The Relationship Between Cognitive and Behavioral Measures of Executive Function in the Context of Elementary School

Cognitive and behavioral measures are used to assess executive functions. Previous research shows that these measures tap different underlying aspects. However, much less is known about this relationship, when assessed in the context of elementary education. The current study aims to contribute to this body of research by examining the relationship between cognitive and behavioral measures (rated by parents and teachers) of executive functioning in an elementary school context, using two study designs. In study 1, the relationship between behavioral measures (using the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function: BRIEF) and cognitive measures was examined in terms of inhibitory control, planning and organization abilities as well as processing speed using a sample of 51 children (8-10 years old). In study 2, the relationship between behavioral measures and cognitive measures of inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory was studied in a sample of 27 children (8-10 years old). Spearman’s rho coefficients were calculated between the BRIEF and neuropsychological tasks measuring the aforementioned cognitive functions. Only processing speed appeared to be positively related to parent- and teacher- rated executive function problems: lower speed of information processing was associated with more executive function problems in daily life. No other correlation between cognitive and behavioral measures of executive functioning was statistically significant. These findings in the elementary school context confirm that cognitive and behavioral measures reflect different but complementary aspects of executive functioning. Furthermore, they suggest that behavior ratings of executive functioning might reflect general problems, such as slower speed of information processing. (AU)

Modeling and mobile home monitoring of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

With the increasing global aging population, dementia care has rapidly become a major social problem. Current diagnosis of Behavior and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) relies on clinical interviews, and behavioral rating scales based on a period of behavior observation, but these methods are not suitable for identification of occurrence of BPSD in the daily living, which is necessary for providing appropriate interventions for dementia, though, has been studied by few research groups in the literature. To address these issues, in this study developed a BPSD monitoring system consisting of a Psycho-Cognitive (PsyCo) BPSD model, a Behavior-Physio-Environment (BePhyEn) BPSD model, and an implementation platform. The PsyCo BPSD model provides BPSD assessment support to caregivers and care providers, while the BePhyEn BPSD model provides instantaneous alerts for BPSD enabled by a 24-hour home monitoring platform for early intervention, and thereby alleviation of burden to patients and caregivers. Data for acquiring the models were generated through extensive literature review and regularity determined. A mobile robot was utilized as the implementation platform for improving sensitivity of sensors for home monitoring, and elderly individual following algorithms were investigated. Experiments in a virtual home environment showed that, a virtual BPSD elderly individual can be followed safely by the robot, and BPSD occurrence could be identified accurately, demonstrating the possibility of modeling and identification of BPSD in home environment.

Association between subclinical epileptiform discharge and the behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's dementia.

OBJECTIVES: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are highly prevalent in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), causing burdens on caregivers. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and subclinical epileptiform discharge (SED) increased with the disease course of AD. However, the interaction between them was still unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the associations between SED and BPSD. METHODS/DESIGN: Patients with AD from Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-tung Hospital were included in this study. International 10-20 system scalp electroencephalography (EEG) for 13 min was performed to detect SED. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia was assessed by neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) questionnaires. The occurrence of BPSD subsyndromes was compared between patients with and without SED. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-three adult patients qualified for the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this study. The mean age of patients was 80.2 years, and approximately 62% were women. 17.1% of patients showed SED on EEG. Apathy was the most commonly reported BPSD subsyndrome in this cohort. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of BPSD between patients with and without SED. (75.6% vs. 67.4%, p = 0.2806). However, the NPI score of irritability subsyndrome was significantly higher in the SED (+) group (2.6 ± 3.7 vs. 1.2 ± 2.7, p = 0.0028). In addition, subclinical epileptiform discharge in the frontal lobe was associated with a considerably higher occurrence of hyperactivity subsyndrome, including irritability. CONCLUSIONS: SED may not be a direct cause of BPSD, but the presence of SED may affect the manifestation of BPSD.

The association of physical activity and behavioral and psychological symptoms among a sample of hospitalized older adults living with dementia.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to: (1) describe the prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in hospitalized older adults living with dementia and (2) examine the association of physical activity and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia among hospitalized older adults living with dementia, after controlling for covariates. METHODS: Physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Survey and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regressions were run using baseline data on 294 older adults with dementia hospitalized on general medical units from an ongoing study entitled Function Focused Care for Acute Care Using the Evidence Integration Triangle. RESULTS: Participants performed an average of 7.92 (SD = 4.49) of 34 possible activities "in the last 24 h" prior to the Physical Activity Survey administration. A total of 132 participants (45.5%) had at least one behavioral and psychological symptom of dementia. We found that physical activity was not associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (b = 0.01; p = 0.56), after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study found no evidence of an association between physical activity and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, evidence of physical activity did not exacerbate these behaviors. Thus, given the benefits of physical activity, it is important to continue to encourage patients living with dementia to engage in activity.

