Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Neuropsychological tests'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Neuropsychological tests.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Neuropsychological tests.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Rattan, Arlene I. "A self-report measure of neuropsychological symptomology : the neuropsychological symptom inventory." Virtual Press, 1987. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/558345.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceived anxiety experienced by coronary care nurses working eight- and 12-hour work shifts. It was hypothesized that length of shift work affects the before- and after-shift anxiety for nurses working eight or 12-hour work shifts. Anxiety differences between the eight- and 12-hour work shifts were examined as well as differences between the before- and after-shift anxiety for each length of shift.Thirty-two (32) coronary care nurses from a general medical and surgical hospital in the Midwest volunteered to participate in the research. The sample consisted of all females (18 Registered Nurses, nine Licensed Practical Nurses, three charge nurses, a supervisory nurse, and a rehabilitation nurse). The nurses had voluntarily selected the eight- or 12-hour length of shift work and understood that they would be committed to work that shift for one year. Twelve nurses worked the eight-hour shift; 20 nurses chose the new 12-hour shift.The State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) was used to measure the nurses' before- and after-shift anxiety. Baseline data were collected from the nurses prior to the initiation of the 12-hour shift. The Box-Jenkins Time Series Analysis was used to analyze the daily before- and after-shift anxiety scores and to establish a forecasted trend for both the eight- and 12-hour shifts.The first finding was that the before-shift anxiety scores for the eight-hour workers declined, while the anxiety scores for the 12-hour workers increased, following the implementation of the 12-hour shift. The same trend was forecast for the after-shift anxiety scores. The eight-hour nurses' after-shift anxiety scores declined while the 12-hour nurses' anxiety scores increased. A transfer function was conducted for both the eight-hour and 12-hour before- and after-shift anxiety scores. No predictive trend could be established for the eight-hour anxiety scores; however, the 12-hour after-shift anxiety scores were found to be consistently higher than before-shift anxiety scores.Department of Educational Psychology
2
Cobb, Stephanie Marie. "Dissimulation strategies on neuropsychological tests : a qualitative investigation." Thesis, University of East London, 2013. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3497/.
Full textAbstract:
People are known to feign or exaggerate symptoms of cognitive impairment for a wide range of reasons, such as for financial gain or avoidance of criminal responsibility. With £5.2 million paid out daily in compensation claims (Association of British Insurers, 2011), it is important that neuropsychologists have as much information as possible at their disposal for detecting unworthy claims. This study investigates the strategies employed by individuals attempting to feign cognitive impairment on standard neuropsychological tests. A review of the literature revealed that most previous studies in the area of malingering neuropsychological deficits have focused on developing and validating measures to detect falsification of symptoms or poor performance on standard tests. The only qualitative study published in this area investigated strategies employed by individuals feigning memory impairment (Iverson, 1995). Iverson (1995) used questionnaires and brief interviews, subjected to a simple content analysis. The present research constitutes a more thorough and in-depth qualitative study than any that have been previously disseminated in this area. Detailed semi-structured interviews were administered to 15 non-neurological individuals instructed to feign cognitive impairment on a battery of standard neuropsychological tests. The interviews examined both the strategies used and the thinking underlying participants’ choices to achieve a richer and more detailed understanding of the phenomena of feigning. Thematic Analysis revealed three main organising themes. Participants described Using Strategies, on specific tests and generally across the battery, offered explanations of the Rationale behind their decisions and spontaneously commented on their Experience of the Task. The findings of the present study reveal numerous potentially useful identifiers of feigning strategies, including many not previously reported. The resulting themes point to the development of more effective methods for detecting feigned cognitive impairments and could have a significant impact on the way that neuropsychological testing sessions are conducted.
3
Liff, Christine D. "The Detection of Neuropsychological Malingering." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2003. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4309/.
Full textAbstract:
The present study compared the responses of a group of simulating malingerers who were offered a monetary incentive to feign symptoms of a head injury, with the responses of head injured groups both with and without litigation, a forensic parole group, and an honest-responding control group. The following six neuropsychological measures were utilized: Rey 15-Item Memory Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Finger Oscillation Test, WAIS-R Neuropsychological Instrument (Vocabulary, Information, and Similarities subtests), Booklet Category Test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The statistical concepts of floor effect, performance curve, and magnitude of error were examined. Additionally, the statistical differences in the responses of the five groups were analyzed to determine cutting scores for use in distinguishing malingerers from nonmalingerers.
4
Brooks, David A. "Development of the Ball neuropsychological screening measure." Virtual Press, 1989. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/558340.
Full textAbstract:
The present research concerned the validation of a neuropsychological screening measure. In a series of investigations the reliability, predictive validity and factor structure of the Ball Neuropsychological Screening Measure (BNSM) were examined.Such procedures were considered essential to investigate the utility of the BNSM.In a two part study, the reliability of the BNSM was investigated (Study 1). First, an attempt was made to determine BNSM test-retest reliability with the finding that subtest means on test and retest were too similar to permit interpretation. In the second portion of Study 1 the internal consistency of the BNSM was examined by computing Cronbach's alphas. The BNSM was found to have high internal consistency, producing an overall alpha coefficient of .951.A discriminant analysis was performed in study 2 to examine the utility of the BNSM in discriminating between normal and impaired adults.The BNSM was found to be highly accurate in this regard, achieving an overall correct placement prediction rate of 96%. Study 3 looked at the utility of the BNSM in correctly predicting lateralization of brain Impairment.The BNSM successfully predicted placement into three groups (Normals, Right-Hemispheric Impairment, LeftHemispheric Impairment) with 95% overall accuracy. Finally, the factor structure of the BNSM was examined in Study 4. Utilizing a varimax rotation, a two factor solution was found to account for 66.8% of the total variance.Department of Educational Psychology
5
Tsang, Michael Hing-pui. "Positive and Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia and Their Neuropsychological Correlates." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1993. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278921/.
