Fitts' Tapping Task as a New Test for Cognition and Manual Dexterity in Multiple Sclerosis: Validation Study.

Introduction. Studies suggest that people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience continuous and subclinical physical worsening, even as early as their disease diagnosis. Validating sensitive and reproducible tests that can capture subclinical disease activity early in the disease are clinically useful and highly warranted. We aimed at validating the utility of Fitts' Tapping Task (FTT) as reproducible measure of psychomotor performance in pwMS. Materials and Methods. Thirty newly-diagnosed pwMS (within 2 years of diagnosis and Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS ≤ 2.0), 30 people with migraine (pwMig), and 30 healthy controls (HCs) underwent a psychomotor assessment using the FTT, O'Connor hand dexterity test, and Visual Reaction Time Test (VRTT). Hand strength was measured using a hand-grip dynamometer. Subjects also provided patient-reported outcomes (PROs) using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Intrarater and interrater reproducibility was acquired on 5 HCs by two independent operators. Test−retest reproducibility was determined in 5 pwMS over a 1-week follow-up. Eight pwMS returned for the same test procedures 2 years after the baseline assessment. Bland−Altman plots were used to determine the minimally detectable change (MDC) and logistic regression models determined the ability to differentiate between newly-diagnosed pwMS and HCs. Results. FTT exhibited a high intrarater and interrater reproducibility (interclass correlation coefficient of 0.961, p < 0.001). The test−retest demonstrated an MDC of the average FTT at > 15%. PwMS had significantly a slower FTT time and O'Connor dexterity time when compared to pwMig and HCs (p < 0.001 for both). Higher Fitts' difficulty levels (4th and 6th difficulty) and average performance on the O'Connor test were able to differentiate newly-diagnosed pwMS from HCs with 80% accuracy (p < 0.01). Slower FTT performance was correlated with worse PROs due to physical health. Over the 2-year follow-up, and despite being clinically stable (no change in EDSS), 6 out of 8 (75%) pwMS had more than a 15% worsening in their average FTT time. Conclusions. FTT is a highly-reproducible test for measuring psychomotor performance in newly-diagnosed pwMS. FTT can capture insidious worsening in psychomotor performance and cognitive function in early stages of MS.

Psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12).

PURPOSE: Walking difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are one of the most pronounced predictors affecting patients' quality of life. The study objective was to determine the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) among pwMS in Croatia and to examine the association between MSWS-12 and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included a sample of pwMS (N = 148). Psychometric properties were examined by estimating the validity and reliability of the MSWS-12. The predictive validity of MSWS-12 and demographic and disease-related factors were assessed by a hierarchical regression model using MSIS-29 and DASS-21 as criterion variables. RESULTS: Scale reliability was good for the MSWS-12 scale, expressed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.98). Correlations between MSWS-12 and DASS-21 (0.20-0.27) and between MSWS-12 and MSIS-29 subscales (0.47-0.83) provided initial support for the convergent validity. Factor analysis demonstrated the unidimensional structure of the MSWS-12. CONCLUSIONS: The Croatian version of the MSWS-12 is a reliable, valid, and clinically useful tool for assessing walking impairments in pwMS.Implications for rehabilitationWalking difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are one of the most pronounced predictors affecting patients' quality of life.Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) is a measure of the disease's impact on walking abilities from the patient's perspective.MSWS-12 is a reliable scale for assessing walking speed, endurance, and gait quality in multiple sclerosis and is validated in several languages (Korean, Italian, Brazilian, and Persian).The Croatian version of the MSWS-12 is a reliable, predictive, and valid tool for screening walking impairments in pwMS.

Verbal and spatial functions during different phases of the menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that high levels of sex hormones improve the efficiency in tasks which are usually better performed by females. In contrast, in tasks which are usually better performed by males, the best efficiency corresponds to low levels of sex hormones. The aim of this study was to examine changes of efficiency in tasks of verbal fluency and mental rotations, as well as changes in masculinity and femininity during the menstrual cycle. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen female subjects with a regular menstrual cycle took part in the study. For assesssments of masculinity and femininity, the subjects filled the Bem's Sex Roles Inventory. Endler's Anxiety Scale was used for determining the autonomic-emotional and cognitive-worry components of anxiety. Subjects performed the verbal fluency task and mental rotations tasks during the menstrual and the early follicular phase, as well as during the pre-ovulation and the midluteal phase. RESULTS: The results showed the best performance in mental rotation tasks which included rotations of three-dimensional objects along x and y axis during the phases of menstrual cycle, which are characterized by a low level of sex hormones. The most pronounced during these phases was also the masculinity. Furthermore, the best performance in verbal fluency task occurred during the menstrual and midluteal phase. Anxiety and femininity did not change across the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: Low levels of sex hormones potentiated the typical male cognitive profile.

