Biomedical subjects

Frances L Vaughan

Publications and source records attributed to Frances L Vaughan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Spatial negative priming in early Alzheimer's disease: evidence for reduced cognitive inhibition.

Some studies of negative priming and other tasks assumed to reflect inhibitory functions suggest a decline in inhibitory processes in Alzheimer's disease. However, none of the measures used in previous studies can be interpreted as an unambiguous reflection of distractor inhibition. The present study investigates whether reductions in negative priming associated with Alzheimer's disease reflect reduced distractor inhibition, rather than perceptual review processes. Individuals with early Alzheimer's disease were predicted to show reduced negative priming on a spatial localization task designed to provide an unambiguous measure of distractor inhibition. Sixteen clinical participants showed significantly less negative priming than old and young healthy control groups, which is interpreted as evidence for reduced distractor inhibition in early dementia. A second analysis indicated that, within the clinical sample only, negative priming effect size was significantly correlated with prime trial response speed. Clinical participants showing the least negative priming were slower to respond to an initial stimulus. The results may mean that people with early Alzheimer's disease have a reduced capacity to use excitatory as well as inhibitory processes in selection.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

Traumatic brain injury and substance misuse: a systematic review of prevalence and outcomes research (1994-2004).

A systematic review of the evidence on substance misuse prevalence in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and outcomes associated with this population is presented. Building upon an earlier review of the area by Corigan (1995), this review is limited to research published between 1994 and 2004. Psycinfo and Medline abstract databases were searched for English-language publications citing research from Western countries on the epidemiology and outcomes of adult TBI patients (aged 15 years or older). The majority of reviewed studies were undertaken in the USA and the investigation foci and methods used were multifarious, constraining the generalisation of the review findings. Prevalence for alcohol intoxication at time of injury in the review was found to be almost identical to that in Corrigan's review: 37-51% and 36-51%, respectively. Pre-TBI history of alcohol misuse was found to be less prevalent in the present as opposed to Corrigan's review: 37-51% and 55-66%, respectively. Outcome findings were mixed (also found by Corrigan), but mainly in the expected direction of poorer outcomes (neurological, medical, neuropsychological, and functional) in patients with pre-TBI substance misuse. Further research and implications for services are outlined.

Brain Injuries↗

PubMed2005

The feasibility of using cognitive behaviour therapy for depression associated with Parkinson's disease: a literature review.

Clinicians and researchers have called for more information on how to treat depression in Parkinson's disease. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has been identified as the treatment of choice for a range of psychological disorders and is increasingly applied to depression associated with chronic medical conditions. The present paper will review the relevant literature on CBT treatment effectiveness and the nature of depression in Parkinson's disease before suggesting how CBT might be adapted to assist this client group. The authors conclude that CBT is a promising option for depressed patients coping with Parkinson's disease, but further research is recommended.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy↗

PubMed2002

Mental retardation and memory for spatial locations.

Although memory for spatial location has been frequently investigated with mentally retarded populations, it is not clear that these individuals possess the same spatial memory skills as do their peers without mental retardation. We compared 30 persons with and 30 persons without mental retardation. Following either intentional or incidental learning, participants recalled and then relocated 16 objects on a matrix. The control group recalled more intentionally learned than incidentally learned material. The experimental group performed both tasks better after incidental learning than after intentional learning and scored as highly as the controls on incidental spatial memory. Results suggest that memory for spatial location is an automatic process and, to some extent at least, is not directly affected by the individual's level of intelligence.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of community rehabilitation for acquired brain injury on carer burden: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the relative efficacy of a community rehabilitation service and a more traditional outpatient service for carers of people with an acquired brain injury. METHODS: Seventeen carers who had received a community intervention were retrospectively compared with 24 carers who had received an outpatient service. Dependent variables were level of met family need, a measure of family dysfunction, carer psychopathology, and carer emotional acceptance. RESULTS: The community sample fared significantly better on all measures except carer psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that community-based services have efficacy for the carer and family. There is a clear need for large clinical trials using standardized instruments to establish what models of service delivery benefit carers.

Adult↗