[Formula: see text]Executive functioning and health-related quality of life in pediatric sickle cell disease.

Research consistently indicates that children with sickle cell disease (SCD) face multiple risk factors for neurocognitive impairment. Despite this, no empirical research to date has examined the impact of neurocognitive functioning on quality of life for this pediatric group. Thus, the current study aims to examine the relationship between executive functioning and quality of life in a sample of children with SCD and further explore psychosocial and family/caregiver resources as moderators of this relationship. A total of 45 children with SCD aged 8 to 16 years and their caregivers completed measures of quality of life, behavioral ratings of executive functioning, and psychosocial functioning. Hierarchical linear regression models were utilized to determine the impact of executive functioning on quality of life and further test the interaction effects of proposed moderating variables. Controlling for age, pain, and socioeconomic status (SES), executive functioning was found to significantly predict child- and parent-reported quality of life among youth with SCD. Psychosocial resources of the primary caregiver or family was not found to moderate the relationship between executive functioning and quality of life. These results provide the first empirical evidence that lower executive skills negatively predict quality of life for children with SCD, supporting clinical and research efforts which aim to establish efficacious interventions that target cognitive decrements within this pediatric population.

The mediating effect of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies on executive functioning impairment and depressive symptoms among adolescents.

Past research results suggest that executive functioning (EF) impairment represents an important vulnerability factor in depression. Little research, however, has examined mechanisms underlying this association. The current study investigates the associations between EF impairment, emotion regulation (ER) strategies, and depressive symptoms in a sample of 579 adolescents (320 females, mean age = 12.06 years). Parents reported on adolescents' EF and general psychopathology, and adolescents self-reported ER strategies and depressive symptoms. The results indicate that greater EF impairment is associated with more depressive symptoms. Youth with greater EF impairment reported more maladaptive ER and less adaptive ER, and maladaptive and adaptive ER strategies jointly mediated the association between EF impairment and depressive symptoms. The results highlight an important role of both maladaptive and adaptive ER in explaining the relationship between EF and depressive symptoms and suggest that clinical interventions targeting ER skills may provide one strategy for the prevention and treatment of depression. Further longitudinal research is needed to replicate these results and evaluate the causality of the relations.

Impaired prospective memory but intact episodic memory in intellectually average 7- to 9-year-olds born very preterm and/or very low birth weight.

Relatively little is known about episodic memory (EM: memory for personally-experienced events) and prospective memory (PM: memory for intended actions) in children born very preterm (VP) or with very low birth weight (VLBW). This study evaluates EM and PM in mainstream-schooled 7- to 9-year-olds born VP (≤ 32 weeks) and/or VLBW (< 1500 g) and matches full-term children for comparison (n = 35 and n = 37, respectively). Additionally, participants were assessed for verbal and non-verbal ability, executive function (EF), and theory of mind (ToM). The results show that the VP/VLBW children were outperformed by the full-term children on the memory tests overall, with a significant univariate group difference in PM. Moreover, within the VP/VLBW group, the measures of PM, verbal ability and working memory all displayed reliable negative correlations with severity of neonatal illness. PM was found to be independent of EM and cognitive functioning, suggesting that this form of memory might constitute a domain of specific vulnerability for VP/VLBW children.

A systematic review of cognitive functioning among young people who have experienced homelessness, foster care, or poverty.

Young people who have experienced homelessness, foster care, or poverty are among the most disadvantaged in society. This review examines whether young people who have these experiences differ from their non-disadvantaged peers with respect to their cognitive skills and abilities, and whether cognitive profiles differ between these three groups. Three electronic databases were systematically searched for articles published between 1 January 1995 and 1 February 2015 on cognitive functioning among young people aged 15 to 24 years who have experienced homelessness, foster care, or poverty. Articles were screened using pre-determined inclusion criteria, then the data were extracted, and its quality assessed. A total of 31 studies were included. Compared to non-disadvantaged youth or published norms, cognitive performance was generally found to be impaired in young people who had experienced homelessness, foster care, or poverty. A common area of difficulty across all groups is working memory. General cognitive functioning, attention, and executive function deficits are shared by the homeless and poverty groups. Creativity emerges as a potential strength for homeless young people. The cognitive functioning of young people with experiences of impermanent housing and poverty has been relatively neglected and more research is needed to further establish cognitive profiles and replicate the findings reviewed here. As some aspects of cognitive functioning may show improvement with training, these could represent a target for intervention.