Full text
6
Heaton, Shelley C. "The utility of education corrections for interpreting neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia /." Diss., Connect to a 24 p. preview or request complete full text in PDF format. Access restricted to UC campuses, 2001. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p3026371.
Full text
7
Chaytor, Naomi S. "Improving the ecologicical [i.e. ecological] validity of executive functioning assessment." Online access for everyone, 2004. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Summer2004/n%5Fchaytor%5F070604.pdf.
Full text
8
Rattan, Gurmal. "The role of response time in a complex learning task of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery." Virtual Press, 1985. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/468348.
Full textAbstract:
The present study was designed to assess the role of response time on the Category Test of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNB). The intent was to define the underlying constructs of the Category Test more particularly, the speed of performance by examining response time to individual slides of the Category Test.Seventy-two normal adult volunteers were administered the complete HRNB. Average response times were computed for correct (CRT), incorrect (IRT), and total (TRT) scores on the Category Test. The efficacy of using response measures (CRT, IRT, and TRT) to predict Category performance was examined in the context of other HRNB variables that loaded factorially with the Category Test, more specifically: TPT-time, memory, and location, Trails B, WAIS-R Block Design, and WAIS-R Object Assembly.A step-wise multiple regression analysis was computed using the above HRNB and response time measures to predict Category error scores. Results from this analysis indicated that TPT-location, TRT, and IRT contributed significantly (p<.05) in the prediction of Category scores. Approximately 15% of the variability in Category scores was explained by a measure of spatial memory (TPT-location) and an additional 15% was accounted for by psycho-motor speed (TRT and IRT). The significant contribution of response time in defining the underlying construct of the Category Test was discussed in terms of possible implications for enhancing the neuropsychological significance of the Category Test.
9
Miller, Ashley K. "Examining the Errors and Self-Corrections on the Stroop Test." Cleveland State University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1274111033.
Full text
10
Braganza, Giselle. "Neuropsychological deficits in early versus late onset Alzheimer's Disease /." View abstract, 2000. http://library.ccsu.edu/ccsu%5Ftheses/showit.php3?id=1612.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2000.Thesis advisor: Charles Mate-Kole. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in [in Psychology]." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-60).
11
Hilborn, Robert Scott Franks Susan F. "Psychological characteristics contributing to performance on neuropsychological tests and effort testing." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2008. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-9093.
Full text
12
Hoelzle, James B. "Neuropsychological Assessment and the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC)Cognitive Abilities Model." Connect to full text in OhioLINK ETD Center, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1216405861.
Full text
13
Stewart, Maureen. "The effects of age and education on selected cognitive tests: the trail making test, the digit symbol sub-test, and the finger tapping test." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004601.
Full textAbstract:
Numerous studies have suggested that neuropsychological test performance is affected by demographic variables such as age and education. This study examined the effects of age and education on the Trail Making Test, the Digit Symbol Sub-Test, and the Finger Tapping Test in a non-clinical sample of community dwellers with a relatively low level of education (8 to 12 years) in South Africa. The sample consisted of 161 participants across six age groups: 20-39, 40-59, 69-69, 70-79, 80-89 and 90-95 years. Results were examined for mean age effects and variability trends. Highly significant age effects were present across the age groups for all tests, however, there was no uniform pattern of variability across the tests. The Digit Symbol Substitution Test and the Finger Tapping Tests showed a pattern of increasing variability with increasing age, followed by a decrease in very old age while no trend was evident for the Digit Symbol extensions (the Immediate and Delayed Recall tests). The Trail Making Test, Parts A and B, showed a consistent trend of increasing variability across the age groups. Data from the present study was compared with existing data from two relatively high education samples, with equivalent age groupings, to examine education effects. Results showed an education effect for all tests with the high education groups outperforming the low education groups. Although the effects of education became less potent with advancing age, the mean performance of the oldest (80-89 years) high education age group was superior to that of the equivalent low education age group. Comparison of variability trends across both samples showed that the highest variability (the shuttle bulge) was present at the same point along the age axis, or at a later point, for the low education group, as that for the high education group. This finding is inconsistent with Jordan's (1997) 'shuttle model of variability' which predicts an earlier occurrence of the shuttle bulge (left shuttle shift effect) for a low education sample. This study demonstrated that performance on neuropsychological tests is influenced by age and education and highlighted the dangers inherent in unquestionably applying norms, which have not been corrected for age and education, when assessing the older adult.
14
Haddlesey, Claire. "Exploration of the impact of language and culture on neuropsychological tests." Thesis, Canterbury Christ Church University, 2016. http://create.canterbury.ac.uk/14911/.
Full textAbstract:
The use of neuropsychological tests with regards to language and culture is a relatively under researched area. Previous research has found that cultural familiarity with test-items is important for minimising differences between groups and that completing tests in a second language can increase differences between groups on both language- and performance-based tests. An exploratory mixed methods design was used for this study. Participants were 46 participants with English as a first language (L1) and 23 participants with English as a second language (L2). The L1 and L2 participants differed only on the Language index of the SPANS, with L1 participants scoring significantly higher. Participants whose first language is not English reported generally that the test experience was good and the language used in the testing was clear. They reported some anxiety and worry in relation to memory and numbers. The results of this study support previous research which suggests that language may influence performance on language based neuropsychological tests as well as support for a need for culturally familiar test-items. As there were minimal differences between the two groups this is support for the SPANS’s use with the tested population with caution given to interpretation of the language index.
15
Miller, Harry Birge Douglas. "The investigation and development of component measures for selected neuropsychological tests /." The Ohio State University, 1990. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487685204969999.
Full text
16
Hilborn, Robert Scott. "Psychological characteristics contributing to performance on neuropsychological tests and effort testing." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2008. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9093/.