Differences in the recognition of sadness, anger, and fear in facial expressions: the role of the observer and model gender.

This study investigated gender differences in the accuracy and speed of recognition of facial expressions of sadness, anger, and fear in male and female models showing these emotions. According to the fitness threat hypothesis, females should be faster and more accurate in recognising emotional facial expressions of fear and sadness, whereas males should be faster and more accurate in recognising anger. According to the evolutionary opponent's emotion recognition, male observers should be more efficient in recognising emotions presented by male models, and female observers in recognising emotions presented by female models. The facial expression recognition task included 210 colour images from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces (KDEF) database. The sample consisted of university students (29 male and 29 female). Testing was conducted individually, and efficiency measured with accuracy and speed of recognition (reaction time). The results showed that females were faster than males in recognizing all three facial expressions. They were also more accurate in recognizing fear, whereas there were no gender differences in accurate recognition of sadness and anger. No significant interactions were found between model and observer gender on either measure (accuracy and speed of recognition). However, all three emotional expressions were recognised more accurately, but not faster, when the model was female. The gender-specific pattern in facial expression recognition found in this study does not completely corroborate the fitness threat hypothesis.

Psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 and multiple sclerosis impact scale-29 in multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical disabilities are a common complaint in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and monitoring of these symptoms are based on self-report questionnaires. The objective of this study was to determine psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29) in people with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included data on 163 people with MS registered in the Association of multiple sclerosis societies of Croatia (AMSSC). Patients' demographic information, education level, and disease-related variables were ascertained. DASS-21 was applied for assessing depression, anxiety, and stress, while MSIS-29 scale was used for assessment of the physical and psychological impact of MS disease. Psychometric properties were examined by estimating the validity and reliability of the DASS-21 and MSIS-29 scale. Predictive validity of DASS-21 subscales and relevant demographic and disease-related variables was examined by the hierarchical regression model. RESULTS: The Croatian version of the three DASS-21 subscales and two MSIS-29 subscales had excellent internal consistencies (Cronbach's alpha coefficients 0.88-0.93) and good convergent validity, as expressed by inter-correlations between DASS-21 and MSIS-29 subscales. Hierarchical regression analysis using MSIS-29 subscales as criterion variables showed consistent evidence for the predictive validity of depression, anxiety, and stress on psychological impact, and predictive validity of age, EDSS, and anxiety on physical impact. CONCLUSIONS: The Croatian versions of DASS-21 and MSIS-29 are reliable and valid scales in people with MS.

Multi-type childhood abuse, strategies of coping, and psychological adaptations in young adults.

AIM: To retrospectively analyze the rate of multi-type abuse in childhood and the effects of childhood abuse and type of coping strategies on the psychological adaptation of young adults in a sample form the student population of the University of Mostar. METHODS: The study was conducted on a convenience sample of 233 students from the University of Mostar (196 female and 37 male), with a median age of 20 (interquartile range, 2). Exposure to abuse was determined using the Child Maltreatment Scales for Adults, which assesses emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, and witnessing family violence. Psychological adaptation was explored by the Trauma Symptom Checklist, which assesses anxiety/depression, sexual problems, trauma symptoms, and somatic symptoms. Strategies of coping with stress were explored by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. RESULTS: Multi-type abuse in childhood was experienced by 172 participants (74%) and all types of abuse by 11 (5%) participants. Emotional and physical maltreatment were the most frequent types of abuse and mostly occurred together with other types of abuse. Significant association was found between all types of abuse (r=0.436-0.778, P<0.050). Exposure to sexual abuse in childhood and coping strategies were significant predictors of anxiety/depression (R(2)=0.3553), traumatic symptoms (R(2)=0.2299), somatic symptoms (R(2)=0.2173), and sexual problems (R(2)=0.1550, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Exposure to multi-type abuse in childhood is a traumatic experience with long-term negative effects. Problem-oriented coping strategies ensure a better psychosocial adaptation than emotion-oriented strategies.

[Changes in the activity of sympathetic-adrenal medullary system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in humans exposed to psychogenic stressors and their effects on immunoreactivity]. / Promjene aktivnosti sustava simpatikus-srz nadbubrezne zlijezde i sustava hipotalamus-hipofiza-nadbubrezna zlijezda u ljudi izlozenih psihogenim stresorima i utjecaj na imunoreaktivnost.