Test modificado de clasificación de tarjetas de Wisconsin: normalización y estandarización de la prueba en población española / Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: standardization and norms of the test for a population sample in Spain

Introducción. El test modificado de clasificación de tarjetas de Wisconsin (M-WCST) es una versión breve y modificada del WCST que evalúa las funciones ejecutivas y la flexibilidad mental. Presenta algunas diferencias y ventajas respecto a otras versiones del WCST que se han descrito en la bibliografía. Objetivo. Estandarizar y desarrollar datos normativos calibrados demográficamente para el M-WCST en una muestra representativa de la población española. Sujetos y métodos. Como parte del proyecto multicéntrico Normacog, se administró el M-WCST a 700 participantes (rango: 18-90 años). Se analizaron el efecto de la edad, el nivel educativo y el sexo sobre el M-WCST, y se crearon percentiles y puntuaciones escalares calibradas demográficamente para cada puntuación directa. Resultados. Se observó un efecto significativo de la edad y del nivel educativo sobre las variables analizadas del M-WCST (categorías correctas, errores perseverativos y errores totales), pero no un efecto significativo del sexo en ninguna de las variables. La edad y la educación explicaban un 5,0-21,2% de la varianza en el M-WCST y mostraron que, a mayor edad y menor nivel de educación formal, el número de categorías correctas disminuía y se cometían mayor cantidad de errores. Conclusión. El presente estudio aporta por primera vez los baremos normativos del M-WCST para la población española teniendo en cuenta las características sociodemográficas de nuestra sociedad. Se confirma la influencia de la edad y el nivel educativo sobre el rendimiento del M-WCST (AU)

Introduction. The Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST) is a shorter, modified version of the WCST that assesses executive functioning and mental flexibility. The M-WCST presents some differences and advantages compared to other versions of the WCST, as previously described in the scientific literature. Aim. To standardize and develop demographically-calibrated norms for the M-WCST in a sample representing of the population of Spain. Subjects and methods. This study is part of the multisite Normacog project. Seven hundred participants from 18 to 90 years old were assessed using the M-WCST. The effects of age, sex, and educational level on M-WCST performance were analyzed, and demographically-calibrated percentiles and scaled scores corresponding to each raw score were created. Results. The effect of age and level of education on the M-WCST variables analyzed (correct categories, perseverative errors and total errors) was statistically significant, whereas sex was not significant. Age and education explained 5.0-21.2% of the variance in M-WCST performance. Older participants with lower level of formal education completed fewer category sorts and made more errors than younger and more educated participants. Conclusion. This study reports the first normative data for the M-WCST in a contemporary Spanish sample, taking sociodemographic characteristics of the population into account. The influence of age and level of education on the M-WCST performance was confirmed (AU)

Relación entre el funcionamiento ejecutivo y la conducta en niños con parálisis cerebral / Relationship between executive functioning and behaviour in children with cerebral palsy