Full textAbstract:
The issue of effortful patient performance has been an area of clinical interest in individuals with minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Clinical attention to this area has increased largely because of an increase in the number of worker's compensation claims, injury-related lawsuits and/or insanity defense pleas. As patients are presented with the opportunity for secondary gain, the issue of optimum performance on neuropsychological measures becomes salient. In addition to neurocognitive deficits, there are psychological characteristics associated with mTBI including depression, emotional disturbance, personality changes, and other psychopathology. This study utilized the MSVT, a set of standard neuropsychological instruments, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) to investigate the relationships between effort, psychological characteristics, and neuropsychological functioning in individuals with minor traumatic brain injuries. The first objective of this study was to determine which psychological factors were related to effort in mTBI. The second objective was to determine if there were differences between groups that performed poorly on effort testing and groups that performed adequately on effort testing, based on relevant psychological characteristics. The results of the analyses supported the first hypothesis. Hysteria was inversely related to effort, and Mania was positively related to effort on one of five measures of effort. The second hypothesis was not supported.
17
Taylor, Erin Kathleen. "The utility of the McCarron-Dial System in determining location of brain lesion." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2004. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4570/.
Full textAbstract:
Among the goals of neuropsychological assessment are to detect the presence of brain damage, localize which areas of the brain may be dysfunctional, and describe subsequent functional impairments. The sensitivity of neuropsychological instruments in carrying out these functions has long been a question of debate. The purpose of the present study was to determine the utility of various performance level indictors and lateralizing indicators from the McCarron-Dial System Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (MDS) in ascertaining the presence or absence of brain damage as well as location of lesion. Models used in the present study appear to provide increased classification accuracy compared to other studies utilizing the MDS. The MDS was also shown to be comparable to other well-known neuropsychological batteries, including the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRB) and the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) with regard to distinguishing between those with brain damage and normal controls, and also localizing brain lesion. The results of this study offer clinicians parsimonious models to evaluate for presence of lesion and its location so this information may be used to make accurate, thorough diagnoses and appropriate treatment and rehabilitation recommendations.
18
Lazarus, Gershom T. "The evolution of neuropsychological test usage with respect to different geographical locations and the role of the neuropsychologist." View electronic thesis (PDF), 2009. http://dl.uncw.edu/etd/2009-2/rp/lazarusg/gershomlazarus.pdf.
Full text
19
Nagel, Jeffrey A. "Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Clinical Scales of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Test Battery, Form II." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1990. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc330984/.
Full textAbstract:
The factor structure of the Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) Form II was examined. A principle components factor analysis was performed on a sample of 102 psychiatric and neurologic subjects. It was necessary to remove 45 items from the analysis due to perfect performance by most subjects. The results were orthogonally rotated to simple structure using a Varimax method of rotation, and then compared to previous LNNB Form I and Form II results. Thirty-three factors were generated in the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) . There was a very high agreement with the factors from Form I. Only one new factor was identified that didn't have a comparable Form I factor, and this factor appears to have neurological support. The similarity of the factor solutions between the two forms supports the continued use of factors derived from Form I for the interpretation of Form II, and supports the underlying structure presupposed by Lurian constructs. The present study also tested the significance of the hypothesized factor structures through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). No hypothesis about the underlying factor structure based on previous exploratory studies was supported. The CFA did suggest that the best factor solution to the LNNB Form II is one that (a) has correlated factors and (b) has items loading on more than one factor. The confirmatory results were interpreted as not supporting the current exploratory results, or the previous factor analytic results. Problems notwithstanding, researchers may be better directed to propose factor models for the LNNB that have correlated factors, and to work samples approaching the 10 to 1 recommended sample size for multivariate analysis. One conclusion that was drawn from the concurrence between the two Form II studies pertains to psychiatric populations used in both studies. It was necessary to exclude a large number of items in each study due to perfect performance by most of the subjects on those items. Most of the items removed were identical in both studies supporting the notion that a shortened version of the LNNB could be administered to psychiatric populations.
20
Mailloux, Stéphane. "Implication des fonctions exécutives et mise en évidence d'items significatifs dans le test d'organisation visuelle de Hooper /." Chicoutimi : Trois-Rivières : Université du Québec à Chicoutimi ; Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1522/17813837.
Full textAbstract:
Thèse (M.Ps.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, en association avec Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2004."Mémoire présenté à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en psychologie offerte à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi en vertu d'un protocole d'entente avec l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières." Comprend des réf. bibliogr. : f. [147]-154. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF.
21
Price, Kelly John. "The ecological validity of neuropsychological tests of attention in a pediatric sample." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2001. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ58545.pdf.
Full text
22
Murphy, Patrick. "Using board games as neuropsychological tests with children with acquired brain injury." Thesis, University of East London, 2017. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/6790/.
Full textAbstract:
This research project investigated the use of two board games, Guess Who and Connect 4, as initial neuropsychological assessment measures with children and young people. The validity of novel measures derived from game-play was investigated in a group of typically developing participants (N=14). The level of engagement offered by the games and the potential ecological validity of this assessment method was also investigated. This was to identify potential additional benefits to this method of assessment compared with traditional testing procedures. The performance of a small group of participants with acquired brain injury (N=5) was also explored to identify the potential of the novel measures to discern cognitive deficits in this group. The results showed that a measure of strategy derived from Guess Who demonstrated concurrent validity with two established measures of executive function, the D-KEFS Twenty Questions Test and the Zoo Map Test. The number of wins identified on Connect 4 showed concurrent validity with a measure of visual search and attention, the Trail-Making Test Part A. The scores of the participants with acquired brain injury on the novel measures appeared weaker than the typically developing group, particularly for those scoring poorly on a measure of non-verbal ability. Participants did not rate the games as any more engaging or any less anxiety provoking than the established measures. In-session observations during game-play did not shed light on the functional difficulties reported by parents on a standardised proxy report (the BRIEF). Alterations to game set-up that could increase the discriminant validity of the novel measures are discussed. The remaining potential for this method to increase engagement in a less-high-functioning sample in acute care is also discussed. Issues with the “gamification” of assessment procedures are considered, including the difficulty in simultaneously gathering observational data and quantitative measures.
