Biomedical subjects

E Rigau-Ratera

Publications and source records attributed to E Rigau-Ratera.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[The treatment of oppositional defiant disorder].

INTRODUCTION: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) affects between 2 and 16% of children. It is a problem that sometimes has a very important effect on the whole family structure. Dealing with the problem in an inappropriate way, or simply interpreting it wrongly, entails a high risk of developing a conduct disorder in adolescence. DEVELOPMENT: This paper reviews the concept of ODD and of conduct disorder, and highlights the theoretical foundations that underlie two types of behavioural intervention, namely, the behaviourist model and the cognitive model. Two programmes, each based on one of the two theoretical models, are described. The different pharmacological options that can facilitate the therapeutic process are also outlined. CONCLUSIONS: Emphasis is placed on a therapeutic approach to ODD through psychological interventions based on guidelines designed to orientate the family and the school. This intervention cannot be founded on a general educational model, but rather it has to rest on knowledge of the dysfunctional cognitive characteristics of each child. In severe cases, the intervention must be complemented with the use of medication.

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorder↗

PubMed2006

[Autism in fragile X syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent cause of hereditary mental retardation, as well as being a common cause of learning disorders and psychiatric problems. It is characterised by very specific physical and behavioural phenotypes. For this reason FXS is an excellent model of the relation between behaviour and genes. FXS is also the commonest cause of autism identified to date. Between 2 and 6% of children with autism have FXS, and approximately 3% of children with FXS have autism. DEVELOPMENT: The paper takes these findings as the basis on which to deal with the complex relations between FXS and autism. The relations between autism and gene FMR1, which causes FXS, are not limited to the complete mutation -some extremely interesting correlations between autism and the premutation of this gene are also being found. CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of an increase in mRNA in gene FMR1 in the premutation has facilitated our understanding of the complex pathology associated to the premutation. These findings open up a line of research that will not only enable us to further our understanding of the genetics of FXS, but can also help us to comprehend the complex genetic interactions that give rise to autism.

Autistic Disorder↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Sustained attention in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease].

INTRODUCTION: Deterioration of attention in the preclinical phase of dementia of Alzheimer s type (DAT) is not very well known neither available studies are conclusive. OBJECTIVE: We outline if would be possible to identify a deficit of sustained attention in preclinical phase of DAT and if this attentional dysfunction could help to identify those patients, referred by subjective memory complaints (SMC), who will progress in a few years to DAT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared basal exploration in a task of sustained attention (CPT) of 70 patients referred by SMC and followed longitudinally for 2 years. Twenty seven patients developed probable DAT and forty three remained clinically stable. RESULTS: Patients who will be diagnosed 2 years later with DAT performed significantly more poorly than patients who did not develop DAT. Patients who will be diagnosed 2 years later with DAT made a higher number of omission errors and obtained a lower number of correct responses. CONCLUSION: CPT paradigm is a vigilance task that detects deterioration of sustained attention in the preclinical phase of DAT and could be an objective indicator of the cognitive decline in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer s disease.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Williams syndrome: memory, visuospatial and visuoconstructive functions].

INTRODUCTION: Williams syndrome (WS) is a dominant autosomal genetic syndrome resulting from a microdeletion on chromosome 7. This deletion gives rise to certain characteristic physical traits, systemic pathologies and a cognitive behavioural pattern that is characterised by the relative preservation of linguistic abilities with very striking visuospatial deficits. CASE REPORTS: We describe the neuropsychological features of three patients with WS, diagnosed by means of a cytogenetic study, and their mnemonic functions and visuospatial skills are explored. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in the study of these three patients reinforce the idea, already acknowledged in the literature, of the marked visuospatial difficulties. They also account for the need for an early diagnosis and an extensive knowledge of the cognitive profile of these patients so as to allow the planning of a stimulation that strengthens the cognitive possibilities of children suffering from this syndrome as much as possible.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The neurocognitive profile of non-verbal learning disorder].

INTRODUCTION: Non-verbal learning disorder is a specific type of learning disorder that is characterised by difficulties in social skills, in visuospatial and visual-constructional capabilities, and in motor skills. AIM: To observe the cognitive profile characterising these children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the intelligence, memory, visuospatial functions, instrumental and executive functions of 13 children between 8 and 14 years of age diagnosed with non-verbal learning disorder. RESULTS: All the children displayed an overall intelligence quotient within a range considered to be normal, with a marked difference between the verbal and manipulative intelligence quotients. They all had a good verbal memory. In contrast, they had difficulties in any tasks requiring spatial organisation and sequencing. Spontaneous language was fluent and aprosodic, with poor non-verbal communication. CONCLUSIONS: Good verbal skills and marked deficits in visuospatial skills are the characteristic pattern that has been described in the literature and this coincides with the observations made in the 13 children under study.

Adolescent↗