NeuroRehabilitation - Volume 30, issue 3

Authors: Beis, Jean-Marie | Bertoni, Nadine | Isner-Horobeti, Marie-Eve | Kandel, Matthieu | Mainard, Didier | Martinet, Noel | Chapelain, Loïc Le | Paysant, Jean

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We report a case of a 29-year-old woman suffering from chronic factitious disorder (FD) with torsion dystonia. For nearly five years, she traveled widely over the country, going from one hospital to another, taking serious medical risk in order to prolong her illness. After several admissions to Rehabilitation Units and multiple explorations, we find convincing evidence for factitious origin and the diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome was evoked. Such a clinical presentation is infrequent in Munchausen's syndrome. Indeed, most often the clinical picture is characterized by acute abdominal pain, fainting, hemoptysis, precordialgia, hematemesis or dermatological lesions. Physicians should be aware of …this rare and potentially critical form of FD. Awareness in identifying these patients may lead to prevent unnecessary medical and/or surgical interventions. Show more

Keywords: Torsion dystonia, Munchausen syndrome, rehabilitation, factitious disorders

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2012-0750

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 235-237, 2012

Authors: Cha, Yu-Jin | Yoo, Eun-Young | Jung, Min-Ye | Park, Soo-Hyun | Park, Ji-Hyuk

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: Meta analysis of studies was carried out to examine the effectiveness of functional task training with mental practice on functional performance following stroke. Search strategy: An exhaustive search was conducted using computerized databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and EBSCO (CINAHL). Selection criteria: The search was performed using the following keywords: stroke, functional task, mental practice, randomized controlled trial. Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently retrieved appropriate RCTs, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of each study. Selected studies needed to report the statistical values necessary for calculating the effect …size, which was estimated using the standardized difference of the mean. Statistical heterogeneity and publication bias were also investigated. Results: The five studies included 146 participants. The overall effect size was moderate (0.51, p < 0.001). The 95% confidence interval was from 0.27 to 0.75. Significant heterogeneity and publications bias were not founded. Conclusion: The present study is the first meta-analysis conducted on the effectiveness of functional task training with mental practice in stroke. The results indicate the clinical effectiveness of functional task training with mental practice provided by occupational and physical therapists in stroke rehabilitation. Show more

Keywords: Mental practice, stroke, functional task, performance, combination, meta-analysis

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2012-0751

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 239-246, 2012

Authors: Drača, Sanja

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Purpose: The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate gender differences in rehabilitation outcome in patients after the first-ever unilateral stroke. Methods: A total of eighty right-handed patients were prospectively enrolled, 35 (44%) women, and 45 (56%) men. A degree of neurological deficit was quantified by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Functional outcome was assessed by the Motor Status Scale, Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory, Rivermead Mobility Index and Barthel Index. Results: At the time of hospital admission there was no significant gender difference in clinical stroke severity. At discharge, we registered …significantly better motor and functional recovery in men compared to women. Further, we found significantly better rehabilitation outcome in women with stroke in dominant left hemisphere (LH) than in women with stroke in subdominant right hemisphere (RH). Conversely, men with stroke in subdominant RH had significantly better rehabilitation outcome than men with stroke in dominant LH. Using a multivariate analysis we have found that men with stroke in RH had significantly higher probability to reach not only high response in mobility, but also more autonomy in ADL. The frequency of stroke in LH was significantly higher in both genders aged less than 51 years, as well as in women, while the frequency of stroke in RH was significantly higher in men. Conclusion: This paper places particular emphasis on substantial gender-based differences in functional recovery of patients with their first-ever unilateral stroke. Show more

Keywords: Gender, functional outcome, the first-ever unilateral stroke

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2012-0752

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 247-254, 2012