23
Guise, Brian. "Effects of Brain Injury Severity and Effort on Neuropsychological Tests of Attention." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2010. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1283.
Full textAbstract:
Attention impairment is one of the most common complaints following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Multiple studies have shown that performance on neuropsychological tests of attention is affected by many factors, including injury severity and effort. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of injury severity on neuropsychological tests across different domains of attention while controlling for effort. The domains of focused attention, selective attention, divided attention, sustained attention, and working memory were assessed by performance on the Digit Span Forward subtest, the Stroop Color Word Test, the Trail Making Test, the Conners' Continuous Performance Test - II, and Digit Span Backwards subtest, respectively. Effort was determined according to performance on the Portland Digit Recognition Test and the Test of Memory Malingering. Effort was found to have a greater effect on test performance (.79) than injury severity (.47). Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
24
GAMBLE, CONSTANCE MARIA. "FUNCTIONS UNDERLYING PERFORMANCE OF LEARNING-DISABLED CHILDREN IN INTELLIGENCE AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/184058.
Full textAbstract:
This study was designed to determine the factorial validity of specific components of the Reitan-Indiana Neuropsychological Battery with a learning disabled population. Scores of 42 children, 38 males, 4 females, ages 6.2 to 8.8 years were compiled on specific tests of the Reitan-Indiana. Principal component factoring of the original correlation matrix was followed by principal factoring, using a 4 factor solution; varimax rotation with six iterations produced the desired reduction of the correlation matrix; four factors emerged for the learning disabled population, which accounted for 53% of the variance: verbal intelligence, psychomotor speed, achievement, and memory. The factor structure that emerged was not consistent with the surface factors of the battery as conceptualized by its author suggesting that this battery may lack construct validity when used with a learning disabled population.
25
West, Penny L. "Neuropsychological symptoms in the learning disabled child : a symptomology inventory." Virtual Press, 1990. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/720145.
Full textAbstract:
A predominance of symptomology related to neurological dysfunction has been reported for at least some learning disabled (LD) students. This investigation examined the self-reported neuropsychological symptoms of LD and normal students in grades 3 through 12. Determination of group membership based on the childrens' responses to items on the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI) was made for all subjects in the study.A discriminant analysis was conducted in order to determine the degree of group separation based on the item responses and which reported symptoms add significantly to that separation. Out of 40 possible items, 19 added to the discriminant function. Prediction of group membership was accomplished with a high degree of accuracy. Nearly 80% of the total population examined were correctly classified according to actual group membership. Of the LD population, 32% were identified as normal but only 16% of the normal population were misdiagnosed as LD. Additionally, nine individual symptoms were identified as reported by a greater percentage of LD students than normals.The results of this investigation suggest that the NSI as a screening instrument may be valuable for some populations. The 80% accuracy rate with the low number of false-positives (16%) is extremely encouraging. Additional research with the NSI to validate the presence of the symptomology reported would add to the already existing data related to the neuropsychological implications related to learning disabilities.Department of Educational Psychology
26
Kehrer, Constance Ann. "The effects of a significant-other observer on neuropsychological test performance /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/9190.
Full text
27
Bender, Scott D. "Feigning Cognitive Deficits on Neuropsychological Evaluations: Multiple Detection Strategies." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2000. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2734/.
Full textAbstract:
Individuals undergoing forensic neuropsychological evaluation frequently stand to gain in some manner if neurocognitive dysfunction is diagnosed. As a result, neuropsychologists are customarily asked to test for neurocognitive feigning during the assessment. The current study employed an analogue design with a clinical comparison group to examine the utility of the TOCA (Rogers, 1996) as a measure of feigned neurocognitive impairment. Two groups of simulators (one cautioned about the presence of detection strategies and one not cautioned) were compared to clinical and normal control groups. Fourteen scales were developed based on five detection strategies: symptom validity testing, performance curve, magnitude of error, response time, and floor effect. Each was employed during both verbal and nonverbal tasks. Significant differences were revealed among groups when subjected to ANOVA. Classification rates from subsequent utility estimates and discriminant function analyses on the scales ranged from 58.8% to 100%. Combining strategies yielded a classification rate of 95.7%. The effect of cautioning simulators was modest; however, a trend was noted on some scales for cautioned simulators to appear less obviously impaired than noncautioned. Although the results require crossvalidation, preliminary data suggest that the TOCA is a sensitive and specific measure of feigned neurocognitive performance. Strengths and weaknesses of the study are discussed and directions for future research are proposed.
28
Halliday, Tracey Jaye. "The Development of a New Zealand Adult Reading Test." The University of Waikato, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10289/2494.
Full textAbstract:
The National Adult Reading Test (NART), developed in Britain is commonly used in clinical settings to estimate premorbid intelligence in New Zealand. Research suggests psychometric tests are more accurate if normed on the population they are used with. This study attempted to establish norms for the original NART based on a New Zealand population and develop a National Adult Reading Test for use with a New Zealand population (NZART). Sixty-four university students were administered the Wechslers Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), the NART and the New Zealand Adult Reading Test (NZART). A regression equation was developed to estimate premorbid intelligence in this sample. Results indicate fewer errors occur on the NZART than the NART suggesting it may be a better indicator of premorbid intelligence for a New Zealand sample. Furthermore, the NZART was more accurate at estimating premorbid WASI IQ across all three subscales of the WASI at a range of IQ levels. Analyses were also conducted to ascertain the impact of demographic variables. Little overall difference was found in test scores in relation to gender, age or income. Although future studies need to be conducted to validate this new measure, initial results suggest that the NZART may be a more accurate predictor of premorbid IQ in a New Zealand population.
29
Richards, Brian. "The effects of aging and mild traumatic brain injury on neuropsychological performance." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ59153.pdf.
Full text
30
Harris, Kristen M. "Neuropsychological Constructs Assessed by the Family Pictures Subtests." NSUWorks, 2009. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_stuetd/36.