This paper gives an account of the functioning of the two systems in different stress induced situations. The activation of the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system is accompanied by the release of catecholamines, while the increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system results in the increased release of corticosteroids, especially cortisol. The role of the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system was investigated in immunologic changes induced by laboratory stressors. In the real, as in laboratory conditions, the effects of different stressors on the level of cortisol were studied, as it is the final product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system activity. Additional (negative) effects on the functioning of these systems could induce some variables, as an increased consumption of alcohol, smoking, and sleeping disorder. Furthermore, the methodological shortcomings and the selection of subjects in previous studies are discussed. Previous results are also discussed, such as the immunosuppressive effects of cortisol, as well as the mediator and moderator variables in relation to stress and immunoreactivity.

Impulsivity and Empathy in Dating Violence among a Sample of College Females.

The predictive factors of violence between married couples or adolescents are well-known. However, less is known about the factors relating to intimate violence among college students. This study examined sociodemographic variables (age, duration of relationship, and relationship satisfaction), impulsivity, and empathy as predictors of dating violence, using data from 474 female college students from the University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sample completed online the Conflict Tactics Scale 2 Short Form, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Short Impulsive Behavior Scale. The results indicated a higher prevalence of victimization than perpetration for psychological aggression. The obtained data showed that younger women and those in longer relationships, as well as those unsatisfied with their relationship, are more prone to experience psychological victimization or perpetration. Relationship satisfaction was also shown to be a predictor of physical perpetration causing injury. Impulsivity facets were found to have a differential weight in explaining dating violence. Empathy was shown to be a significant predictor of dating victimization, specifically "perspective taking" for psychological victimization and empathic concern for sexual victimization. These results suggest the need to develop specific interventions and prevention programs focused on relationship satisfaction, impulsivity, and empathy.

[Influence of some sociodemographic variables on incidence of negative behaviour in nurses' and medical assistants' work environment]. / Utjecaj nekih sociodemografskih varijabla na pojavnost negativnih oblika ponasanja u radnom okruzju medicinskih sestara i tehnicara.

The aim of this research was to investigate if there are differences in experiencing negative behaviour in nurses and medical assistants of different sociodemographic status. 1354 nurses and medical assistants participated in this research. For the purpose of the research a questionnaire was made, the first part of which consisted of questions referring to sociodemographic variables, whereas the second part consisted of claims describing negative behaviours. The results of the research imply that nurses and medical assistants indicate that the most frequent forms of negative behaviour are: disparage, yelling, insulting, ignoring one's opinion and attitudes, making some members of the team privileged, commenting one's personal life, not securing replacement for absent workers and negative attitude towards their work. Nurses more frequently than their colleagues experienced the ignoring of their opinion and attitudes. Marital status had influence on the experiencing of one aspect (commenting one's personal life). The examinees aged 31-50 years, and with the work duration of 11-30 years, more frequently experienced yelling, insulting, commenting one's personal life, and also making some members of a team in their work environment privileged.

Moral reasoning and its correlates in job applicants.

The aim of this study was to verify the applicability of the Test of Moral Reasoning (TMR) in the selection of job applicants and to see how it correlated with education, intelligence, and the "big five" personality traits. The study included 210 participants (132 women and 78 men) who applied for various positions in the banking sector. Our findings have confirmed the applicability of TMR for recruitment because they showed that TMR did not allow the candidates to fake their responses. Furthermore, they have confirmed Kohlberg's views that general intelligence and education are the main determinants of moral development (positive correlation), whereas tendency towards socially desirable responding showed a negative correlation.

The Effects of Maltreatment in Childhood on Working Memory Capacity in Adulthood.

The aim of this study was to research the relation between exposure to maltreatment in childhood and working memory capacity in adulthood. A survey among 376 females in the age between 16 and 67 was administered. Exposure to maltreatment in childhood (sexual, physical and psychological abuse, neglect and witnessing family violence) was assessed retrospectively using the Child Maltreatment Questionnaire (Karlovic, Buljan-Flander, & Vranic, 2001), whilst the Working Memory Questionnaire (Vallat-Azouvi, Pradat-Diehl, & Azouvi, 2012) was used to assess working memory capacity (recalling verbal information, numerical information, attention ability and executive functioning). The results suggest a significantly greater prevalence of physical abuse and witnessing family violence in comparison to other forms of maltreatment in childhood. Psychological abuse and witnessing family violence have shown themselves to be statistically significant predictors for deficits in total working memory capacity, verbal recall and attention ability. The results suggest that traumatic experiences during childhood, such as abuse, may trigger particular cognitive changes which may be reflected in adulthood. It is, therefore, exceedingly important to conduct further research in order to contribute to the understanding of the correlation between cognitive difficulties and maltreatment in childhood.

