Efecto de la intervención de estimulación cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve / Effect of long-term individual cognitive stimulation intervention for people with mild neurocognitive disorder

Introducción: La estimulación cognitiva puede ser beneficiosa para ralentizar la progresión del trastorno neurocognitivo (TNC) leve, pero los resultados de las investigaciones existentes son inconsistentes. Además, no existen intervenciones a largo plazo ni intervenciones individuales (uno a uno) aplicadas por profesionales. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de una intervención de estimulación cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con TNC leve. Pacientes y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un diseño pretest-postest con un grupo control no equivalente. Un total de 82 participantes con TNC leve fueron asignados a un grupo de intervención de estimulación cognitiva o a un grupo control. La intervención consistió en 88 sesiones de formato individual de aproximadamente 45 minutos, dos veces por semana. Evaluadores independientes evaluaron la cognición, la sintomatología depresiva y el nivel de autonomía en las actividades de la vida diaria en la preintervención (línea base), la intraintervención (seis meses) y la postintervención (12 meses). Resultados: En la intra- y la postintervención, se encontró una mejora significativa en la cognición y la sintomatología depresiva en el grupo de intervención en comparación con el grupo control. Los participantes más jóvenes y los que tenían una mejor función y estado cognitivo en la preintervención obtuvieron mejores resultados. La adhesión a la intervención fue alta. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren la eficacia de una intervención cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con TNC leve, que podría retrasar la progresión hacia un TNC mayor.(AU)

Introduction: Cognitive stimulation may be beneficial in slowing the progression of mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD), but the results of existing research are inconsistent. Furthermore, there are no long-term interventions nor individual (one-on-one) interventions applied by professionals. Objetive: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a long-term individual cognitive stimulation intervention on people with mild NCD. Patients and methods: A pre-post test design with a non-equivalent control group was conducted. A total of 82 participants with mild NCD were assigned to a cognitive stimulation intervention group or to a control group. The intervention consisted of 88 individual format sessions of approximately 45 minutes, twice per week. Independent evaluators assessed cognition, depressive symptomatology and autonomy level in activities of daily living at pre-intervention, intra-intervention (6 months) and post-intervention (12 months). Results: At intra- and post-intervention, significant improvement on cognition and depressive symptomatology in the intervention group compared to the control group were found. Younger participants and those with better cognitive function and status in pre-intervention achieved better results. Adherence to the intervention was high. Conclusions: Results suggest the efficacy of long-term individual cognitive intervention in people with mild NCD, which could delay the progression towards a major NCD.(AU)

Effect of long-term individual cognitive stimulation intervention for people with mild neurocognitive disorder. / Efecto de la intervención de estimulación cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive stimulation may be beneficial in slowing the progression of mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD), but the results of existing research are inconsistent. Furthermore, there are no long-term interventions nor individual (one-on-one) interventions applied by professionals. Objetive. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a long-term individual cognitive stimulation intervention on people with mild NCD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A pre-post test design with a non-equivalent control group was conducted. A total of 82 participants with mild NCD were assigned to a cognitive stimulation intervention group or to a control group. The intervention consisted of 88 individual format sessions of approximately 45 minutes, twice per week. Independent evaluators assessed cognition, depressive symptomatology and autonomy level in activities of daily living at pre-intervention, intra-intervention (6 months) and post-intervention (12 months). RESULTS: At intra- and post-intervention, significant improvement on cognition and depressive symptomatology in the intervention group compared to the control group were found. Younger participants and those with better cognitive function and status in pre-intervention achieved better results. Adherence to the intervention was high. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the efficacy of long-term individual cognitive intervention in people with mild NCD, which could delay the progression towards a major NCD.

TITLE: Efecto de la intervención de estimulación cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve.Introducción. La estimulación cognitiva puede ser beneficiosa para ralentizar la progresión del trastorno neurocognitivo (TNC) leve, pero los resultados de las investigaciones existentes son inconsistentes. Además, no existen intervenciones a largo plazo ni intervenciones individuales (uno a uno) aplicadas por profesionales. Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de una intervención de estimulación cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con TNC leve. Pacientes y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un diseño pretest-postest con un grupo control no equivalente. Un total de 82 participantes con TNC leve fueron asignados a un grupo de intervención de estimulación cognitiva o a un grupo control. La intervención consistió en 88 sesiones de formato individual de aproximadamente 45 minutos, dos veces por semana. Evaluadores independientes evaluaron la cognición, la sintomatología depresiva y el nivel de autonomía en las actividades de la vida diaria en la preintervención (línea base), la intraintervención (seis meses) y la postintervención (12 meses). Resultados. En la intra- y la postintervención, se encontró una mejora significativa en la cognición y la sintomatología depresiva en el grupo de intervención en comparación con el grupo control. Los participantes más jóvenes y los que tenían una mejor función y estado cognitivo en la preintervención obtuvieron mejores resultados. La adhesión a la intervención fue alta. Conclusiones. Los resultados sugieren la eficacia de una intervención cognitiva individual de larga duración para personas con TNC leve, que podría retrasar la progresión hacia un TNC mayor.