Full textAbstract:
Limited data are available regarding the clinical utility of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) Family Pictures (FP) subtest, yet it has received much criticism in the literature. Specific problems of the subtest that have been cited include the lack of clarity regarding the neuropsychological functions that significantly influence successful performance. The current study assesses the extent to which performance on the FP I and FP II subtests can be predicted by memory, visual ability, verbal ability, and executive functioning, in 454 outpatients from a neuropsychology clinic. Data from the Family Pictures I (FPI) and Family Pictures II (FPII) subtests, in addition to scores obtained from commonly used measures of memory, verbal, visual, and executive functioning were analyzed via hierarchical multiple regression analyses, co-varying for age and education. The current study also explores the extent to which the FP's individual components of character, location, and action load on factors of general verbal and visual-spatial abilities in a sample of 193 neuropsychology clinic outpatients. Results were obtained via three separate exploratory factor analyses (one for each FP component examined). Results of the multiple regression analyses indicated that FP I and FP II performance is best predicted by a mixed visual/verbal memory factor. Furthermore, the factor analyses revealed that all three components of location, action, and character load on a mixed general visual ability and general memory factor. These findings expand upon previous research by lending greater understanding of the skills needed for successful FP performance in neuropsychologically impaired populations.
31
Deutsher, Megan Mary, and deutsher@bigpond com. "A neuropsychological asessement of adult sex offenders." Swinburne University of Technology. Brain Sciences Institute, 2004. http://adt.lib.swin.edu.au./public/adt-VSWT20060711.090050.
Full textAbstract:
There is widespread concern within at least Western cultures of the potential damage that sex offenders may cause to society. The government statistics highlight a frightening pattern of sexual abuse in Australia, with the trend implicating that sexual assault is on the rise and that children are the predominant victims (ABS, 2003b). Specifically, 17,850 reports of sexual assault were recorded in 2002, a 6% increase since 2001. Further to this, there is still no universal agreement as to the extent to which treatment effectively reduces sexual recidivism. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research into this problem behaviour. Research examining the causes of sexual offending has examined a biological hypothesis that sex offenders have functional brain impairment. However, the results of neuropsychological
assessments of various sex offender populations are inconsistent and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the brain function of males convicted and incarcerated for sexual offences against children using neuropsychological assessment. Specifically, it was hypothesised that the sex offenders would show functional impairment in their frontal and temporal lobes. A battery of neuropsychological tests was compiled to assess the functions of these regions including four WAIS-Ill subtests (Arithmetic, Vocabulary, Block Design and Picture Arrangement), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Rey Complex Figure (RCF), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the FAS Test. These tests were administered to 25
incarcerated male sex offenders, 25 incarcerated male non-sex offenders and 25 men with no criminal history. Although attempts were made to match these groups on age, level of education and level of intelligence, statistical analyses revealed that there were significant differences between the groups on these variables. These differences were statistically controlled using analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) and factorial analyses of variance (ANOVA).
The results indicated that the sex offenders performed significantly worse than the controls on all neuropsychological tests. However, statistically significant differences were only found between the sex offenders and control group on the immediate recall trials of the RAVLT and RCF. These observed differences did not change when age, level of education and level of intelligence were statistically controlled. It was concluded that there is insufficient evidence from this study to support the hypothesis that sex offenders have functional impairment in their frontal and temporal lobes. However, given the relevance of potential brain impairment to both the biological and social-cognitive perspectives of sexual offending, future research in this field is warranted.
32
au, marie@ca com, and Marie Hardman. "Patterns of performance : implications for the Rey auditory verbal learning test." Murdoch University, 2001. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20071119.113556.
Full textAbstract:
Three studies investigated patterns of performance as demonstrated by the serial position on the Rey Auditory Verbal Leaning Test (RAVLT). Patterns of performance were explored in a sample of genuine traumatic brain injured subjects who were litigating (TBI-LIT; N = 22) and compared to a sample of genuine traumatic brain injured subjects who were not in litigation (TBI-NONLIT; N = 22).
Comparisons were also made to a sample of subjects who were depressed but not neurologically compromised (PSY-DEP; N = 24). Results demonstrated that when time for loss of consciousness was controlled for, no difference existed between the litigating and non-litigating groups on any serial position. With this in mind the TBILIT and TBI NON-LIT groups were collapsed to form one traumatic brain injured group (TBI; N = 44). Patterns of performance were then compared between the TBI group, the PSY-DEP group and a normal control (NC; N = 68) group. No differences were demonstrated between the TBI and PSY-DEP groups on any serial position however, the NC group demonstrated significantly different primacy effects than the TBI group and significantly different recency effects than both the TBI and PSY-DEP groups (Study 1). Patterns of performance relative to the serial position were also compared in a group of Alzheimers Disease (AD; N=20) and dementia(DEM; N=20) subjects. Results indicated that the DEM group demonstrated a greater primacy effect than the AD group with both groups demonstrating a greater recency effect when compared to the primacy effect but no significantly so. Patterns of performance was also explored in a group of Huntington's Disease subjects (HD; =14) with this group demonstrating a significantly reduced primacy effect as compared to a recency effect (Study 2). In the third study patterns of performance were compared in a group of subjects having sustained fiontal lobe (FL; N=21) and
posterior lobe (PL; N=21) lesions to the brain. Subjects with PL lesions demonstrated a signifckntly greater primacy effect as compared to the FL group with both groups demonstrating a reduced recency effect. Comparisons were also made between the PL and FL groups with normal control groups (FL-NC; N = 21: PL-NC; N = 21) and results indicated that the FL group demonstrated a significantly reduced primacy and recency effect when compared to the normal control group. When comparisons were made between the PL and a normal control group, the PL group demonstrated a significantly reduced recency effect as compared to normal controls. Pattern of performance were also explored in a small sample of subjects with diffuse
DIFF; N=6) damage to the brain and results demonstrated that this group displayed a reduced recency effect as compared to the primacy effect (Study 3). Overall, when examining the serial position effects across all experimental groups, subjects who had sustained a traumatic injury to the brain or who were depressed all demonstrated a greater primacy effect as compared to the recency effect by recalling more words on that position. This contrasted the pattern of performance which emerged with various dementing processes where more words were recalled in the recency position as compared to the primacy position. Results for all studies were analyzed using MANOVA followed by the Sheffe procedure.
