as the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN) and the Association of Internship Training in Clinical Neuropsychology (AITCN) have existed for many years, no organization exists to promote and support practicum level training outside of doctoral degree programs. The work group developed such an organization, subsequently named the North American Association of Practicum Sites in Neuropsychology (NAPSN), beginning with a mission statement and general purpose of the organization. Methods: The work group divided members into five task forces focused on various tasks needed to start the organization, including Mission/Vision, Administrative Structure, Membership, Financials, and Bylaws. The entire work group met monthly with additional meetings and work via email for the various task forces, which resulted in the development of a mission statement and bylaws, as well as a framework for program administration, membership requirements and financial needs. Conclusions: The group developed NAPSN primarily as a resource to support diverse practicum programs in urban, suburban, and rural areas in the US and Canada to provide optimal graduate level clinical training in neuropsychology. Didactics aimed specifically at practicum students was one need identified early in the process. NAPSN is developing a website-based resource in collaboration with other training organizations to increase the didactic offerings to practicum students. Other initiatives and collaborative efforts will be undertaken over time as circumstances warrant.

The impact of management on the fecal microbiome of endangered greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in a zoo-based conservation program.

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are a critically endangered species in Canada with fewer than 140 individuals remaining on native habitats in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 2014, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo initiated North America's only zoo-based conservation breeding program for this species to bolster declining wild populations through conservation reintroductions. Within the managed population of sage-grouse, morbidity and mortality have primarily been associated with intestinal bacterial infections. As a preliminary study to assess the gastrointestinal health of this species in managed care, the fecal bacterial microbiome of adult and juvenile captive sage-grouse was characterized with 16S rRNA sequencing. The composition of the microbiome at the phylum level in greater sage-grouse is consistent with previous studies of the avian microbiome, with Bacillota as the most abundant phyla, and Actinomycetota, Bacteroidota and Pseudomonadota also being highly abundant. Antibiotic use and sex did not have a significant impact on the diversity or composition of the microbiome, but the management of juvenile sage-grouse did influence the development of the microbiome. Juveniles that were raised outdoors under maternal care developed a microbiome much more similar to adults when compared to chicks that were incubated and hand-raised. The local environment and parental care appear to be important factors influencing the diversity and composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome in this species.

Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (Marmota vancouverensis).

The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is Canada's most endangered endemic mammal. In 1997, a conservation breeding-for-release program was established to supplement wild marmot populations. Retrospective analyses of captive breeding studbook records since 2000 indicate the age of the sire and the dam significantly impacted the odds of successfully weaning a litter. Dams and sires between 5 and 7 years of age had more than double the odds of reproductive success compared to older animals. Successful reproduction by the dam in the previous year also doubled the odds of successfully weaning a litter in subsequent years. Assessment of adrenal function via fecal glucocorticoid analyses indicated established breeding pairs had decreased stress compared to new pairs (5.74 ± 0.28 ng/g vs. 7.60 ± 0.34 ng/g; p < 0.0001). Pairs that were ultimately successful at weaning pups in a breeding season had decreased stress compared to unsuccessful pairs (6.05 ± 0.34 ng/g vs. 7.22 ± 0.28 ng/g; p = 0.0006). These endocrine results suggest social buffering via familiarity and breeding/pair bond formation may be decreasing stress in established and successful pairs, respectively. The results of this study will be used to assist in the captive breeding management of this species to optimise numbers of animals produced to supplement the wild populations.

The relationship between performance validity testing, external incentives, and cognitive functioning in long COVID.

INTRODUCTION: Performance validity test (PVT) failures occur in clinical practice and at higher rates with external incentives. However, little PVT research has been applied to the Long COVID population. This study aims to address this gap. METHODS: Participants were 247 consecutive individuals with Long COVID seen for neuropsychological evaluation who completed 4 PVTs and a standardized neuropsychological battery. The sample was 84.2% White and 66% female. The mean age was 51.16 years and mean education was 14.75 years. Medical records were searched for external incentive (e.g., disability claims). Three groups were created based on PVT failures (Pass [no failures], Intermediate [1 failure], and Fail [2+ failures]). RESULTS: A total of 8.9% participants failed 2+ PVTs, 6.4% failed one PVT, and 85% passed PVTs. From the full sample, 25.1% were identified with external incentive. However, there was a significant difference between the rates of external incentives in the Fail group (54.5%) compared to the Pass (22.1%) and Intermediate (20%) groups. Further, the Fail group had lower cognitive scores and higher frequency of impaired range scores, consistent with PVT research in other populations. External incentives were uncorrelated with cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with other populations, results suggest Long COVID cases are not immune to PVT failure and external incentives are associated with PVT failure. Results indicated that individuals in the Pass and Intermediate groups showed no evidence for significant cognitive deficits, but the Fail group had significantly poorer cognitive performance. Thus, PVTs should be routinely administered in Long COVID cases and research.