Dental Fear/Anxiety in Children and Child Emotional and Behavioural Problems

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the association between emotional and behavioural problems and dental fear/anxiety (DFA) in children aged four to 12 years treated at a clinic in southern Brazil. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study where mother-child dyads were interviewed, emotional and behavioural problems were investigated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (considering five subscales). Children's DFA was evaluated through the Venham Picture Test. For each SDQ subscale, Poisson regression model was explored. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated, considering a significant level of p ≤ 0.05. Results: Overall, 128 children participated in this study. Most children were female (54.7%) and aged between 7 and 9 years (39.8%). The prevalence of emotional problems was 47.7% and behavioural problems were 46.1%. The prevalence of DFA was 18.8%. Children with emotional problems had a 2.3 higher prevalence of DFA (95%CI 1.06-5.04). In general, behavioural problems were not associated with DFA (95%CI 0.84-3.34) only when conduct problems were considered (2.20; 95%CI 1.02-4.70). Conclusion: Children aged between 4 and 12 years who present emotional and conduct problems tend to show higher DFA.

Training dementia care professionals to help caregivers improve the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia using the DICE Approach: A pilot study.

Most persons living with dementia (PLWD) exhibit behavioral or psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) over the course of the illness. The DICE Approach (DICE) is a framework that enables caregivers to identify, evaluate, and manage BPSD. This pilot pre-post test study examined the effects of DICE training on dementia care professionals' self-efficacy, knowledge, and attitudes regarding care of patients with BPSD. Participants underwent either in-person DICE training or, during the pandemic, online training. Case consultations were offered as additional learning opportunities in challenging situations. Of 134 participants in the trainings, 122 (91.0%) provided survey data for one or more instruments before and after training. Participants experienced significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes with respect to BPSD and improvement in self-efficacy with respect to helping caregivers respond to BPSD. Training dementia care professionals in DICE can improve their capacity to support caregivers in the management of BPSD.

Early Identification of Different Behavioral Phenotypes in the Behavioral Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia with the Aid of the Mini-Frontal Behavioral Inventory (mini-FBI).

BACKGROUND: The Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) is a questionnaire designed to quantify behavioral changes in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Literature showed heterogeneous FBI profiles in FTD versus Alzheimer's disease (AD) with variable occurrence of positive and negative symptoms. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we constructed a short FBI version (i.e., mini-FBI) with the aim to provide clinicians with a brief tool for the identification of early behavioral changes in behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD), also facilitating the differential diagnosis with AD. METHODS: 40 bvFTD and 33 AD patients were enrolled. FBI items were selected based on internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis. Convergent validity of mini-FBI was also assessed. A behavioral index (i.e., B-index) representing the balance between positive and negative mini-FBI symptoms was computed in order to analyze its distribution in bvFTD through a cluster analysis and to compare performance among patient groups. RESULTS: The final version of the mini-FBI included 12 items, showing a significant convergent validity with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores (rp = 0.61, p < 0.001). Cluster analysis split patients in four clusters. bvFTD were included in three different clusters characterized by prevalent positive symptoms, both positive and negative symptoms, or prevalent negative behavioral alterations, similar to a subset of AD patients. A fourth cluster included only AD patients showing no positive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The mini-FBI is a valuable easily administrable questionnaire able to early identify symptoms effectively contributing to the bvFTD behavioral syndrome, aiding clinician in diagnosis and management.

Development of a clinical pathway for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia care: A tool to improve resident outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical pathways are used to improve the quality of care, reduce variation and maximise health or treatment outcomes in selected populations. The aim of this study was to develop a draft clinical pathway based on the best practice evidence for use in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). METHODS: The pathway was developed using the best practice evidence from clinical practice guidelines, operational guides and a systematic literature review. A multidisciplinary team of health professionals and researchers worked in an iterative process to contextualise the proposed pathway to local needs and context, and improve its clarity and user-friendliness. The pathway was then re-assessed for accuracy and adherence to the evidence. RESULTS: The draft pathway outlines processes for BPSD prevention, watchful waiting for mild-to-moderate BPSD, and specific interventions for severe BPSD. Ongoing risk assessment is required throughout, and non-pharmacological options are first-line interventions. Person-centred care was found to be an important care component across all three phases. An instruction guide with colour-coded flow charts was developed to assist staff with determining the best care and treatment for each person living with dementia. Feasibility testing is underway. CONCLUSIONS: A draft clinical pathway based on clinical practice guidelines was developed to enhance the translation of evidence into practice for the management of BPSD, by nursing and clinical leaders in RACFs.