33
Volpe, Alessandra G. "Predicting neurological impairment with the Dean-Woodcock Sensory Motor Battery." Virtual Press, 2004. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1292040.
Full textAbstract:
An integral part of neuropsychological assessment is the measurement of sensory-motor performance. Many studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of neuropsychological batteries to assess neurological impairment, however examination of only the sensory-motor portion of those measures has been limited. Investigations of tests of sensory and motor functions have often limited their analysis to single tests. The present study assessed the ability of the Dean-Woodcock Sensory Motor Battery (DWSMB), part of a new neuropsychological measure, the Dean-Woodcock Neuropsychological Battery (DWNB), to distinguish between normal subjects and neurologically impaired individuals as diagnosed by a neurologist. Scores from the subtests of the DWSMB from an existing data set for 250 normal and 250 neurologically impaired individuals were randomly assigned to two equal groups to allow for cross validation. Results indicated that the DWSMB was able to correctly identify 92.8% of the cases, identifying 94.4% of the normal population and 91.2% of the neurologically impaired subjects. An additional discriminant analysis was conducted to establish the accuracy of the DWSMB to identify individual diagnoses within neurologically impaired and normal subjects. The DWSMB correctly identified the following cases: 44.9% cardio-vascular accidents, 66.7% multiple sclerosis, 40% seizures, 42% traumatic brain injuries, 62.7% dementia, and 54.5% Parkinson's disease. Results indicated the usefulness of the DWSMB in identifying neurological damage and specific diagnoses in a relatively quick assessment. The utility of the DWSMB and the use of standardized administration procedures, behavioral information for evaluation, and measures of subcortical functions was discussed in light of future research. The potential use of the DWSMB in clinical and educational settings was also considered.Department of Educational Psychology
34
Savla, Gauri Nayak. "Executive functions in schizophrenia defining and refining the constructs /." Diss., [La Jolla] : [San Diego] : University of California, San Diego ; San Diego State University, 2009. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p3349662.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2009.Title from first page of PDF file (viewed April 16, 2009). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-94).
35
Covert, Julie Hart Franks Susan F. "Neurocognitive variables underlying group performance on a measure of effort the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) /." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2008. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-9787.
Full text
36
Keil, MIchael M. "Brief neuropsychological assessment in the prediction of everyday functional abilities of older adults." Ohio : Ohio University, 2005. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1113582582.
Full text
37
Batchelor, Ervin S. "Neuropsychological aspects of arithmetic performance in children with learning disorders." Virtual Press, 1989. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/558341.
Full textAbstract:
The present study investigated the neuropsychological predictors of auditory/verbal and visual/written arithmetic performance in a large sample of children with learning disorders. In addition, the efficacy of a cognitive based arithmetic problem solving model (Dinnel, Glover, & Halpain, in press; Dinnel, Glover, & Ronning, 1984) in accounting for neuropsychological functioning in arithmetic performance was considered. Subjects were from a small midwestern school district, and were identified as learning disabled in accord with state (i.e., Rule S-1) and federal guidelines (i.e., PL-94-142). Specifically, subjects' scores on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB) (Reitan, 1969) for older children and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) (Wechsler, 1974) were used to predict performance on the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) Arithmetic subtest, and WISC-R Arithmetic subtest. Analyses were conducted with criterion measures considered separately and as a composite. In an attempt to examine the utility of the Dinnel et al., (in press; 1984) model, a simple index was formed using the criterion measures. This index was then predicted using the HRNB and WISC-R variables. Neuropsychological variables were found to account for some 31%, and 36% of the variability in visual/written and auditory/verbal arithmetic performance, respectively. However, neuropsychological variables accounted for some 87% of the shared variance when arithmetic measures were considered as a linear composite. Neuropsychological variables predicted a mere 12% of the variability associated with the index designed to test the Dinnel et al. (in press; 1984) arithmetic problem solving model. These data offered some support to Dinnel and others' (Dinnel et al., in press; 1984) formulations accounting for arithmetic performance under visual/stimulus conditions. However, the present findings indicated a more complex neuropsychological underpinning for overall arithmetic problem solving. Moreover, the neuropsychological constructs predicting arithmetic scores varied as a function of the stimulus/performance modes required for problem solving.Auditory-verbal attention and short-term memory, remote verbal memory, symbolic language integration, mental flexibility, and nonverbal abstract reasoning were the common neuropsychological constructs underpinning both auditory/verbal and visual/written arithmetic performance. Verbal facility, verbal abstract reasoning, nonverbal short term memory, and nonverbal concrete concept formation were uniquely implicated in auditory/verbal arithmetic performance. Visual/written arithmetic performance was uniquely related to nonverbal attention and intermediate nonverbal memory functions. In overview, it would seem that neuropsychological measures would be clinically useful in identifying deficits underlying poor arithmetic performance.Department of Educational Psychology
38
Aronson, Steven. "The relative discriminatory power of a selection of neuropsychological tests in Alzheimer's disease." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007498.
Full text
39
Cannon, Gregg Eugene 1956. "A MICROCOMPUTER TEST CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM APPLIED TO "CRACK THE CODE"." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/275534.
Full text
40
Sakamoto, Maiko Spiers Mary. "Comparing Alzheimer's Disease and vascular dementia profiles on neuropsychological tests among Japanese elders /." Philadelphia, Pa. : Drexel University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1860/3021.
Full text
41
Byrd, Desiree Anastacia. "The effects of early environmental experiences on African-American neuropsychological test performance /." Diss., Connect to a 24 p. preview or request complete full text in PDF format. Access restricted to UC campuses, 2001. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p3026369.