Examination of the relationship between symptom and performance validity measures across referral subtypes.

INTRODUCTION: The extent to which performance validity (PVT) and symptom validity (SVT) tests measure separate constructs is unclear. Prior research using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2 & RF) suggested that PVTs and SVTs are separate but related constructs. However, the relationship between Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) SVTs and PVTs has not been explored. This study aimed to replicate previous MMPI research using the PAI, exploring the relationship between PVTs and overreporting SVTs across three subsamples, neurodevelopmental (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/learning disorder), psychiatric, and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHODS: Participants included 561 consecutive referrals who completed the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and the PAI. Three subgroups were created based on referral question. The relationship between PAI SVTs and the PVT was evaluated through multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The results demonstrated the relationship between PAI symptom overreporting SVTs, including Negative Impression Management (NIM), Malingering Index (MAL), and Cognitive Bias Scale (CBS), and PVTs varied by referral subgroup. Specifically, overreporting on CBS but not NIM and MAL significantly predicted poorer PVT performance in the full sample and the mTBI sample. In contrast, none of the overreporting SVTs significantly predicted PVT performance in the ADHD/learning disorder sample but conversely, all SVTs predicted PVT performance in the psychiatric sample. CONCLUSIONS: The results partially replicated prior research comparing SVTs and PVTs and suggested that constructs measured by SVTs and PVTs vary depending upon population. The results support the necessity of both PVTs and SVTs in clinical neuropsychological practice.

Emotional functioning in long COVID: Comparison to post-concussion syndrome using the Personality Assessment Inventory.

Objective: Recent studies on Long COVID found that patients report prominent emotional distress and significant correlations between distress and cognitive performance have been identified, raising the question of how to manage or treat these issues. To understand psychological functioning in Long COVID further, this study examined personality responses on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) to compare psychological functioning in a Long COVID group with a post-concussion syndrome (PCS) group, a syndrome with a significant psychological component. Participants and methods: Participants included 201 consecutive Long COVID outpatients (Mean age = 48.87 years, mean education = 14.82, 71.6% Female, 82.6% White) and a comparison group of 102 consecutively referred PCS outpatients (Mean age = 46.08, mean education = 14.17, 63.7% Female, 88.2% White). Effect sizes and t-tests were calculated using the PAI validity, clinical, interpersonal, and treatment consideration scales as well as clinical subscales. Results: The results replicated earlier findings on the PAI in Long COVID by demonstrating that both Long COVID and PCS groups had the highest mean elevations on SOM and DEP scales but no statistically significant between group differences in mean scale elevations. Results support similarities in psychological functioning between Long COVID and PCS patients emphasizing the importance of evaluating psychological functioning in neuropsychological evaluations for these populations. Further, results suggest that psychological treatment strategies for PCS patients may be helpful for Long COVID patients, but more research is needed.

Cortisol and corticosterone independence in cortisol-dominant wildlife.

Species have traditionally been defined as cortisol-dominant or corticosterone-dominant, depending on the glucocorticoid that is reported. To assess the degree of covariance versus independence between cortisol and corticosterone, 245 serum samples belonging to 219 individuals from 18 cortisol-dominant, non-domesticated species (6 mammalian orders) were compared by mass spectrometry. In these samples, which were elevated above baseline, concentration ranges were overlapping for cortisol and corticosterone although cortisol was dominant in every sample except one of 17 bighorn sheep with a corticosterone-biased cortisol-to-corticosterone ratio of 0.17. As expected, cortisol and corticosterone were strongly associated among species (r(2)=0.8; species with high absolute cortisol tend to have high absolute corticosterone concentrations), with wide variation in the species-average cortisol-to-corticosterone ratio (range 7.5-49) and an even wider ratio range across individuals (0.2-341). However, only 9 out of 13 species with >7 individuals showed a positive association between cortisol and corticosterone among individuals, and repeated measures of the cortisol-to-corticosterone ratio within individuals were weakly associated (CV range 3-136%). We conclude that corticosterone, although at lower concentrations, has the potential to signal independently of cortisol, and should be included in integrated endocrine models of stress responses.

Columbid herpesvirus-1 mortality in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) from Calgary, Alberta.

Four cases of Columbid herpesvirus-1 infection in great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) were identified in Calgary, Alberta. Necropsy findings included severe multifocal hepatic and splenic necrosis, pharyngeal ulceration and necrosis, and gastrointestinal necrosis. Occasional eosinophilic intranuclear viral inclusion bodies were associated with the foci of necrosis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing confirmed a diagnosis of herpesvirus-induced disease. The sequence of a PCR amplicon had 99.7% homology to Columbid herpesvirus-1.

Conservative management of pyothorax in an Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica).