Korean Family Caregivers' Experiences With Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: Keeping Harmony in Daily Life.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are symptoms of dementia that family caregivers find difficult to manage. Competence in managing BPSD differs according to individual family caregiver. The current study investigated the competence in managing BPSD, focusing on family caregivers who were recognized as managing them well. Twenty-four Korean family caregivers (83% female, mean age = 67 years) living with persons with dementia (PWD) were interviewed. Four themes were derived from the content analysis: Entering and Looking into the World of PWD, Keeping Daily Life in Harmony With BPSD, Becoming an Expert in BPSD, and Balancing Between Caregiving and Myself. Family caregivers minimized the impact of BPSD and maintained life balance. As a result, they were able to continue a harmonious life with PWD. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(3), 141-150.].

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease among Chinese adults: analysis of modifiable factors.

BACKGROUND: To conduct a comprehensive comparison of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Chinese people with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and analyse the factors of differences. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 93 EOAD and100 LOAD and their caregivers in China from November 2018 to May 2019. RESULTS: The total Neuropsychiatric Inventory score was significantly higher in LOAD. A higher level of agitation in EOAD was related to a lower quality of life of caregivers and the emotional expression of ignoring people with dementia. Higher euphoria scores in LOAD were associated with reduced negative coping by caregivers and reduced stability and predictability at home. CONCLUSION: The early identification and management of specific BPSD of EOAD and LOAD by family members and health professionals may improve the quality of care and life for people with dementia and that of caregivers.

The Role of Telemedicine in the Management of the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review.

The first-line management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is based on nonpharmacologic interventions such as the provision of guidance and medical support to caregivers. However, accessibility to specialized care and medical resources is often scarce. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has compromised the delivery of outpatient care (notably in order to minimize the risk of disease transmission), thus making it essential to provide other means of accessing care for these patient populations. The use of telemedicine (TM) may be a means of increasing access to specialist care for patients with disabilities and poor access to health services, such as those with BPSD. The aim of this study is to provide a review of the literature on the use of TM for treatment and follow-up of patients with BPSD and their caregivers. We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE and CINAHL for articles published between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2020, on the applicability of TM support for people with BPSD and their caregivers. We included open-label studies, qualitative studies, and randomized controlled trials . We did not include studies on the use of TM during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 22 publications were included and reviewed. TM was found to 1) be acceptable and feasible for both patients and caregivers, 2) decrease the frequency and intensity of BPSD, and 3) improve the caregiver's perceived wellbeing and mental health. Videoconferencing was effective for patient-centered interventions in nursing homes. Telephone-based interventions were more relevant when they were targeted at caregivers. The published studies are lacking in scope and high-quality studies are now needed to confirm these findings and assess TM's cost-effectiveness and ability to improve the management of patients with BPSD. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, remote solutions for assessing and monitoring individuals with BPSD are urgently needed - particularly those living in rural areas and so-called "medical deserts."

A Comparison of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and BPSD Sub-Syndromes in Early-Onset and Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) have a large impact on the quality of life of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Few studies have compared BPSD between early-onset (EOAD) and late-onset (LOAD) patients, finding conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to: 1) characterize the presence, overall prevalence, and time of occurrence of BPSD in EOAD versus LOAD; 2) estimate the prevalence over time and severity of each BPSD in EOAD versus LOAD in three stages: pre-T0 (before the onset of the disease), T0 (from onset to 5 years), and T1 (from 5 years onwards); 3) track the manifestation of BPSD sub-syndromes (i.e., hyperactivity, psychosis, affective, and apathy) in EOAD versus LOAD at T0 and T1. METHODS: The sample includes 1,538 LOAD and 387 EOAD diagnosed from 1996 to 2018. Comprehensive assessment batteries, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), were administered at the first medical assessment and at different follow-up period. RESULTS: The overall prevalence for the most of BPSD was significantly higher in EOAD compared to LOAD whereas most BPSD appeared significantly later in EOAD patients. Between the two groups, from pre-T0 to T1 we recorded a different pattern of BPSD prevalence over time as well as for BPSD sub-syndromes at T0 and T1. Results on severity of BPSD did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: EOAD and LOAD represent two different forms of a single entity not only from a neuropathological, cognitive, and functional level but also from a psychiatric point of view.

Behavioural effects of light intervention in people with Korsakoff Syndrome: A pilot study.

Korsakoff Syndrome (KS) is commonly associated with behavioural symptoms such as agitation, apathy, and disinhibition. People with KS often reside in long-term care facilities, which reduces their exposure to natural light. Little is known regarding positive effects of light intervention in KS. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of a dawn simulation therapy on behavioural symptoms in KS. 38 patients residing in a 24-hour care facility were exposed for 6 weeks to a dawn simulation system in their bedrooms, which gradually increased from 0 lux to 290 lux. Behavioural symptoms were measured over 9 weeks. Weeks 1-3 consisted of the baseline phase and weeks 3-9 consisted of the light intervention phase. Our study showed that total severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms was less prominent during light intervention. More specifically, a decrease on the apathy, disinhibition, behaviour at night and appetite and eating behaviour subscales was found during the light intervention phase compared to the baseline phase. Additionally, a significant effect was found on decreasing emotional distress for caregivers. Results suggest that light intervention therapy has a positive effect on reducing behavioural symptoms in KS as well as the levels of stress experienced by the patients' caregivers.