Full text
42
Woodward, Helen R. "Reliability of traditional neurological sensory and motor tests." Virtual Press, 1996. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1036814.
Full textAbstract:
Tests of sensory and motor function are widely used by clinicians and researchers in neurology, psychiatry, and neuropsychology. Less than perfect performance on many of these tests may be considered pathognomonic of central nervous system dysfunction. Unfortunately, differences across practitioners in specific test selection, administration procedures, and scoring criteria have resulted in inconsistencies which confound attempts to study the incidence and patterns of deficits (Adams & Victor, 1993; Glick, 1993). Although as a group psychologists favor standardized, quantitative instruments, the field has lacked a comprehensive, standardized sensory and motor battery. That psychologists have not developed such a battery may reflect the notion that pathognomonic signs are ambiguous and unstable (Buchanan & Heinrichs, 1989) and the fact that some traditional test development procedures are often inappropriate.For the Dean-Woodcock Sensory and Motor Battery, Dean and Woodcock (1994) selected measures representative of those included in the traditional neurological examination.Measures of subcortical function, unavailable in the major neuropsychological batteries, were included to allow differentiation with right hemisphere impairment.Using standard procedures for administration and scoring, this study gathered preliminary data regarding the incidence of pathognomonic signs in a normal adult population, identified items with difficulty levels likely to result in overidentification of abnormality, and estimated the interrater agreement and interrater reliability for items and tests most vulnerable to subjective interpretation. Data analysis reflected consideration of Franzen's (1989) argument that reliability can be better understood through use of multiple estimation strategies and Cicchetti's argument that data needs to be considered at "finer levels of molecular analysis" (p.621). In addition to investigating interrater agreement, this study applied generalizability theory which allows for simultaneous estimation of the relative proportion of variance contributed by multiple sources and their interactions.Results suggested adequate to excellent rater agreement and reliability (i.e., generalizability). Also, with minor modification of specific items, generalizability of items may be expected to increase. Future studies should sample from a more heterogenous general population and specific clinical populations.Department of Educational Leadership
43
Daly, Nigel. "Provisional formulation of normative data for semi and unskilled black and coloured workers on the Trail making Test." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17072.
Full textAbstract:
Includes bibliography.This study provides a provisional normative range of performance for the South African semi- and unskilled black and coloured population groups on the Trail Making Test. One hundred and six black and coloured semi- and unskilled workers from the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, satisfying the criteria of 8 years or less of formal education, with no neurological impairment or psychopathology, and some degree of literacy, were randomly selected. Parts A and B of the Trail Making Test were then administered and scored, and the scores reported in tabular form, broken up in terms of race, age and education. A statistical analysis (multiple linear regression) was applied to the data and additional information on the effects of age, education and sex on test performance briefly discussed in terms of previous research findings. The results of this study add weight to Dugmore's (1987) assertion that existing norms currently in use for the Trail making Test are invalid for these population groups. Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research were also briefly discussed.
44
Perniskie, Ellie Marie. "Comparison of a virtual-reality test of executive function with standard executive function tests and their ecological validity." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Department of Psychology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/10865.
Full textAbstract:
Virtual-reality neuropsychological tests offer a novel way to assess real-life executive functioning within the context of standardized test conditions whilst maximizing ecological validity. Given the limited empirical evidence base for many of these virtual-reality tests, the current study aimed to further examine the relative ecological validity, sensitivity to brain-injury and diagnostic accuracy of the virtual-reality based Jansari assessment of Executive Functions (JEF). To do this, the test was compared to seven standard tests of executive function, in a New Zealand sample of 27 brain-injured and 28 non brain-injured participants matched for age, gender and education. The JEF’s ecological validity was supported, with JEF total percent scores exhibiting large correlations with participants’ independently reported levels of everyday functioning, as measured by the Dysexecutive Questionnaire: Independent-Rater (DEX-IR) and Patient Competency Rating Scale-Relative (PCRS-R) (both rs = 0.606, p < 0.001). Compared to the standard executive function test variables included in the current study, the JEF’s associations with the everyday functioning measures were the largest, but only significantly larger than the respective correlations of some standard executive function test variables. These results indicated that the JEF is trending towards being relatively more ecologically valid than most of the standard executive function tests included in the study. The JEF also exhibited good sensitivity to brain-injury and diagnostic accuracy for discriminating brain-injured from non brain-injured participants, which was generally consistent with most of the standard tests, but only significantly better than some. These results provide empirical support for the JEF’s clinical utility, particularly in the assessment of brain-injured persons’ functional abilities. It also suggests that both virtual-reality and standard executive function tests have a place in the routine neuropsychological test batteries used to assess brain-injured persons.
45
Wisniewski, Ilona. "Neuropsychological aspects of right temporal lobe epilepsy : visual memory and perception." Phd thesis, Université de Strasbourg, 2012. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00865637.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of the present thesis was to advance the knowledge of diagnostic procedures for lateralizing visual memory deficits and to study the characteristics of perception in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The first study examined the appropriateness of four routinely used learning and reproduction visuo-spatial memory tests as an identification method for right mesial temporal lobe dysfunctions. Various statistical methods illustrate the tests poor capacity to lateralize the functional deficit zone, even when epilepsy-related clinical and other cognitive factors were controlled. The second study is built upon the results of the first, aiming to validate a new test paradigm for lateralizing right hippocampal dysfunctions. Thus we assessed mesial TLE patients preoperatively with the Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS-48) task and postoperatively with two parallel versions that we had developed and standardized in healthy controls. Our analysis suggests that the DMS-48 and its parallel versions were able to lateralize the epileptic onset zone pre- and postsurgically. The third part consists of an expansion from visual memory to visual perception. A study of single case suggests that visual object recognition and visual imagery are sustained by cortical areas located in proximity to the temporo-occipital ventral pathway and that perception and imagery for space is subserved by mechanisms, which are close anatomically, and outside the ventral path. Furthermore, the results seem to indicate that nonlesional paroxysmal activity in the posterior temporal lobe can cause chronic dysfunctions of the visual system, which may be reversible with effective seizure control.