Therapy for pyothorax, or pleural empyema, has not been described for large felids. This case describes the successful treatment of pyothorax in a captive, large felid. A 15-yr-old multiparous, female Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) presented with nonspecific clinical signs caused by an insidious onset of pyothorax. Management of pyothorax cases in companion animals often involves thoracostomy tube placement with recurrent drainage of the pleural cavity, intensive supportive care, and monitoring. In this case, conservative management was elected because hospitalization was not a viable option. Thoracocentesis was performed to drain as much fluid from the chest cavity as possible, yielding more than 1.3 L. Corynebacterium sp. and unidentified anaerobic gram-positive cocci were cultured. Treatment included cefovecin subcutaneously, oral antibiotic therapy with clindamycin and marbofloxacin, meloxicam, and restricted exercise by minimizing access to the main exhibit. Significant improvement was noted clinically and radiographically 6 wk later, and no relapses were noted in the following weeks. An examination 11.5 mo later confirmed resolution.

A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE RANGIFER TARANDUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE LITERATURE: GAP BETWEEN INFORMATION AND APPLICATION.

The role and impact of infectious diseases in wildlife population dynamics are increasingly recognized, yet disease information is variably incorporated into wildlife management frameworks. This discrepancy is particularly relevant for Rangifer tarandus (caribou or reindeer), a keystone circumarctic species experiencing widespread population declines. The primary objective of this review was to characterize the available peer-reviewed literature on infectious diseases of Rangifer by using a scoping review methodology. Three databases of peer-reviewed literature-Web of Science, BIOSIS previews, and Scopus-were searched and 695 articles met the criteria for initial review. After screening for relevance and language, 349 articles, published between 1967 and 2020, remained. More than half of the excluded articles (181/346; 52%) were left out because they were not published in English; the majority of these excluded articles (120) were in Russian. From the 349 included articles, 137 (39%) pertained to wild (as opposed to semidomesticated or captive) Rangifer populations. Articles on infectious disease in wild Rangifer were published in 40 different journals across various disciplines; the most common journals were disease and parasitology oriented, accounting for 55% of included articles. Most studies were descriptive (87%), followed by experimental (9%). Of the pathogen taxa investigated, helminths were the most common, comprising 35% of articles. Rangifer subspecies were not equally represented in the literature, with barren-ground caribou (R. t. groenlandicus; n=40) and woodland caribou (R. t. caribou; n=39) having the greatest abundance and diversity of infectious disease information available. Few studies explicitly examined individual or population-level impacts of disease, or related disease to vital population rates, and only 27 articles explicitly related results to management or conservation. Findings from this review highlight an unbalanced distribution of studies across Rangifer ecotypes, a preference for dissemination in disease-specialized publication venues, and an opportunity for investigating population-level impacts that may be more readily integrated into caribou conservation frameworks.

Validation of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) scale of scales in a mixed clinical sample.

Objective: This exploratory study examined the classification accuracy of three derived scales aimed at detecting cognitive response bias in neuropsychological samples. The derived scales are composed of existing scales from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). A mixed clinical sample of consecutive outpatients referred for neuropsychological assessment at a large Midwestern academic medical center was utilized. Participants and Methods: Participants included 332 patients who completed study's embedded and free-standing performance validity tests (PVTs) and the PAI. PASS and FAIL groups were created based on PVT performance to evaluate the classification accuracy of the derived scales. Three new scales, Cognitive Bias Scale of Scales 1-3, (CB-SOS1-3) were derived by combining existing scales by either summing the scales together and dividing by the total number of scales summed, or by logistically deriving a variable from the contributions of several scales. Results: All of the newly derived scales significantly differentiated between PASS and FAIL groups. All of the derived SOS scales demonstrated acceptable classification accuracy (i.e. CB-SOS1 AUC = 0.72; CB-SOS2 AUC = 0.73; CB-SOS3 AUC = 0.75). Conclusions: This exploratory study demonstrates that attending to scale-level PAI data may be a promising area of research in improving prediction of PVT failure.

Replication and cross-validation of the personality assessment inventory (PAI) cognitive bias scale (CBS) in a mixed clinical sample.

Objective: This study is a cross-validation of the Cognitive Bias Scale (CBS) from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), a ten-item scale designed to assess symptom endorsement associated with performance validity test failure in neuropsychological samples. The study utilized a mixed neuropsychological sample of consecutively referred patients at a large academic medical center in the Midwest. Participants and Methods: Participants were 332 patients who completed embedded and free-standing performance validity tests (PVTs) and the PAI. Pass and fail groups were created based on PVT performance to evaluate classification accuracy of the CBS. Results: The results were generally consistent with the initial study for overall classification accuracy, sensitivity, and cut-off score. Consistent with the validation study, CBS had better classification accuracy than the original PAI validity scales and a comparable effect size to that obtained in the original validation publication; however, the Somatic Complaints scale (SOM) and the Conversion subscale (SOM-C) also demonstrated good classification accuracy. The CBS had incremental predictive ability compared to existing PAI scales. Conclusions: The results supported the CBS, but further research is needed on specific populations. Findings from this present study also suggest the relationship between conversion tendencies and PVT failure may be stronger in some geographic locations or population types (forensic versus clinical patients).

