Alexandra Martini de Oliveira

Executive dysfunction correlates with impaired functional status in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported an association between executive dysfunction and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL)s among older adults. This study aims to examine the association between executive functions and functional status in a cross-section of older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. METHODS 89 individuals (mean age 73.8 years) were recruited at a memory clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. Subjects underwent evaluation, and were allocated into three diagnostic groups according to cognitive status: normal controls (NC, n = 32), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 31) and mild Alzheimers disease (AD, n = 26). Executive functions were assessed with the 25-item Executive Interview (EXIT25), and functional status was measured with the Direct Assessment of Functional Status test (DAFS-R). RESULTS Significantly different total DAFS-R scores were observed across the three diagnostic groups. Patients with AD performed significantly worse in EXIT25 compared with subjects without dementia, and no significant differences were detected between NC and MCI patients. We found a robust negative correlation between the DAFS-R and the EXIT25 scores (r =-0.872, p < 0.001). Linear regression analyses suggested a significant influence of the EXIT-25 and the CAMCOG on the DAFS-R scores. CONCLUSION Executive dysfunction and decline in general measures of cognitive functioning are associated with a lower ability to undertake instrumental ADLs. MCI patients showed worse functional status than NC subjects. MCI patients may show subtle changes in functional status that may only be captured by objective measures of ADLs.

Profiles of functional deficits in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: benefits from objective measurement.

The magnitude of functional impairment that may indicate the threshold between MCI and incipient Alzheimers disease (AD) has not been clearly defined. The objective was to examine the pattern of functional impairment in the continuum MCI-AD. Eighty-nine older adults (32 cognitively unimpaired, 31 MCI, and 26 AD patients) were examined with the Brazilian version of the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS-BR) at a university-based memory clinic. MCI patients were sub-divided according to the progression to AD upon follow-up, and had baseline cognitive, functional and biological variables analyzed. MCI patients displayed mild deficits in functional abilities, with intermediate scores as compared to controls and AD. The DAFS-BR items that differentiated MCI from controls involved the ability to deal with finances and shopping skills. At baseline, scores obtained by MCI patients who converted to AD were not significantly different from scores of nonconverters. The magnitude of functional deficits was associated with AD-like pathological findings in the CSF. In conclusion, MCI patients present with early functional changes in complex, instrumental abilities that require the integrity of memory and executive functions. The objective measurement of the functional state may help identify older adults with increased risk of developing dementia in the MCI-AD continuum.

Nonpharmacological Interventions to Reduce Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review.

Introduction. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are defined as a group of symptoms of disturbed perceptive thought content, mood, or behavior that include agitation, depression, apathy, repetitive questioning, psychosis, aggression, sleep problems, and wandering. Care of patients with BPSD involves pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. We reviewed studies of nonpharmacological interventions published in the last 10 years. Methods. We performed a systematic review in Medline and Embase databases, in the last 10 years, until June 2015. Key words used were (1) non-pharmacological interventions, (2) behavioral symptoms, (3) psychological symptoms, and (4) dementia. Results. We included 20 studies published in this period. Among these studies, program activities were more frequent (five studies) and the symptoms more responsive to the interventions were agitation. Discussion. Studies are heterogeneous in many aspects, including size sample, intervention, and instruments of measures. Conclusion. Nonpharmacological interventions are able to provide positive results in reducing symptoms of BPSD. Most studies have shown that these interventions have important and significant efficacy.

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the DAFS-R in a sample of Brazilian older adults.

The Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised (DAFS-R) is an instrument developed to objectively measure functional capacities required for independent living. The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the DAFS-R for Brazilian Portuguese (DAFS-BR) and to evaluate its reliability and validity. The DAFS-BR was administered to 89 older patients classified previously as normal controls, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimers disease (AD). The results indicated good internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha = 0.78) in the total sample. The DAFS-BR showed high interobserver reliability (0.996; p < .001) as well as test-retest stability over 1-week interval (0.995; p < .001). Correlation between the DAFS-BR total score and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) was moderate and significant (r = -.65, p < .001) in the total sample, whereas it did not reach statistical significance within each diagnostic group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that DAFS-BR has good sensitivity and specificity to identify MCI and AD. Results suggest that DAFS-BR can document degrees of severity of functional impairment among Brazilian older adults.