[Long-term individual cognitive stimulation program in patients with mild neurocognitive disorder: a pilot study]. / Programa de estimulacion cognitiva individual de larga duracion para personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve: estudio piloto.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence to suggest that cognitive stimulation produces cognitive benefits in people with mild neurocognitive disorder. However, the effect has been previously demonstrated to be minimal to moderate and the effect of long-term individual interventions, namely on specific cognitive domains, is unknown. AIM: To assess the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a long-term individual cognitive stimulation intervention for patients with mild neurocognitive disorder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 30) with mild neurocognitive disorder were assigned to a cognitive stimulation intervention group (n = 15) or to a control group (n = 15). The intervention consisted of 88 individual sessions, approximately 45 minutes long, with two sessions per week. External evaluators assessed the level of alteration in cognitive performance, depressive symptoms and the level of independence in the performance of basic activities of daily living. RESULTS: After the intervention, a significant improvement was found in the intervention group compared to the control group in overall cognitive performance (d = 0.83), specifically in the language domain (d until 1.50). There were also lower depressive symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group (d = 0.93). Only 6.7% of the participants dropped out the study, with participants attending a mean of 83 ± 12.1 sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention for mild neurocognitive disorder and justify a randomized controlled trial of the program with a larger sample.

TITLE: Programa de estimulacion cognitiva individual de larga duracion para personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve: estudio piloto.Introduccion. Existen evidencias que sugieren que la estimulacion cognitiva produce beneficios cognitivos en personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve. Sin embargo, el tamaño del efecto encontrado es de pequeño a moderado, y se desconoce el efecto de las intervenciones individuales de larga duracion y, mas concretamente, sobre dominios cognitivos especificos. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia, viabilidad y aceptabilidad de una intervencion de estimulacion cognitiva individual de larga duracion para personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve. Pacientes y metodos. Un total de 30 personas con trastorno neurocognitivo leve fueron asignadas a un grupo de intervencion de estimulacion cognitiva (n = 15) o a un grupo control (n = 15). La intervencion consistio en 88 sesiones individuales de unos 45 minutos, con una periodicidad de dos veces por semana. Evaluadores independientes valoraron el nivel de rendimiento cognitivo, los sintomas depresivos y el nivel de autonomia en la realizacion de actividades basicas de la vida diaria. Resultados. Tras la intervencion, se encontro una mejoria significativa en el grupo de intervencion en comparacion con el grupo control en el rendimiento cognitivo global (d = 0,83), concretamente en el dominio del lenguaje (d hasta 1,50), y una menor sintomatologia depresiva en el grupo de intervencion en comparacion con el control (d = 0,93). Solo un 6,7% de los participantes abandono el estudio, asistiendo a un promedio de 83 ± 12,1 sesiones. Conclusiones. Los resultados apoyan la eficacia, viabilidad y aceptabilidad de la intervencion, y justifican la realizacion de un ensayo controlado aleatorizado aplicado a una muestra mayor.

The performance of mobile screening units in a breast cancer screening program in Brazil.

PURPOSE: In Brazil, access to breast cancer screening outside of urban centers is limited. This study aims to describe the coverage and performance of a breast cancer screening program implemented with Mobile Screening Units (MSU) in northern São Paulo state. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of a population-based mammography program targeting women ages 40-69 in 108 municipalities from 12/2010 to 07/2015. Screening coverage rates were estimated using the Brazil 2010 census data. We calculated performance measures for the number of exams, recalls, and detected cases of cancer. Screen-detected cases were compared to clinically detected cases using hospital cancer registry data and a propensity-score matching method. The down-staging of screen-detected cases relative to clinically detected cases was assessed using logistic regression to calculate risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: 122,634 women were screened through the MSU program, representing a cumulative coverage rate of 54.8% in the target population. For initial and subsequent rounds, recall rates were 12.25 and 6.10% and cancer detection rates were 3.63 (95% CI 3.23-4.10) and 1.94 (95% CI 1.59-2.41), respectively. 92.51% of referrals were successful. Screen-detected cases had more favorable prognoses than clinically detected cases, including smaller tumor size and a decreased risk of late-stage detection (RR 0.14 95% CI 0.074-0.25). CONCLUSIONS: MSUs are a feasible method for the delivery of mammography services in this setting. Patients who had breast cancer detected on an MSU had favorable prognostic factors when compared with clinically detected cases arising from the same target population.

