Ernest Tyburski

New diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders and novel treatment approaches - 2014 update

The study is aimed at presenting new diagnostic and therapeutic proposals for patients with alcohol use disorders. The revised ICD-11 which is currently being updated is coming closer to American standards in disease classification. The latest update of the American DSM-5 has been a notable step forward as it integrates alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into a single disorder called alcohol use disorder. Recent developments in research into diagnostic tools have brought changes in the approach to therapy. According to most international guidelines, the form of treatment should be customised to the individual patient, with consideration given to his/her mental and physical condition, personality and natural setting. A significant change is the recommendation of a harm reduction strategy as a useful alternative to total abstinence in alcohol dependence treatment for some patients.

Executive Function Deficits in Patients after Cerebellar Neurosurgery.

The cerebellum has long been perceived as a structure responsible for the human motor function. According to the contemporary approach, however, it plays a significant role in complex behavior regulatory processes. The aim of this study was to describe executive functions in patients after cerebellar surgery. The study involved 30 patients with cerebellar pathology. The control group comprised 30 neurologically and mentally healthy individuals, matched for sex, age, and number of years of education. Executive functions were measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Trail Making Test (TMT), and working memory by the Digit Span. Compared to healthy controls, patients made more Errors and Perseverative errors in the WCST, gave more Perseverative responses, and had a lower Number of categories completed. The patients exhibited higher response times in all three parts of the SCWT and TMT A and B. No significant differences between the two groups were reported in their performance of the SCWT and TMT with regard to the measures of absolute or relative interference. The patients had lower score on the backward Digit Span. Patients with cerebellar pathology may exhibit some impairment within problem solving and working memory. Their worse performance on the SCWT and TMT could, in turn, stem from their poor motor-somatosensory control, and not necessarily executive deficits. Our results thus support the hypothesis of the cerebellums mediating role in the regulation of the activity of the superordinate cognitive control network in the brain. (JINS, 2016, 22, 47-57).

Neuropsychological Profile of Specific Executive Dysfunctions in Patients with Deficit and Non-deficit Schizophrenia

Objectives: Although it has been shown that there are more profound deficits present in deficit schizophrenia (DS) patients than in non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients, there still remain some matters requiring further investigation. In this context, we formulated three research aims: (1) to compare executive functions between the investigated groups, (2) to determine the relationship between particular aspects of executive functions within the groups, and (3) to draw up a neuropsychological profile for executive functions. Methods: The study involved 148 schizophrenia patients divided into two groups on the basis of the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome: DS (n = 70) and NDS (n = 78). Patients were matched for sex, age, years of education, and overall cognitive functioning. For assessing executive functions we used the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Phonemic Verbal Fluency Test (VFT P), the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), and the Go/No Go task (GNG). Results: Deficit schizophrenia patients scored lower on the WCST and TMT (relative flexibility) than did the NDS patients. There were no inter-group differences in the VFT P, SCWT (relative inhibition), or GNG. There were significant correlations between WCST and TMT scores in both groups. The general neuropsychological profiles were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Deficit schizophrenia patients exhibited slightly greater interference with concept formation and non-verbal cognitive flexibility. Therefore, such problems may be specific to this particular type of schizophrenia. These results may be useful for the development of neuropsychological diagnostic methods for patients with schizophrenia.

Psychological Determinants of Decision Making

Decision making has been a subject of study in many scientific fields. It is psychological studies, however, that have brought significant contribution to understanding mechanisms that underlie making choices by individuals. The purpose of this chapter is first of all the description of mental processes, also referred to as decision-making activities, that are involved in various stages of decision-making. The second purpose is to present two systems of information processing which are engaged in varying degrees in the process. Moreover, the chapter describes the strategy of decision making, i.e. the heuristics allowing for prompt and economical actions. It also defines the role of free will and self-control in the decision-making processes. What is of key importance is the explanation from the psychological perspective of the process of decision making under uncertainty as well as the discussion of potential negative consequences of complex decisions made by individuals, groups and communities.

Emotions in Decision Making

A blend of research methods applied in psychology, economics and neurology has contributed to deeper understanding of the causes and effects of emotional processes in decision making. New paradigms initiated the studies on the role of emotions and cognitive processes in decision making. When making choices, a human being formulates their cognitive judgments on the basis of their affective experience. The studies point to both the adaptive and nonadaptive effect of emotional experience. Intense emotions moderate or modify the cognitive processes that are a part of decision making. Therefore, in the light of current scientific knowledge, the complexity and importance of emotional processes must be taken into account when analyzing the decision-making processes.

Obraz ekspresji seksualnej w okresie późnej dorosłości. Stereotypy a fakty empiryczne

Understanding of late adulthood period is associated with a number of misunderstandings and stereotypes. They affect the functioning in the sexual sphere, among others. Here, particularly emphasized is the myth of the “natural” and socially expected asexuality i