Introducción. La parálisis cerebral se define como un grupo de trastornos del desarrollo del movimiento y la postura que cursa con déficits cognitivos, alteraciones emocionales, de conducta y sociales. Objetivo. Estudiar la relación entre el funcionamiento ejecutivo y la conducta en niños con parálisis cerebral a partir de las respuestas aportadas por padres y profesores en el Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) y el sistema de evaluación de la conducta adaptativa (ABAS-II). Pacientes y métodos. La muestra quedó formada por 46 niños con parálisis cerebral, con una edad media de 10,26 ± 2,95 años. Del total, 44 niños se distribuyeron en el Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) en nivel I (n = 16), nivel II (n = 3), nivel III (n = 11), nivel IV (n = 10) y nivel V (n = 4). Resultados. Los resultados mostraron relación entre el BRIEF y el ABAS-II; además, se obtuvieron discrepancias entre las respuestas aportadas por padres y profesores, tanto en el ABAS-II como en el BRIEF. Asimismo, se halló relación entre el GMFCS y los subíndices de vida en el hogar, índice práctico y autocuidado del ABAS-II. Conclusiones. Se encontró relación entre el funcionamiento ejecutivo y la conducta adaptativa en niños con parálisis cerebral. Se hallaron discrepancias en las respuestas aportadas por padres y profesores. Por último, los datos muestran que, a mayor afectación motora, mayores dificultades en el hogar, en el índice práctico y en el autocuidado (AU)

Introduction. Cerebral palsy is defined as a group of developmental disorders of movement and posture that causes social and cognitive deficits, emotional, and behavior disturbances. Aim. To study the relationship between executive functioning and behavior in children with cerebral palsy from the answers given by parents and teachers on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and on the System Assessment Adaptive Behavior (ABAS-II). Patients and methods. The sample consisted on 46 children with CP with a mean age of 10.26 ± 2.95 years. Forty-four of the 46 children were distributed in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) into level I (n = 16), level II (n = 3), level III (n = 11), level IV (n = 10) and level V (n = 4). Results. The results showed a relationship between BRIEF and ABAS-II. Furthermore, discrepancies between the responses from parents and teachers, both in the ABAS-II and in the BRIEF, were obtained. Conclusions. We found a significant relationship between executive functioning in children with cerebral palsy and adaptive behavior. We found discrepancies in the answers given by parents and teachers. Finally, the data showed that the higher motor impairment increases difficulties at home (AU)

Evaluación del grado de satisfacción que generan las recomendaciones de los Cómités Hospitalarios de Bioética -CHB-: estudio de la función consultiva en cinco Comités Hospitalarios de Bioética -CHB- entre los años 2005 al 2009 en la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina / Evaluation of satisfaction that generate the recommendations of the hospital bioethics committees -CHB-: study advisory role in five -CHB- Hospital Bioethics Committees from 2005 to 2009 in the city of Córdoba, Argentina

Se realiza una revisión de los antecedentes que dieron origen a los CHB recorriendo el marco internacional, nacional y en la ciudad de Córdoba particularmente continuando con algunos conceptos fundamentales como la definición, las funciones, composición, criterios de acreditación, diferencias con los Comités Institucionales de Ética de Investigación en Salud para concluir el marco teórico refiriendo específicamente a los aspectos que hacen a la función consultiva de los CHB y a algunas consideraciones respecto de la satisfacción con la consulta. Con la aplicación de una encuesta se estudia, las consultas realizadas a cinco Comités Hospitalarios de Bioética con asiento en instituciones de salud en la provincia de Córdoba -Argentina- entre los años 2005 al 2009. Finalmente se realiza un análisis de los resultados que dan cuenta de la función consultiva respecto del grado de satisfacción de las personas que consultaron por los problemas éticos en el proceso asistencial de salud y que influyeron directamente en la toma de decisiones en al ámbito clínico...

A review of the background that led to the CHB crossing the international, national and in the city of Córdoba particularly continuing with some fundamental concepts such as the definition, functions, composition, accreditation criteria, differences with the Institutional Ethics of Health Research to complete the theoretical framework specifically referring tothe aspects related to the advisory function of the CHB and some considerations regarding satisfaction with the consultation. With the application of a survey study, five consultations Hospital Bioethics Committees based in health institutions in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, from 2005 to 2009. Finally, an analysis of the results that account for the advisory role of the degree of satisfaction of people with clinical ethical problems in the health care process and directly influenced the decision making in the clinical setting...