Long-term efficacy of indicated prevention of depression in non-professional caregivers: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although depression is a common problem among non-professional caregivers, only one trial has evaluated the efficacy of indicated prevention targeting this population and the long-term efficacy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a brief intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in a sample of female caregivers. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 173 participants (mean age 53.9 years) who were allocated to the intervention (n = 89) or the usual-care control group (n = 84). Blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The main outcome measure was the incidence of major depression and the secondary outcomes were compliance with treatment, depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, a lower incidence of depression as evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV was found in the intervention group compared with the control group (10.1% v. 25.0%). The relative risk was 0.40 and statistically significant [χ2 = 6.68, degrees of freedom = 1, p = 0.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.81], and the number needed to treat was 7 (95% CI 4-27). There was a significant delay in the onset of depression in the intervention group (p = 0.008). The good complier caregivers had a lower incidence of depression. The intervention effect on depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that a brief problem-solving intervention can prevent the onset of depression among non-professional caregivers over the longer term.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among preadolescent schoolchildren in Galicia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is rising rapidly in many countries. Preadolescents appear to be at particularly high risk. This study estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity in preadolescent schoolchildren in Galicia, Spain. METHODS: The heights and weights of a random sample of 2305 Galician schoolchildren aged 10-12 years were measured using calibrated standardized scales and measures. Overweight and obesity were identified using the criteria of the International Obesity Task Force. RESULTS: The prevalences of obesity and overweight were respectively 9.2% and 31.0% among boys, 8.6% and 28.8% among girls and 8.9% and 29.9% overall. Taking boys and girls together, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity fell significantly with increasing age. Overweight was more prevalent in rural than urban areas (30.7% vs. 28.4%), as also was obesity (9.8% vs. 7.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study evidences the emergence of the obesity epidemic among preadolescents in Galicia, especially in rural areas. Both overweight and obesity in this age group are more prevalent in Galicia than in other areas of Spain or most other Western nations.

Effectiveness of personalized written feedback through a mail intervention for smoking cessation: a randomized-controlled trial in Spanish smokers.

This study evaluated the effects of written feedback adapted to a self-help mail intervention. The efficacy of the standard mail intervention treatment was 37% at the end of treatment, 22% at the 3-month follow-up, 19% at the 6-month follow-up, and 13% at the 12-month follow-up. In contrast, the standard mail program combined with personalized written feedback resulted in an efficacy of 51% at the end of treatment, 37% at the 3-month follow-up, 32% at the 6-month follow-up, and 27% at the 12-month follow-up. Both groups were significantly different from the control group at the end of treatment (0%), at the 3-month follow-up (1%), and at the 6-month follow-up (1%). There was a significant reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked daily among continuing smokers under both experimental conditions. The authors conclude that written feedback substantially increases abstinence rates when it is applied following similar guidelines to those used in clinical settings.

Smoking cessation treatments in Spain. A thirty-year perspective: 1966-1996.

This paper examines the evolution of the scientific literature over the past thirty years (1966-1996) about smoking studies conducted in Spain and determines where the trend is leading. We utilized local (Indice Médico Español) and international databases (MedLine, PsycLit) to find papers related to the treatment of smoking in Spain from 1966 to 1996, including such approaches as medical advice, pharmacological, psychological, community, and combined approaches. The total number of articles about studies related to tobacco contained in the three databases in the 1966-1996 period was 1,026. The largest number of articles, a total of 455 (44.3%), was published between 1991 and 1996. Specifically, of the 125 articles about smoking cessation treatments, empirical studies constitute 48.8% (n = 61) of all the articles published. The results of the studies and the increasing number of publications indicate that in the present decade there has been intense interest from both health professionals and the Health Administration in promoting formal smoking treatment programs. Nevertheless, too few empirical studies about smoking cessation methods have been undertaken to date. It is still necessary to perform more studies with nicotine replacement therapy, behavior therapy, and combined therapy, as well as controlled studies of treating specific smoking populations, and community approaches.