Family context and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP): Results from the Sao Paulo Study

BACKGROUND Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) depends on several factors, including socio-demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and contextual circumstances, such as availability of mental health services. Living arrangements may also play a role, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where most people who develop psychosis live with their relatives. METHODS Population-based study of first-episode psychosis in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants were aged 18-64 years, lived in a defined geographic area of the city and had a first contact in life with mental health services due to a psychotic episode. Duration of untreated psychosis was defined as the period between onset of first psychotic symptom and first contact with health service due to psychosis. The median DUP was used to classify participants into short and long DUP. Psychopathology, social adjustment and psychiatric diagnoses were made with standardized assessments. Type of service sought and living arrangements were examined. RESULTS Two hundred participants were included (52% women, 61% non-affective psychoses). The median DUP was 4.1 weeks (inter-quartile range: 1.9-11.4), and was shorter for affective psychoses. Most participants had their first contact with psychiatric emergency services. Those who did not live with a relative (children older than 18 years, parents, partner) were more likely to present long DUP (OR: 2.63; 95%CI: 0.98-7.04); p=0.05). CONCLUSION The DUP in São Paulo was shorter than expected. Living arrangements may play an important role in shortening the DUP in urban centres of low- and middle income countries that have a network of mental health services.

Parkinsonian, cerebellar, psychotic and demential symptoms in ex-boxer: case report

67 years-old male patient, ex-boxer, after the end of his sportive career, began to present neuropsychiatric manifestations possibly due to the successive brain injuries related to the boxing. In report to this case, we discuss the mean organic psychosyndromes related to the boxing.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Occupational Goal Intervention method for the improvement of executive functioning in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic disabling mental disorder that involves impairments in several cognitive domains, especially in executive functions (EF), as well as impairments in functional performance. This is particularly true in patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia (TRS). The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of the Occupational Goal Intervention (OGI) method for the improvement of EF in patients with TRS. In this randomized, controlled, single-blind pilot study, 25 TRS patients were randomly assigned to attend 30 sessions of either OGI or craft activities (control) over a 15-week period and evaluated by the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) as the primary outcome and the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS-BR) as well as the Independent Living Skills Survey (ILSS-BR) as secondary outcomes, all adapted for the Brazilian population. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used for monitoring symptom severity. Results showed significant statistical differences, favoring the OGI group in terms of improvement on the BADS, both in subtests (Action Program and Key Search) and the total score. Improvements in EFs were observed by families in various dimensions as measured by different subtests of the ILSS-BR inventory. The OGI group showed no significant results in secondary outcomes (DAFS-BR) except in terms of improvement of communication skills. Although preliminary, our results indicate that the OGI method is efficacious and effective for patients with TRS.

Assessment of impairment in activities of daily living in mild cognitive impairment using an individualized scale

Mild impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) can occur in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), but the nature and extent of these difficulties need to be further explored. The Canadian occupational performance measure (COPM) is one of the few individualized scales designed to identify self-perceived difficulties in ADL. The present study investigated impairments in ADL using the COPM in elderly with MCI. A total of 58 MCI patients were submitted to the COPM for studies of its validity and reliability. The COPM proved a valid and consistent instrument for evaluating ADL in elderly MCI patients. A total of 74.6% of the MCI patients reported difficulties in ADL. Of these problems, 41.2% involved self-care, 31.4% productivity and 27.4% leisure. This data further corroborates recent reports of possible functional impairment in complex ADL in MCI.

An intervention to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver burden in dementia: Preliminary results from a randomized trial of the tailored activity program-outpatient version

To evaluate the efficacy of the tailored activity program–outpatient version (TAP‐O) and to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in patients with dementia and caregiver burden compared with a control group (psychoeducation intervention).

Financial capacity in normal controls, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia: Assessing for clinical practice

P2-218 FINANCIAL CAPACITY IN NORMAL CONTROLS, MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, AND DEMENTIA: ASSESSING FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Alexandra Martini de Oliveira, Marcia Radanovic, Patr ıcia Cotting Homem de Melo, Diego Luis Celestino, Orestes Vicente Forlenza, Laboratory of Neuroscience, Lim 27, Institute of Psychiatry, University of S~ao Paulo, S~ao Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, University of S~ao Paulo, S~ao Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Psychiatry, University of S~ao Paulo, S~ao Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of S~ao Paulo, S~ao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Contact e-mail: xandamartini@usp.br