Older adults' memory for medical information, effect of number and mode of presentation: An experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze different ways of presenting medical information to older adults, tailoring the information and its presentation to the characteristics of memory function in old age. METHODS: Experimental study. We took into account the following variables: amount of information, type of information and mode of presentation, and time delay. RESULTS: The greater the number of recommendations, the lower the recall; visual presentation does not enhance verbal presentation; lifestyle information is recalled better than medication information; after ten minutes the percentage of memory decreases significantly; the first and last recommendations are better remembered. CONCLUSION: As a whole, these findings show that older adults remember more medical information when very few recommendations are provided in each session. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is inadvisable to overload older adults with a large amount of information: It is better to program more consultations and provide less information.

Medication and creativity in Attention Defi cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) / Medicación y creatividad en el trastorno por Défi cit de Atención con Hiperactividad (TDAH)

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of methylphenidate (MPH) on creative potential in a group of children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD). METHOD: A randomized single blind crossover study was performed with 24 children with ADHD, aged between 18 and 96 (M = 10.0, SD = 1.3), evaluating each child's creativity with and without MPH, using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking-Figural (TTCT). RESULTS: Children under treatment with MPH showed a lower global Creative Index and lower scores on Fluency, Originality and Creative Strengths, compared to when not under treatment. The capacities for Elaboration, Abstractness of Titles, and Resistance to Closure did not differ whether on or off pharmacological treatment. CONCLUSION: Our finding suggests that is important to take into account the impact that MPH might have on the creative potential of a child with ADHD to develop a more accurate evaluation and to develop better treatment plans

ANTECEDENTES: el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el efecto del metilfenidato (MPH) en el potencial creativo de un grupo de niños con trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH). MÉTODO: se llevó a cabo un estudio cruzado aleatorizado, simple ciego, en 24 niños con TDAH, con edades comprendidas entre 8 y 12 años (M = 10.0, SD = 1.3), evaluando la creatividad de cada niño con y sin MPH, a través de test de Torrance sobre Pensamiento Creativo, Figurativo (TTCT). RESULTADOS: los niños en tratamiento con MPH mostraban un Índice Global Creativo inferior, y puntuaciones más bajas en Fluidez, Originalidad y Fuerzas Creativas, comparados con los que no estaban bajo tratamiento. Las capacidades para la Elaboración, Abstracción de Títulos y Resistencia al Cierre no mostraron diferencias entre los grupos dentro o fuera de tratamiento farmacológico. CONCLUSIONES: nuestros resultados sugieren que es importante tener en cuenta el impacto que el metilfenidato podría tener en el potencial creativo de un niño con TDAH para poder realizar una evaluación más correcta y para poder desarrollar estrategias de tratamiento más eficaces

El reconocimiento de emociones en caras como indicador de depresión subclínica en jóvenes y ancianos: Un estudio preliminar / Emotion recognition in faces as an indicator of subclinical depression in young and elderly people: A preliminary study

El reconocimiento de emociones en las caras desempeña un papel muy importante en la comunicación humana y en la interacción social. Este trabajo pretende estudiar si es posible detectar a través del reconocimiento de emociones en caras los síntomas de depresión, y si esa posibilidad es idéntica en jóvenes y en ancianos. Para ello se evaluó a dos grupos de participantes, uno con síntomas subclínicos de depresión y otro control, utilizando la tarea de reconocimiento de emociones en caras del MSCEIT. El principal hallazgo de este trabajo es que el reconocimiento de una emoción positiva en una cara neutra está relacionado con el nivel de sintomatología depresiva, sobre todo en el grupo de personas mayores de 60 años. Estos resultados van en la línea del “efecto de congruencia del afecto” pues los participantes del grupo de síntomas bajos de depresión valoran más positivamente una cara neutra, al menos en lo que al entusiasmo se refiere. En resumen, este estudio pre-liminar aporta datos de cómo el reconocimiento de emociones en caras puede ser un indicador de la depresión subclínica, sobre todo en personas mayores

Facial emotion recognition plays an important role in human communication and social interaction. This study aims to analyze the possibility of detecting depressive symptoms through facial recognition of emotions and if this possibility is similar in young and elderly people. Two groups of participants were assessed: one with subclinical symptoms of depression, and the control group. The MSCEIT facial emotion recognition task was ad-ministered to both groups. The main result is that there is an association between the recognition of a positive emotion in a neutral face and the level of depressive symptomatology, especially for people over 60 years old. This result is consistent with the mood congruent effect: participants with few depressive symptoms evaluate a neutral face in a more positive way, at least in terms of enthusiasm. In summary, this preliminary study provides data on how facial emotion recognition could be an indicator of subclinical depression, especially in the elderly

Calidad de vida del varón con lesión medular traumática y disfunción sexual / Quality of life of males with spinal cord injury and sexual dysfunction

Objetivos Valorar la calidad de vida (CDV) del varón con lesión medular (LM). Conocer el estado de salud sexual del varón con LM. Analizar la relación de las variables clínicas, sociodemográficas y estado de salud sexual del varón con LM con la CDV. Método Se trata de un estudio observacional y transversal, realizado en el Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos de Toledo con 45 varones con LM y disfunción sexual. Para la recogida de datos se utilizaron la escala de satisfacción con la Vida (LISAT-8) y la escala de valoración de la salud sexual. Resultados El 97,8% de los participantes del estudio tienen interés para mantener relaciones sexuales; el 70% tiene pareja sexual estable; el 51% mantiene relaciones sexuales con regularidad. El 86% de la muestra refiere tener disfunción eréctil (DE) y el 71% an aeyaculación. El grupo que tiene DE puntúa significativamente menos en CDV sexual (p-valor t de Student 0,000) y en CDV general (p-valor t de Student 0,001). La muestra obtuvo en CDV general una media de 34,27 (DT: 2,8), en CDV social 20,16 (DT: 2,7), en CDV sexual 7,62 (DT: 2,7) y en CDV económica 7,71 (DT: 2,6). No existe relación significativa entre la CDV y la etiología, el grado, el tiempo de la LM. Conclusiones Los participantes perciben una CDV general buena, siendo la vida sexual el aspecto con el que refieren estar menos satisfechos. De hecho los que tienen disfunción eréctil están menos satisfechos en su vida general y en su vida sexual (AU)