Depression and smoking in a smoking cessation programme.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study has been to investigate the effect of depressive symptoms on the results of a smoking cessation programme. METHOD: 186 received a multicomponent behavioural programme. At 12-month follow-up 160 subjects were contacted. Depression symptoms pretreatment and at the 12-month follow-up were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al., 1979. Cognitive Therapy of Depression. Guilford Press, New York.). RESULTS: Smokers at 12-month follow-up had a mean score of 7.1 (S.D. = 5.8) and abstainers had a score of 5.2 (S.D. = 5.4). Depressive symptoms at 12 month follow-up were associated with smoking cessation at 12 month follow-up (t(1,158) = 1.98, P < 0.05), but depressive symptoms at baseline and smoking cessation end of treatment were not. LIMITATIONS: The most important limitation in study has been the size of the sample (particularly in abstainers). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Depressive symptoms have an influence on efficacy at the 12-month follow-up, but not at the end of treatment. It does not seem necessary, for the moment, to introduce specific interventions targeted at the modification of negative mood.

Self-reported smoking and measurement of expired air carbon monoxide in a clinical treatment.

In this study was evaluated the relationship between self-reported smoking rate and expired air carbon monoxide in 208 smokers who had attended a behavioral program for smoking cessation. A close relationship between carbon monoxide levels and self-reports was found at the end of treatment and in all follow-ups (6 and 12 mo.), around 100% concordance. Thus, support was found for the use of an expired air carbon monoxide measure as a valid and easy way of corroborating self-report data when required.

Smoking cessation and weight gain in smokers participating in a behavioral treatment at 3-year follow-up.

This study assessed the weight gain for the short- and long-term (36 mon. follow-up) in a sample of 158 smokers (71 men and 87 women), who participated in a multicomponent behavioral smoking-cessation program. Weight was evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire, with a over-all mean pretreatment weight of 65.3 Kg (SD = 12.6). All individuals tended to gain weight. Afterwards, the mean of nonquitters (n = 116) by 0.6 Kg. Among abstinent people no significant differences were found by sex at 36 mon. but significant mean difference were found in those subjects (quitters) older than 35 yr. who gained 4.1 Kg compared with 1.2 Kg in the group 35 yr or younger.

The course of relapse across 36 months for smokers from a smoking-cessation program.

The aim of this study is to examine relapse of 72 smokers who stopped smoking with a behavioral smoking cessation program and relapse in the period from the end-of-treatment to the 36-mo. follow-up. The relapse occurred fundamentally between the end-of-treatment and the 6- (53.7% relapse) and the 12-mo. follow-up (61.1% relapse), and more slowly beyond 12-mo. follow-ups with 72.2% and 70.4% relapse at the 24- and 36-mo. follow-up.

Treatment of major depression associated with smoking cessation.

A number of clinicians have reported cases of major depression associated with smoking cessation. We report here a case of major depression in a 27-year-old woman who abruptly reduced cigarette consumption from 35 to 8 cigarettes per day during the baseline period. A multi-component behavioural programme was applied to stop smoking, together with pharmacotherapy and Beck's cognitive therapy for depression. Twelve months after ending treatment, the patient was still abstaining from smoking, and she showed no signs of depressive symptomatology.

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence in a Spanish sample.

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence was developed to improve the reliability and validity of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire. In this study, we examined the applicability of the Spanish version of such test as well as its relationship to sex, age, and consumption of cigarettes, in a representative sample of smokers from Galicia, Spain (N = 646).

Does using relapse prevention increase the efficacy of a program for smoking cessation?: An empirical study.

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of relapse prevention taught as a problem-solving procedure in increasing the efficacy of a behavioral program for smoking cessation at short- and longer-term, 12-mo. follow-up. 75 smokers were assigned randomly to two treatment groups, using an additional 40 smokers who attended an information session but did not receive any treatment session as a control group. The first group (n = 40) received the standard behavioral multicomponent program of Becoña. The program included motivational contract, self-monitoring, information on smoking, nicotine fading, stimulus control, avoidance of withdrawal symptoms, physiological feedback, and progressive self-control. The second group (n = 36), the relapse prevention group, were given the above program and an additional component of relapse prevention using a problem solving procedure. Both groups had 8 sessions of treatment. Analysis showed that at the end of treatment abstinence in the two groups was 80.0% and 61.1%, respectively, at the 12-mo. follow-ups 30.0% and 36.1%. These differences were not significant; however, both groups were significantly different from the control group at the end of treatment (0% abstinence) and at 12-mo. follow-ups (2.5% abstinence). These results show that the addition of this relapse prevention does not increase the number of smokers who quit or decrease the number who relapse. Further research should focus on the process of relapse and develop more effective procedures to help maintain abstinence.

The age of stopping smoking: the Spanish example.

In this study we analysed the average age at which smokers in Spain seek treatment. The sample of 485 smokers who sought to participate in a smoking cessation program by mail had a mean age of 37.5 yr, and the mean reported number of cigarettes smoked per day was 26.3. Subjects' age was significantly associated with gender, marital status, and the number of cigarettes smoked before treatment.