[Evaluation of examination stress based on the changes of sinus arrhythmia parameters]. / Evaluacija ispitnog stresa na osnovi promjena parametara sinus aritmije.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess changes during the pre-examination, examination and postexamination period investigation in the sinus arrhythmia parameters. EXAMINEES AND METHODS: Twelve female subjects, first year students of Psychology, matched by age and previous experience in taking exams, participated in the study. The state of anxiety, high activation and exam apprehension were assessed. The R-R cardiac intervals were continuously recorded by an eight-channel polygraph (Powerlab). The measurements were made four times in the pre-examination period (days-20, -10, -1 and immediately before the exam), and on two occasions after the exam (days 1 and 10 days of the exam). The recording of R-R intervals also began five minutes before the exam and continued during the exam and five minutes after the exam. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The level of anxiety, exam apprehension and high activation changed in a similar way, showing almost linear increase with the approaching of the exam. The changes of R-R interval parameters showed that stress was highest during the exam. The measurements and analysis of results showed a decrease of stress in the postexamination period.

Changes in basal body temperature and simple reaction times during the menstrual cycle.

Previous studies have shown cyclic changes in the activation levels and performance of different tasks throughout the menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to examine if changes in the reaction time to both light and sound stimuli may be associated with basal body temperature changes and subjective assessments of General and High Activation during the different phases of a menstrual cycle characterized by high (preovulatory and midluteal phase) and low (menstrual and early follicular phase) levels of oestrogen and progesterone. The study included measurements of basal body temperature, simple reaction times to light and sound and self-assessment of General and High Activation during the menstrual, early follicular, late follicular and luteal phase. The sample consisted of 19 female subjects with regular menstrual cycles. The results obtained in this study indicate lower basal body temperature values during phases with low sex hormone levels, while the activation assessments suggest stable levels of both General and High Activation throughout the menstrual cycle. Similar patterns of change have been shown for reaction times in visual and auditory sensory modalities. Reaction times were shorter during phases characterized by high sex hormone levels, while phases with low hormone levels were associated with longer reaction times. From the modified text on correlations in the data analysis section, it is evident that they were calculated from averaged data from all phases of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, they do not reflect intraindividual but rather interindividual variations between the observed variables, and are not related to the hypotheses of this paper.

Performance of fine motor and spatial tasks during the menstrual cycle.

Various studies have shown fluctuations in task performance during the menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to see the effects of the menstrual cycle on performing fine motor and spatial tasks of different level of complexity in twenty students aged 18 to 21 years, with regular menstrual cycle (28 to 30 days). The students performed O'Connor Finger Dexterity Test and mental rotation test during the menstrual, late follicular, and midluteal phase. Before the tests were performed, we administered Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for each phase. After the tasks were completed, the subjects ranked their difficulty on Borg's scale.The results showed the best performance in both tests in the midluteal phase (with sex hormones at their peak). The anxiety level and task difficulty ranking were the highest in the menstrual phase, when the hormone levels were the lowest.

[Sex hormones and cognitive functioning of women]. / Spolni hormoni i kognitivnofunkcioniranje zena.

This paper discusses the organisational and activational effects of sex hormones, and their influence on cognitive functioning. Previous studies have shown gender differences in specific cognitive abilities. Women generally show an advantage in verbal fluency, perceptual speed and accuracy, as well as in fine motor skills, while men generally show an advantage in spatial and mathematical abilities. These differences in cognitive functioning are thought to occur as a result of foetal brain exposure to different levels of sex hormones during prenatal life. Additional evidence of organisational effects of sex hormones on cognitive functioning also comes from studies of subjects with genetic disorders, such as androgen insensitivity syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and Tyrner syndrome.Furthermore, former investigations have shown that increase in female sex hormone in the late follicular and/or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle intensifies the typical female cognitive pattern of functioning with improved efficiency in tasks which are usually better performed by women. At the same time, low levels of such hormones that characterise the menstrual phase of the cycle intensify the typical male cognitive pattern of functioning with better efficiency in tasks which usually better performed by men.This paper also points to methodological differences between investigations of organizational and activational effects of sex hormones on cognitive functioning, as well a to the direction of future investigations.