Child Psychological Functioning During the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Ecological, Family-Centered Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how sociodemographic characteristics and various aspects of parent well-being, family functioning, parent-child relationship, and child characteristics are related to psychological functioning in children aged 9 to 12 years during the COVID-19 lockdown. METHOD: Participants included 144 children aged 9 to 12 years and their parents who lived in the province of Quebec, Canada, during the COVID-19 mandatory lockdown. Parents and children were administered a phone-based survey in which various child, parent, parent-child, and family characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Results showed that higher internalizing problems in children were related to greater depressive symptoms in parents, lower attachment security to parents, and greater aversion to aloneness in children. Results on externalizing behavior problems showed that more problems were associated with more family dysfunction and chaos and lower attachment security to parents. Finally, results on children's anxiety toward COVID-19 showed that more anxiety was associated with greater parental anxiety toward COVID-19 and more child aversion to aloneness. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that even during an unusual and stressful context such as a pandemic, proximal variables such as the attachment relationship that have been known to be closely associated with adaptation are significantly related to child psychological functioning. Such observations are important because they highlight factors that may accentuate child vulnerability in times of a pandemic and shed light on potential intervention targets.

Black adolescents' perceptions of COVID-19: Challenges, coping, and connection to family, religious, and school support.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic swept the nation by surprise, leaving a deep-seated impact on individuals' social, mental, and physical health. Despite there being disparities between Black and White/non-Hispanic individuals, minimal research has been conducted to explore the effects of the virus on marginalized groups. This study aimed to investigate Black adolescents' perceptions of their experiences with COVID-19, including the challenges they encountered, the coping strategies they employed, and their use of religious/spiritual and school-based support. Twelve Black youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years were interviewed during the early stages of the pandemic (June and July of 2020). Participants struggled with adjusting to the changes in their daily routines, navigating virtual learning, and emerging mental health difficulties (e.g., anxiety). To cope with these challenges, participants relied on emotion and problem-focused coping strategies, including strategies that were religious/spiritual in nature. Participants also relied on social support from family, school personnel, and their religious community, though they lamented about the varied support received from the latter two. Findings from this research support calls for mental health providers to employ culturally affirming mental health services and engage in interagency collaboration to support Black youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Multivariate analysis of 1.5 million people identifies genetic associations with traits related to self-regulation and addiction.

Behaviors and disorders related to self-regulation, such as substance use, antisocial behavior and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, are collectively referred to as externalizing and have shared genetic liability. We applied a multivariate approach that leverages genetic correlations among externalizing traits for genome-wide association analyses. By pooling data from ~1.5 million people, our approach is statistically more powerful than single-trait analyses and identifies more than 500 genetic loci. The loci were enriched for genes expressed in the brain and related to nervous system development. A polygenic score constructed from our results predicts a range of behavioral and medical outcomes that were not part of genome-wide analyses, including traits that until now lacked well-performing polygenic scores, such as opioid use disorder, suicide, HIV infections, criminal convictions and unemployment. Our findings are consistent with the idea that persistent difficulties in self-regulation can be conceptualized as a neurodevelopmental trait with complex and far-reaching social and health correlates.

Pain Behaviors and Pharmacological Pain Management Among Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians may place more weight on vocal complaints of pain than the other pain behaviors when making decisions about pain management. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between documented pain behaviors and pharmacological pain management among nursing home residents. METHODS: We included 447,684 residents unable to self-report pain, with staff-documented pain behaviors (vocal, nonverbal, facial expressions, protective behaviors) and pharmacological pain management documented on the 2010-2016 Minimum Data Set 3.0. The outcome was no pharmacological pain medications, as needed only (pro re nata [PRN]), as scheduled only, or as scheduled with PRN medications. We estimated adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from multinomial logistic models. RESULTS: Relative to residents with vocal complaints only, those with one pain behavior documented (i.e., nonverbal, facial, or protective behavior) were more likely to lack pain medication versus scheduled and PRN medications. Residents with multiple pain behaviors documented were least likely to have no treatment relative to scheduled with PRN medications, PRN only, or scheduled only pain medication regimens. DISCUSSION: The type and number of pain behaviors observed are associated with pharmacological pain management regimen. Improving staff recognition of pain among residents unable to self-report is warranted in nursing homes.