Lina Velilla

Emotional processing in Colombian ex-combatants and its relationship with empathy and executive functions

In this work, the neural correlates of emotional processing in Colombian ex-combatants with different empathy profiles were compared to normal controls matched for age, gender and educational level. Forty ex-combatants and 20 non ex-combatants were recruited for this study. Empathy levels as well as executive functions were measured. Empathy level was used to create three groups. Group 1 (G1) included ex-combatants with normal empathy scores, and Group 2 included ex-combatants with low scores on at least one empathy sub-scales. In control group (Ctrl), participants with no antecedents of being combatants and with normal scores in empathy were included. Age, gender, educational and intelligence quotients level were controlled among groups. event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while individuals performed an affective picture processing task that included positive, neutral and negative emotional stimuli, which elicit an early modulation of emotion categorization (Early Posterior Negativity (EPN)) and late evaluative process (LPP). EPN differences were found among affective categories, but no group effects were observed at this component. LPP showed a main effect of category and group (higher amplitudes in ex-combatants). There was an inverse correlation between empathy and executive functions scores and ERPs. Results are discussed according to the impact of emotional processing on empathy profile.

Dimensiones de la empatía en excombatientes del conflicto armado colombiano utilizando una escala estandarizada

INTRODUCTION Empathy is one of the main concepts of in social neurosciences. It is defined as a trait with multiple dimensions allowing individuals to place themselves in the emotional states of others. Colombia has an irregular, internal and long-lasting armed conflict which has been increasing its cruelty levels. OBJECTIVES to assess the empathy dimensions of 285 ex-combatants from the internal Colombian conflict, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index(IRI) in Spanish. METHODOLOGY AND SUBJECTS: a sample of 285 male ex-combatants, 241 (84, 6%) males: 85,3% paramilitaries, and 14,7% guerillas. The 28 Item IRI questionnaires were administered. 3 exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were performed. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were developed using structural equation procedures. RESULTS The first EFA obtained 9 factors (KMO=0,74, variance 54,7% and internal consistency (IC): 0,22 - 0,63). The second EFA produced 20 items with burdens above 0,4 and showed a 6-factor structure (KMO=0,70, variance 50,3%, IC: 0,37 - 0,63). The third EFA forced the 4 original IRI dimensions (KMO=0,74, variance 33,77, IC: 0,44 - 0,77. CFAs showed goodness of adjustment indexes adequate for the three models. The 4-factor model obtained the lowest value, while the 6-factor model obtained the highest. The 4- factor model showed the best IC. CONCLUSION The Spanish IRI administered to ex-combatants of the Colombian conflict has possible structures of 4, 6 and 9 factors. The best adjustment was for the 6-fctor. The 4-factor model exhibited the best IC.Resumen Introduccion La empatia es uno de los constructos de la llamadas neurociencias sociales. Se define como una disposicion de dimensiones multiples que permite colocarse en el estado emocional del otro. Colombia presenta un conflicto interno irregular prolongado, que ha venido deteriorandose en crueldad. Objetivos Evaluar las dimensiones de la empatia de 285 excombatientes del conflicto armado colombiano, usando el Indice de Reactividad Interpersonal (IRI) en espanol. Metodos y sujetos Se selecciono una muestra de 285 excombatientes, 241 (84,6%) hombres: 85,3% paramilitares y 14,7% guerrilleros. Se les aplico el IRI de 28 items. Se realizaron 3 analisis de factores exploratorios (AFE) y analisis factoriales confirmatorios (AFC), utilizando ecuaciones estructurales. Resultados Un primer AFE obtuvo 9 factores (KMO = 0,74 y 54,7% de varianza, consistencia interna [CI]: 0,22-0,63). Un segundo AFE con 20 items con cargas superiores a 0,4 mostro una estructura de 6 factores (KMO = 0,70, 50,3% de varianza; CI: 0,37-0,63). Un tercer AFE forzo las 4 dimensiones originales (KMO = 0,74, varianza 33,77% y CI: 0,44-0,77). El AFC mostro indices de bondad de ajuste adecuados para los 3 modelos. El de 4 factores obtuvo los mas bajos, y el de 6 factores, los mas altos. El modelo de 4 factores obtuvo la mejor CI. Conclusion El IRI en espanol en excombatientes del conflicto colombiano tiene estructuras posibles de 4, 6 y 9 factores. El mejor ajuste es la de 6 factores. La de 4 factores tuvo mejor CI.

Perfil psiquiátrico, cognitivo y de reconocimiento de características emocionales de un grupo de excombatientes de los grupos armados ilegales en Colombia

INTRODUCTION Exposure to armed conflict produces biological adaptations oriented to handle the highly stressful conditions in war environments. The special features of The Colombian armed create a special scenario to evaluate the human behavior. OBJECTIVE In this study, psychiatric, cognitive and emotional processing characteristics of a group of Colombian armed illegal forces of ex-combatants are described. METHODS Sixty-three ex combatants and 22 controls were assessed with WAIS (IQ), INECO frontal screening (executive functions), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (empathy), emotional features recognition and MINI (psychiatric profile). RESULTS When compared to the control group, ex-combatants showed higher frequency of antisocial personality disorder (P=.031) and behavioral dissocial disorder (P=.017). In cognitive profile, the ex-combatants showed a lower score in the executive function test (Me=18.50; RQ=4.00), control (Me=23.00; RQ=5.25), with a poor personal distress in emphatic profile (Me=10.00; RQ=5.00) compared to control group (Me=37.00; RQ=7.25). CONCLUSIONS We found differences in cognitive and psychiatric profile in ex-combatants in comparison with controls.

