NeuroRehabilitation - Volume 41, issue 2

Authors: Mogensen, Jesper | Wulf-Andersen, Camilla

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The focus of the present article is the home and family environment of patients suffering acquired brain injury. In order to obtain the optimal outcome of posttraumatic cognitive rehabilitation it is important (a) to obtain a sufficient intensity of rehabilitative training, (b) to achieve the maximum degree of generalization from formalized training to the daily environment of the patient, and (c) to obtain the best possible utilization of “cognitive reserves” in the form of cognitive abilities and “strategies” acquired pretraumatically. Supplementing the institution-based cognitive training with (potentially computer-based) home-based training these three goals may more easily be met. Home-based training …supports a higher intensity of training. Training in the home environment also allows better utilization of cognitive strategies acquired pretraumatically and more direct transfer of training results from formalized training to activities of daily living of the patient. Show more

Keywords: Acquired brain injury, cognitive training, cognitive rehabilitation, home-based training, cognitive reserve, brain reserve, family, advanced technology

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-160007

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 513-518, 2017

Authors: Wulf-Andersen, Camilla | Mogensen, Jesper

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Acquired brain injury (ABI) severely affects both the injured patient and her/his family. This fact alone calls for a therapeutic approach addressing not only the individual victim of ABI but also her/his family. Additionally, the optimal outcome of posttraumatic cognitive rehabilitation may be best obtained by supplementing the institution-based cognitive training with home-based training. Moving cognitive training and other therapeutic interventions into the home environment does, however, constitute an additional challenge to the family structure and psychological wellbeing of all family members. We presently argue in favour of an increased utilization of family-based intervention programs for the families of brain …injured patients – in general and especially in case of utilization of home-based rehabilitative training. Show more

Keywords: Acquired brain injury, rehabilitation, family, family interventions

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-162007

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 519-525, 2017

Authors: Olabarrieta-Landa, Laiene | Romero, Alfonso Caracuel | Panyavin, Ivan | Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of perceived ethical misconduct in clinical practice, teaching, and research in the field of neuropsychology in Spain. METHOD: Two hundred and fifteen self-identified mental health professionals who engage in neuropsychology practice in Spain completed an online survey from July to December of 2013. In the ethics section of the survey, participants were asked to identify if neuropsychologists they know who work in their country engaged in specific kinds of ethical misconduct. RESULTS: 41% reported receiving formal training in professional ethics. The clinical findings are as follows. The highest rate of perceived …misconduct was found in the area of professional training and expertise, with an average of 40.7%, followed by research/publications (25.6%), clinical care (23.9%), and professional relationships (8.8%). Specifically, regarding training, over half of respondents (56.7%) know professionals who claim themselves to be neuropsychologists, even though they lack proper training or expertise and 46.0% know professionals in the field who do not have adequate training for experience to be working in the field. Regarding research/publications, 41.9% of respondents know professionals who appear as authors on publications where they have not made a significant contribution. Regarding clinical care, over one third of respondents endorse knowing professionals who (1) provide results of neuropsychological evaluations in such a way that patients or other professionals are not likely to understand (37.2%) and (2) do not have the skills or training to work with patients who are culturally different from them (34.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of survey respondents reported receiving ethics training. It is possible that introducing more or improved ethics courses into pre-graduate and/or graduate school curriculums, and/or requiring continuing ethics education certification may reduce perceived ethical misconduct among neuropsychological professionals in Spain. Show more

Keywords: Ethics, Spain, neuropsychology

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-162144

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 527-538, 2017

Authors: Olabarrieta-Landa, Laiene | Torre, Esther Landa | López-Mugartza, Juan Carlos | Bialystok, Ellen | Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To conduct a literature review of the administration and scoring criteria used in normative studies of verbal fluency tests (VFT), and to propose a new model for the administration and scoring of phonological, semantic, and action VFT for use in Spanish-speakers. METHODS: A literature search was performed using four databases Dialnet, ProQuest (PsycINFO, PsycArticles), Science Direct (Elsevier), and PubMed and 47 articles met the following criteria: 1) articles which contained normative data of phonological, semantic, or action VFT, 2) published between 2000 and 2015, 3) published in English or Spanish, 4) used healthy population. RESULTS: …Of 2087 citations retrieved, 47 eligible studies were reviewed. The majority of the studies have been conducted in the USA, and with English and Spanish speakers. Only 12 studies provided the instruction, and 23 clearly describe the scoring guidelines. Moreover, among the studies that provided these information important discrepancies were found. Therefore, a new administration and scoring guidelines are presented, which may resolve this problem and be utilized in Spanish speaking countries. CONCLUSIONS: This review showed that still there is no consensus regarding the administration and scoring of VFT. A new method of administration and scoring is presented that can be use with Spanish-speakers. Show more

Keywords: Verbal fluency test, Spanish speakers, administration, scoring, review

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-162102

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 539-565, 2017

Authors: Costa, Vanessa | Brighina, Filippo | Piccoli, Tommaso | Realmuto, Sabrina | Fierro, Brigida

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Noninvasive transcranial stimulation methods have been increasingly employed in order to improve cognitive performance in neurological patients. In previous studies with both stroke patients and healthy subjects, noninvasive stimulation of temporal-parietal regions and their homologue produced an improvement in linguistic tasks. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to evaluate if anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over Brodmann areas 39/40 (angular and supramarginal gyri) could promote the recovery of linguistic functions, in particular comprehension and naming, in a single patient affected by dementia. METHODS: Three preliminary explorative single sessions (right-side anodal, left-side anodal …and sham tDCS) were carried out (Experiment 1). This procedure allows targeting the more effective site of stimulation for the treatment. Subsequently, we carried out a five-days tDCS treatment on the selected hemisphere (Experiment 2). RESULTS: We report verb comprehension amelioration after 5 days of anodal tDCS over the right BAs 39/40 compared with the placebo tDCS. This result is maintained until two weeks after the end of the 5-days treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide new evidence for the therapeutic use of tDCS in degenerative diseases, suggesting that an explorative study can be useful for targeting the more appropriate stimulation site, and confirm the involvement of right-sided areas associated with language activities. Show more

Keywords: Aphasia, language recovery, neurodegenerative diseases, neuroplasticity, transcranial direct current stimulation

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-162062

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 567-575, 2017