Neuropsychology trainee concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 2021 follow-up survey.

OBJECTIVE: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the impact on neuropsychology trainees continues to evolve. This paper describes the results of a survey of neuropsychology trainee (graduate student through postdoctoral resident) perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic and compares them to a previous survey conducted in Spring 2020. METHOD: The survey used several questions from the 2020 survey and added applicable new questions based on the results of the 2020 survey. The survey was distributed to listservs, training directors, and student organizations in neuropsychology with snowball sampling used. RESULTS: Respondents were primarily female (82.4%) and white (63%). The majority of trainees (66%) reported loss of clinical hours. Interestingly, the average training time missed was approximately 3.36 weeks (SD = 9.27). Trainees continue to report that they have experienced increased anxiety, depression, and stress since the beginning of the pandemic; however, compared to a prior survey, rates of increased anxiety/stress remained stable, but more trainees reported increased depression. Approximately 31% of trainees reported that they were differentially impacted by the pandemic due to racial/ethnic background and female trainees were more likely to report increased personal stress, anxiety and depression than their male counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest continued wide-reaching pandemic related impacts on neuropsychology trainees. For example, trainees continue to be concerned about the impact of lost clinical hours on their professional futures. The most notable of the personal impacts included increased rates of mental health concerns and differential impacts on trainees from ethnoracial minority communities. Recommendations are provided to assist trainees in coping with pandemic-related disruptions.

Outcomes in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) at 6 months post-infection part 2: Psychological functioning.

Limited research investigating the long-term psychological and emotional correlates of COVID-19 infection has been completed. The current study begins to address this limitation in patients experiencing Post-Acute Sequelae SARS-CoV-2 (PASC; e.g. "Long COVID").Participants were 43 consecutive neuropsychological outpatients diagnosed with PASC and who completed the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). The sample was predominantly female (n = 36) and white (n = 32). Effect sizes compared to the normative mean T scores and base rates of elevated (T > 69) scores were calculated.PAI scales measuring somatic preoccupation and depression had large effect sizes and the highest base rates of scale elevations, with the mean T score at approximately the normative cutoff for clinical significance (T = 70). The Schizophrenia Thought Disorder subscale (SCZ-T) also had a large effect size and high base rate of elevation, likely reflecting cognitive concerns. Scales measuring anxiety had medium effect sizes. The other PAI scales generally had small to negligible effect sizes. There were no significant differences between hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants on the PAI.Overall, PAI scales measuring psychological distress, particularly somatic preoccupation and depression, were the most frequently elevated in the participants. The specific reasons for somatic preoccupation could not be determined in this study. Potential explanations include a vulnerability to distress in Long COVID patients, premorbid somatic preoccupation perhaps motivating these patients to seek clinical attention, or socioenvironmental factors leading some COVID patients to be somatically preoccupied with minor physiological changes and attribute those changes to COVID-19.

Outcomes in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) at 6 months post-infection Part 1: Cognitive functioning.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term cognitive sequelae of COVID-19 have not been extensively studied. This study provides initial results on cognitive outcomes in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).Participants and Methods: This study examined 53 consecutive outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19. Four participants were excluded due to performance validity test failure. All participants had positive COVID-19 tests, reported cognitive concerns, and completed neuropsychological tests to assess performance validity, attention/working memory, processing speed, memory, language, visual-spatial, executive functioning, motor, and emotional functioning. The sample was mostly white (89.8%), female (83.7%), and never hospitalized (69.4%) for COVID-19. RESULTS: Analyses indicated no mean scores in the Impaired range (>2 standard deviations [SD] below normative mean) on objective cognitive testing and a low base rate of Impaired test scores. Higher (>20%) base rates of Borderline performance (1-2 SDs below normative mean) were found on some measures. There was also evidence for frequently elevated mean scores on mood measures which correlated with some cognitive measures and the number of Borderline scores per participants. CONCLUSIONS: The results were noteworthy for infrequent Impaired scores, and significant correlations between cognition and mood/anxiety measures, but not between cognitive performance and premorbid vascular risk factors, psychiatric diagnoses, or COVID-19 disease severity. Results suggest that psychological distress was prominent in PASC and related to objective cognitive performance, but objective cognitive performance was unrelated to cognitive complaints. Other contributing factors may include fatigue/sleep issues. Neurologically based cognitive deficits were not suggested by the results.