Biomedical subjects

Dawn W Langdon

Publications and source records attributed to Dawn W Langdon.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Future-directed thinking and depression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that depression is associated with a view of the future characterized by reduced anticipation of future positive experiences, but not necessarily increased anticipation of future negative experiences. The aim of the present study was to investigate how participants with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) anticipated their future in terms of positive and negative events. DESIGN: A mixed design compared three groups of participants on a measure of future thinking using an adapted verbal fluency paradigm. METHODS: Depressed MS participants (N=14), non-depressed MS participants (N=28) and healthy control participants (N=26) were assessed on their ability to generate future positive and negative experiences. A content analysis was also conducted on the responses generated by the MS depressed and MS non-depressed groups according to whether or not they were related to MS. RESULTS: The MS depressed group anticipated significantly fewer future positive events than the healthy control group and the MS non-depressed group. The three groups did not differ in the total numbers of anticipated future negative events, though the MS depressed group did anticipate a significantly higher proportion of MS-related negative events. CONCLUSIONS: Like depressed but physically healthy individuals, the MS depressed group was characterized by a lack of positive thoughts about the future, rather than an increased number of negative thoughts. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed along with recommendations for future research.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Minimal neuropsychological assessment of MS patients: a consensus approach.

Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet patients seen in MS clinics and neurologic practices are not routinely assessed neuropsychologically. In part, poor utilization of NP services may be attributed to a lack of consensus among neuropsychologists regarding the optimal approach for evaluating MS patients. An expert panel composed of neuropsychologists and psychologists from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia was convened by the Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) in April, 2001. Our objectives were to: (a) propose a minimal neuropsychological (NP) examination for clinical monitoring of MS patients and research, and (b) identify strategies for improving NP assessment of MS patients in the future. The panel reviewed pertinent literature on MS-related cognitive dysfunction, considered psychometric factors relevant to NP assessment, defined the purpose and optimal characteristics of a minimal NP examination in MS, and rated the psychometric and practical properties of 36 candidate NP measures based on available literature. A 90-minute NP battery, the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS), emerged from this discussion. The MACFIMS is composed of seven neuropsychological tests, covering five cognitive domains commonly impaired in MS (processing speed/working memory, learning and memory, executive function, visual-spatial processing, and word retrieval). It is supplemented by a measure of estimated premorbid cognitive ability. Recommendations for assessing other factors that may potentially confound interpretation of NP data (e.g., visual/sensory/motor impairment, fatigue, and depression) are offered, as well as strategies for improving NP assessment of MS patients in the future.

Cognition Disorders↗

PubMed2002

Does the spelling dyslexic read by recognizing orally spelled words? An investigation of a letter-by-letter reader.

In this single case report we describe our further observations of a patient (ROC) with a classical spelling dyslexia. A word length effect and a script effect were demonstrated. No evidence of semantic processing was obtained with brief tachistoscopic presentations. Single letter identification was unimpaired. In a series of experiments it was shown that her letter-by-letter reading strategy was mediated by explicit letter naming. In particular, it was observed that with successive presentation of the individual letters there was a stepwise function relating her whole word reading to the single letter presentation times. These durations permitted explicit letter naming. When explicit letter naming was prevented by a simultaneous articulatory suppression task, her letter-by-letter reading was significantly impaired. Her performance was compared with a second patient (MRF) who could read but could not spell. His reading was unaffected by articulatory suppression and significantly impaired by a successive presentation of the individual letters of a word. It is argued that explicit letter naming provides an input to the spelling system and thus can be recognized as orally spelled words. We conclude that in the reading-impaired patient there was a lexical deficit compensated for by the operation of a component of her intact spelling system.

Dyslexia, Acquired↗