ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The ever-increasing spread of Internet-based systems for common mental disorders has generated the need for brief online screening methods. This study aims to test the psychometric properties of the Web Screening Questionnaire (WSQ) to examine its suitability for screening for common mental health problems among a community sample of Italian adults. METHODS: A total of 1282 subjects (F = 819; mean age = 42.05) answered the WSQ. Its discriminant characteristics were examined with other validated selected scales for measuring mental health widely used in the Italian population using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC), as well as positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV). RESULTS: Most of the WSQ subscales exhibited moderate to high specificity values. Specifically, the scales of 'agoraphobia' (0.947; 95%CI [0.934, 0.960]), 'anxiety' (0.959; 95%CI [0.946, 0.970]), and 'panic disorder' (0.973; 95%CI [0.964, 0.981]) showed the highest values whilst the 'obsessive-compulsive' dimension had the lowest value at 0.838, 95%CI [0.815, 0.861]. With exceptions observed for 'depression' (0.716; 95%CI [642, 798]) and 'alcohol abuse' (0.760; 95%CI [560, 920]), instead, the WSQ demonstrated critical sensitivity values (<0.6) in all dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The WSQ was appropriate for discriminating between people with and without a psychiatric condition, as it helps to confirm the absence of disorders. However, further diagnostic procedures are required, in case of a positive WSQ screening result.
ABSTRACT
(1) Background: Spatial cognition (SC) is one of the earliest cognitive domains to be impaired in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD), resulting in spatial disorientation and becoming lost even in familiar surroundings as later dementia symptoms. To date, few studies have identified initial alterations of spatial navigation (SN) in the premorbid AD phase by real-world paradigms, and none have adopted an innovative technological apparatus to better detect gait alterations as well as physiological aspects correlated to spatial disorientation (SD). The present study aimed at exploring initial SN defects in patients with prodromal AD via a naturalistic task by using a sensory garment. (2) Methods: 20 community-dwelling patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to AD and 20 age/education controls were assessed on their sequential egocentric and allocentric navigation abilities by using a modified version of the Detour Navigation Test (DNT-mv). (3) Results: When compared to controls, patients with MCI due to AD exhibited higher wrong turns (WT) and moments of hesitation (MsH) in the DNT-mv, reflecting difficulties both in sequential egocentric and allocentric navigation, depending on hippocampal deterioration. Moreover, they reported more complaints about their SN competencies and lower long-term visuospatial memory abilities than controls. Remarkably, WTs and MsH manifested in the allocentric naturalistic task of the DNT-mv were associated with autonomic nervous system alteration pertaining to cardiac functioning in the whole sample. (4) Conclusions: Naturalistic navigation tests of hippocampal function using a continuous non-invasive monitoring device can provide early markers of spatial disorientation in patients with MCI due to AD. Future studies should develop cognitive remediation techniques able to enhance SC residual abilities in patients at high risk of conversion into dementia and ecological paradigms to be replicated on a large scale.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) for anorexia nervosa (AN) is an intervention specifically focused on addressing cognitive difficulties associated with the eating disorder. This systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis aimed to provide a summary of the existing literature examining the efficacy of CRT in improving the neuropsychological, psychological, and clinical parameters of patients with AN. METHODS: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were sought in electronic databases, encompassing studies that explored the impact of CRT on AN. Three eligible reviews were identified based on the inclusion criteria. The Revised Assessment of Multiple SysTemAtic Reviews (R-AMSTAR) was employed to evaluate the methodological quality of the reviews, and all included reviews demonstrated satisfactory methodological quality with an R-AMSTAR score of ≥22. Relevant information was extracted from each review and qualitatively compiled. RESULTS: Findings suggest that CRT can help people increase their awareness of cognitive styles and information processing and have a positive effect on patients' responses to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is required to better understand its impact on other relevant outcomes, including psychological variables, to optimize the treatment's benefits.
ABSTRACT
Background: Providing informal care can be experienced as stressful and lead to caregiver burden. Internet-based interventions, a specific form of eHealth, have proven to be a good option to support informal caregivers. SOSteniamoci, an internet-based intervention already tested in Lithuania, was translated and adapted for Italian caregivers. Objective: As many novel eHealth solutions have been rejected by end-users due to usability problems, we aimed to evaluate the usability of the adapted platform, using a computer-based prototype. Methods: The following methods and metrics were applied: 1. task analysis, using audio and video recordings that included three usability metrics: task completion rate, frequency of errors, and frequency of help requests; 2. the system usability scale (SUS); and 3. a semi-structured interview to collect additional data about the system's design and overall satisfaction. Results: Ten informal caregivers (60% female; age M = 47.8, SD = 15.21) provided insights and suggestions for increasing the usability of the platform. The platform was considered satisfactory, with a mean score on the SUS of 75 (SD = 13.07) out of 100. The task analysis measurements highlighted difficulties in how to log in to the platform, understanding what the intervention is about, and texting the therapist. The same difficulties were also mentioned during the post-experience interview. Thus, improvements were subsequently made to enhance users' experience when navigating the platform. Finally, the platform overall was found to be intuitive and friendly, and the contents were appreciated. Conclusion: To maintain participants' engagement and prevent drop-out, it is crucial to test the usability of internet-based interventions. Even though the platform proved to be user-friendly, intuitive and easy to use, several enhancements were implemented based on participants' feedback. Thus, the usability of internet-based interventions should be tested, and end-users must be involved in the development process of such solutions.