46
Nyangwa, Unathi. "The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test : normative data for the Xhosa-speaking population and analysis of the influence of the quality of education." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6270.
Full textAbstract:
Objective. The aim of this study was to develop and establish norms for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) for Xhosa speaking adults with a grade 11 or 12 qualification obtained from a previously disadvantaged educational background in the Eastern Cape. Method. The sampleconsisted of a non-clinical group of South African Eastern Cape Xhosa speaking adults (N = 40), aged 19-40, with Grade 11 or 12 level of education received in former Department of Education and Training (DET) schools. Independent t-test analyses were used to compare test performance ofmale and female research subjects; to compare young adults versus older adult age categories and to compare performance between rural and urban research subjects. In addition, differences between the SA RAVLT norms imitative from this study compared to the Australian standardisation on the young adult category was measured. Results. The findings revealed no statistical significant influence of age; sex or rural and urban schooling among the disadvantaged population of the Eastern Cape on RAVLT performance. Additionally, differences on test performance between research-subjects from South Africa compared to Australian research subjects was evident with Australian research subjects performing better on all the sub-components of the RAVLT measure. Conclusions. It is concluded that clinicians will be able to use the RAVLT with more confidence with this educationally disadvantaged Xhosa speaking population. These RAVLT normative data should not be generalised to other languages; other race groups, or other age categories of individuals other than the ones represented in this study.
47
Gelder, Barbara C. "The efficacy of a neuropsychological symptom inventory in the differential diagnosis of medical, psychiatric, and malingering patients." Virtual Press, 1999. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1159140.
Full textAbstract:
Neuropsychologists are increasingly asked to determine whether a patient may be malingering symptoms of a mild closed head injury. This issue is particularly salient within the context of civil litigation and the potential of significant financial awards. Patients' performances on neuropsychological tests have historically been assumed to accurately reflect their abilities and deficits. Optimal motivation and performance cannot be automatically assumed within the context of litigation. Moreover, comorbid anxiety and depression are frequently present in head injury patients and adversely affect the patient's performance.The frequent comorbidity of psychiatric and medical symptoms complicates interpretation of a patient's neuropsychological evaluation whether or not the patient is involved in litigation. This comorbidity may result in an inaccurate diagnosis, thus delaying treatment potentially causing greater harm to the patient.The present study was conducted to expand previous research that discriminated between simulated malingered and neurological patient responses to a neuropsychological self-report inventory. Additionally, the study investigated the, utility of the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory in discriminating between simulated medical, psychiatric and malingered patient responses. Results indicated that the NSI was able to discriminate malingered responses from medical and psychiatric patient responses. However, applying a lie scale derived from previous research with the NSI did not allow discrimination between the malingered group and the psychiatric patients. Use of a factor solution derived from earlier research may offer not only greater prediction in detection of malingerers, but also evaluation of symptom profiles of medical and psychiatric patients. The NSI may provide an efficient screen for exaggerated symptoms as well as an indication of the level of general neuropsychological functioning of the patient when included in a neuropsychological evaluation.Department of Educational Psychology
48
Ruffolo, Jessica Somerville. "Visuoconstructional impairement : what are we assessing, and how are we assessing it? /." View online ; access limited to URI, 2004. http://0-wwwlib.umi.com.helin.uri.edu/dissertations/dlnow/3147803.
Full text
49
Tayler, Georgia. "Organization & recall : a study of the Rey Complex Figure test." Thesis, Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/141434.
Full text
50
Valentine, Sarah, and n/a. "Neuropsychological functioning of patients before and after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery." University of Otago. Dunedin School of Medicine, 2007. http://adt.otago.ac.nz./public/adt-NZDU20070803.140127.
Full textAbstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects millions of people worldwide. Many of these people require treatment for their condition, and for roughly a million individuals each year, this treatment includes coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery - a procedure that aims to restore proper blood flow to the arteries of the heart. Although the physical impact of CVD and CABG surgery are well-known, their cognitive impact has not been clearly established. Recent studies suggest that both CVD and CABG surgery may have a detrimental effect on neuropsychological functioning. The first goal of the present study was to cognitively assess patients with severe, chronic CVD to determine the association of heart disease with neuroopsychological functioning. The second goal was to then continue monitoring these patients once they had undergone CABG surgery to establish what cogntive effect this treatment has.
CABG surgery has traditionally been performed with the aid of a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine, but in the past decade, another technique, in which the heart remains beating, has been developed. Some have argued that this beating heart surgery (BHS) may be a superior alternative to the CPB procedure. Consequently, the third goal of the present study was to compare outcomes in patients undergoing these two surgical procedures.
The present study had a prospective, double blind design. Patients were randomly assigned to either CPB surgery (CPBS) or BHS. Sixty-three patients were recruited and underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment preoperatively and 6 days, 6 weeks and 30 weeks postoperatively.
Despite including a higher risk group than previous comparative studies, there were virtually no differences between the CPBS and BHS groups. When the groups were combined and the sample was examined as a whole, the patients were cognitively impaired even before their surgery. Given that their premorbid abilities were estimated to be in the average range, their pre-surgery deficits were likely to be the result of a long-standing history of CVD.
Immediately after surgery (Day 6), the neuropsychological performance of the sample decreased further, but they had significantly improved by Week 6 and this improvement increased further by the Week 30 time-point (with many scores in the average range). This postoperative recovery suggests that the decline these patients exhibit preoperatively may be reversible and that rather than causing cognitive deficits, CABG surgery may ultimately improve both cardiac and cognitive health.
Psychologically, patients in the present sample reported the highest level of anxious and depressive symptoms, and the lowest quality of life, pre-surgically, but their psychological health gradually improved over the course of the postoperative period. Compared to other samples, however, the present sample were generally psychologically healthy.