Novel cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis mutation causes familial early dementia in Colombia

INTRODUCTION Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is an infrequent cause of dementia. It is an autosomal recessive disorder with clinical and molecular heterogeneity. OBJECTIVE To identify the presence of a possible mutation in a Colombian family with several affected siblings and clinical characteristics compatible with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis associated to early dementia. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied a series of cases with longitudinal follow-up and genetic analysis. RESULTS These individuals had xanthomas, mental retardation, psychiatric disorders, behavioral changes, and multiple domains cognitive impairment with dysexecutive dominance that progressed to early dementia. CYP27A1 gene coding region sequencing revealed a novel mutation (c.1183_1184insT). CONCLUSION The mutation found in this family is responsible for the described dementia features. Early identification of familial history with mental retardation, xanthomas and cognitive impairment might prevent the progression to this treatable type of dementia. Even though this mutation lies in the most frequently mutated codon of CYP27A1 gene, it has not been reported previously.

Nueva mutación para xantomatosis cerebrotendinosa causa demencia temprana familiar en Colombia

INTRODUCTION Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is an infrequent cause of dementia. It is an autosomal recessive disorder with clinical and molecular heterogeneity. OBJECTIVE To identify the presence of a possible mutation in a Colombian family with several affected siblings and clinical characteristics compatible with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis associated to early dementia. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied a series of cases with longitudinal follow-up and genetic analysis. RESULTS These individuals had xanthomas, mental retardation, psychiatric disorders, behavioral changes, and multiple domains cognitive impairment with dysexecutive dominance that progressed to early dementia. CYP27A1 gene coding region sequencing revealed a novel mutation (c.1183_1184insT). CONCLUSION The mutation found in this family is responsible for the described dementia features. Early identification of familial history with mental retardation, xanthomas and cognitive impairment might prevent the progression to this treatable type of dementia. Even though this mutation lies in the most frequently mutated codon of CYP27A1 gene, it has not been reported previously.

Demencia frontotemporal: variante temporal derecha, reporte de dos casos

Right temporal frontotemporal dementia is an anatomic variant of frontotemporal dementia. It is associated with some characteristic behavioral and cognitive symptoms: topographic agnosia, spatial disorientation, prosopagnosia, obsessive behaviors, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, disinhibition and lack of empathy. Here we report two clinical cases, that, from a clinical and radiologic point of view, illustrate the right variant of frontotemporal dementia.

Cognitive performance in asymptomatic carriers of mutations R1031C and R141C in CADASIL

Abstract CADASIL is the most common hereditary cause of repeated ischemic strokes, and has also been identified as a model of pure vascular dementia. The objective of this study was to establish the cognitive performance of asymptomatic carriers with the mutations R1031C and R141C. This observational crosssectional analytical study divided subjects into three groups: asymptomatic carriers of the R1031C mutation (𝑛 = 39), asymptomatic carries of the R141C mutation (𝑛 = 8) and noncarriers (𝑛 = 50). Statistically significant differences were found (𝑝 < 0.05) between the group of the R1031C mutation and the noncarriers in constructional praxis, executive function and abstract reasoning. For the R141C mutation, scores below expected values in executive function and mental calculation were observed. It is concluded that asymptomatic carriers of the two mutations showed low performance in working memory, mental abstraction and processing speed, which could be associated with preclinical cognitive biomarkers preceding the presentation of the first vascular event.

Relationships between baseline biomarkers and subsequent cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired PSEN1 E280A mutation carriers from the colombian kindred with autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease

VFT Normal 11 10 0.031* 6 15 0.151 12 9 0.070 Mildly impaired 5 11 2 14 7 9 Moderately impaired 4 21 2 23 6 19 mBNT Normal 14 16 0.063 8 22 0.058 15 15 0.323 Mildly impaired 3 13 2 14 5 11 Moderately impaired 3 13 0 16 5 11 MMSEKC Normal 1 2 0.056 0 3 0.002* 3 0 0.014* Mildly impaired 6 3 5 4 6 3 Moderately impaired 13 37 5 45 16 34 WLMT Normal 9 11 0.088 6 14 0.103 10 10 0.451 Mildly impaired 6 8 2 14 6 8 Moderately impaired 5 23 2 26 9 19 CPT Normal 15 25 0.111 9 31 0.167 19 21 0.295 Mildly impaired 5 9 1 13 4 10 Moderately impaired 0 8 0 8 2 6 WLRT Normal 7 2 0.005* 4 5 0.042* 6 3 0.215 Mildly impaired 2 10 1 11 4 8 Moderately impaired 11 30 5 36 15 26 WLRcT Normal 11 9 0.021* 7 13 0.014* 10 10 0.301 Mildly impaired 4 9 0 13 3 10 Moderately impaired 5 24 3 26 12 17 CRT Normal 6 4 0.116 4 6 0.051 6 4 0.333 Mildly impaired 2 7 2 7 4 5 Moderately impaired 12 31 4 39 15 28

Cognitive profiles of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a Colombian sample: A preliminary investigation

Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic and Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, United States; Memory Clinic, Charles University in Prague 2nd Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic; Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States; School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States; International Research Center, Brno, Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic. Contact e-mail: ksheardova@gmail.com