Barbara Bętkowska-Korpała

“Cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome CCAS – a case report”

Anna Starowicz-Filip1, Olga Milczarek2, Stanislaw Kwiatkowski2 , Barbara Betkowska-Korpala1, Katarzyna Prochwicz3: 1Medical Psychology Department, Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College; 2Neurosurgery Ward, Children’s University Hospital in Cracow; 3Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University. Correspondence address: starow@poczta.onet.pl Cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome CCAS – a case report

EPA-1136 – Cerebellar cognitive – affective syndrome ccas in children after posterior fossa tumor surgery

Introduction Cerebellum was typically associated with human motor functions. However, the past two decades of research have brought an increased number of reports indicating a markedly more extensive function of the cerebellum that also includes cognitive processes. In 1997 Schmahmann and Sherman described the complex neuropsychological problems manifested by the patients with cerebellar damages, which they termed as cerebellar cognitive-affective syndrome’ (CCAS). It consists of: executive dysfunctions, visual-spatial problems, mood disturbances and language impairments. This syndrome was observed mainly in adult patients. Aim The aim of the study was to describe the specificity of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome in children with cerebellar damage. Material and method We examined 25 children after posterior fossa tumor surgery, mainly astrocytomas, treated at the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery University Hospital in Cracow, Poland. The children were assessed by neuropsychological age-appropriate tests: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Word fluency, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Digit Span WISC-R, Ravens Progressive Matrices Test, Benton Visual Retention Test. Results The results of our research reveal the cognitive and emotional problems of children with cerebellar damages. We observed the executive dysfunctions, language and memory impairments, visual-spatial problems and emotional difficulties. The type of the cognitive impairments was significantly connected with the location of the cerebellar lesion. Conclusions Cerebellum plays an important role in the cognitive and emotional development of the children.

Marital relations of patients with myocardial infarction from the spouses’ perspective

Materials and method: Respondents (60 spouses: 17 men, 43 women) assessed the functioning of the marital dyad using the Family Assessment Questionnaire (modified by Cierpka). The first group of respondents (N=30) was tested in the period immediately after a heart attack, and the spouses assessed functioning in the period before the heart attack. The second group (N=30) was tested over 1 year after a heart attack.

Strategies for dealing with a mother who is struggling with leukemia – a case study over a three-year period

In the case under analysis the authors want to underline the relationship between motherhood (separation distress, longing for physical proximity) and undergoing through an illness (adaptation strategies). The adapted time-span of three years has given the possibility of observing the process of adaptation to the changed rhythm of life resulting from limitations connected with an illness and building up resources that are crucial in the treatment process in connection with attachment patterns. The presented case is built by qualitative thematic analysis and clinical case study in the context of two interrelated processes – adaptation to the motherhood and coping with an oncological illness. Tak mi było smutno, że jej nie mogę utulić, aż czułam taki ból w środku, jakby mi ktoś serce wyrwał (...) Podobno matka może wszystko. Jakoś tak czuję, że będzie dobrze. Że przetrwamy Słowa kluczowe: białaczka, macierzyństwo, więź, strategie radzenia sobie z chorobą, jakościowa analiza tematyczna.

EPA-1062 – Acceptance and suppression of negative and positive emotions in patients with depressive disorders

Introduction Emotional dysregulation represents a typical trait of many psychiatric disorders. One aspect of emotional regulation deficiencies are acceptance and suppression of negative and/or positive emotions. Changes of acceptance and suppression during the course of illness have not been investigated yet. Objectives Investigation of the course of emotional regulation strategies. Aims The purpose of this study was to investigate, 1. whether acceptance and suppression are related to positive and negative emotions; 2. if there is any change of acceptance and suppression over time; 3. whether depressive patients and healthy controls differ regarding acceptance and suppression levels. Methods Subjects were 40 patients with depression and 29 healthy controls. The study was conducted in the Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany. The patients were diagnosed according to DSM–IV criteria. BDI was used to assess the level of depressive symptoms. For the assessment of acceptance and suppression of negative and positive emotions the questionnaire FrAGe (Questionnaire of the acceptance of emotions) was used at the begin (T1) and at the end (T2) of inpatient treatment. Results Depressive patients reported reduced acceptance of positive and negative emotions. Although the level of acceptance was higher at T2, they still accepted their emotions less than the healthy controls. Patients also suppressed emotions more intensively than controls. Conclusions There are significant differences between depressive and healthy subject in terms of the acceptance and suppression of negative and positive emotions. Nevertheless, the suppression and acceptance of emotions are changing during treatment towards a more adaptive level.

EPA-1085 - Bipolar spectrum and temperament in alcohol-dependent patients

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mood disorder characterized by two distinct emotional states: mania and depression. Its exact causes still remain unexplained. An important aspect is the spectrum of BD which is a wider category of psychopatology of mood disorders. The special region of interest concerns bipolar spectrum in alcohol-dependent patients. In this study another variable, temperament, was examined on how it influences bipolar traits in alcohol-dependent sample and in healthy control. The main aim of this study was to determine whether alcohol-dependent patients express bipolar traits and which profile of temperament predisposes to such an expression. Mood Disorders Questionnaire and Hypomania Checklist were used for identifying bipolar traits in both groups. Temperament and Character Inventory was utilized to establish the temperament profile. There are distinguishable differences between the groups when bipolarity is concerned. Alcohol-dependent patients present more manic behavior during their life when compared to healthy controls. Both groups demonstrate different traits of character and temperament. The results concerning the influence of temperament on bipolarity could not be established but other results encourage to further research. Alcohol-dependent patients evince many qualities characteristic for bipolar spectrum throughout their life. The results of this study prove that there are often premises for stating a dual diagnose as the comorbidity of these two illnesses is high. There is also a specific profile of temperament which predisposes to alcohol abuse. This study may contribute to a better conceptualization of bipolar spectrum and in result help to improve comfort of patients.