Aims: the aims of this study are to assess the quality of life (QOL) of males with spinal cordinjury (SCI) and to know their sexual health. We also analyze the links among clinic and sociodemographic variables, the sexual health of males with SCI and their QOL. Method: This is a transversal cross-sectional study that was made in the hospital of Paraplegics of Toledo. The sample included 45 men presenting SCI and sexual dysfunction. Life Satisfaction Checklist and Sexual Health Measurement Scale were used to gather data. Results: The 97, 8% of all participants are interested in having sexual relationships; the 70% of all participants have a steady sexual couple while the 51% often maintain sexual relations. The 86% of the sample admit to suffer from erectile dysfunction and the 71% can’t ejaculate. The score of the group which has erectile dysfunction are significantly low in sexual QOL(p t-Student 0.000) and in general QOL (p t-Student 0.001).The sample had an average in general QOL of 34,27 (standard deviation: 2,8), in social QOL20,16 (SD:2,7), in sexual QOL 7,62 (SD:2,7) and in economic QOL 7,71 (SD:2,6). There isn’t a signifi cant relationship among the QOL and the etiology, the degree and the time of evolution of the SCI. Conclusions: The individuals who have participated in this study generally experienced a good general QOL, but their sexual life is the aspect which causes them a greater dissatisfaction. Infact, those who suffer from erectile dysfunction show less satisfaction with their general and sexual QOL (AU)

[Quality of life of males with spinal cord injury and sexual dysfunction]. / Calidad de vida del varón con lesión medular traumática y disfunción sexual.

AIMS: the aims of this study are to assess the quality of life (QOL) of males with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to know their sexual health. We also analyze the links among clinic and sociodemographic variables, the sexual health of males with SCI and their QOL. METHOD: This is a transversal cross-sectional study that was made in the hospital of Paraplegics of Toledo. The sample included 45 men presenting SCI and sexual dysfunction. Life Satisfaction Checklist and Sexual Health Measurement Scale were used to gather data. RESULTS: The 97, 8% of all participants are interested in having sexual relationships; the 70% of all participants have a steady sexual couple while the 51% often maintain sexual relations. The 86% of the sample admit to suffer from erectile dysfunction and the 71% can't ejaculate. The score of the group which has erectile dysfunction are significantly low in sexual QOL (p t-Student 0.000) and in general QOL (p t-Student 0.001). The sample had an average in general QOL of 34,27 (standard deviation: 2,8), in social QOL 20,16 (SD:2,7), in sexual QOL 7,62 (SD:2,7) and in economic QOL 7,71 (SD:2,6). There isn't a significant relationship among the QOL and the etiology, the degree and the time of evolution of the SCI. CONCLUSIONS: The individuals who have participated in this study generally experienced a good general QOL, but their sexual life is the aspect which causes them a greater dissatisfaction. In fact, those who suffer from erectile dysfunction show less satisfaction with their general and sexual QOL.

Life review therapy using autobiographical retrieval practice for older adults with clinical depression / Terapia de revisión de vida mediante la recuperación de recuerdos autobiográficos en adultos mayores con depresión clínica

The aim of this experiment was to examine the efficacy of life review based on autobiographical retrieval practice for treating depression in older adults. Thirty-seven clinically depressed older adults aged 64-83, who were also receiving pharmacological treatment, were randomly assigned to life review therapy or to a placebo condition with supportive therapy. Results indicated decreased depression for both conditions, with no significant differences between the two therapies. There was some indication of greater gain in production of specific memories among those in life review therapy. Patients who produced higher numbers of specific memories decreased their depression scores at a faster rate (AU)

El objetivo de este experimento era examinar la eficacia de la revisión de vida basada en la práctica del recuerdo autobiográfico para el tratamiento de la depresión en adultos mayores. Treinta y siete adultos mayores con depresión clínica de edad comprendida entre 64-83, quienes también estaban recibiendo tratamiento farmacológico, fueron aleatoriamente asignados a terapia de revisión de vida o a una condición placebo de terapia de apoyo. Los resultados indican una disminución de la depresión en ambas condiciones, sin diferencias significativas entre las dos terapias. Aparecen indicadores de un mayor aumento en la producción de recuerdos específicos de aquellos que realizaron la terapia de revisión de vida. Los pacientes que muestran un mayor número de recuerdos específicos disminuyen más las puntuaciones en depresión (AU)

Life review therapy using autobiographical retrieval practice for older adults with clinical depression.

The aim of this experiment was to examine the efficacy of life review based on autobiographical retrieval practice for treating depression in older adults. Thirty-seven clinically depressed older adults aged 64-83, who were also receiving pharmacological treatment, were randomly assigned to life review therapy or to a placebo condition with supportive therapy. Results indicated decreased depression for both conditions, with no significant differences between the two therapies. There was some indication of greater gain in production of specific memories among those in life review therapy. Patients who produced higher numbers of specific memories decreased their depression scores at a faster rate.