Biomedical subjects

Michel Maziade

Publications and source records attributed to Michel Maziade.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Fine motor dexterity is correlated to social functioning in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify neuropsychological domains, including fine motor dexterity, that are related to social functioning in schizophrenia. METHOD: Thirty-six DSM-IV schizophrenic subjects were assessed using the Purdue Pegboard test, the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting test, the Tower of London, Schwartz' Reaction Time and Wechsler's Associate Learning and Digit Span tests. Social functioning was measured by the Social and Occupational Functional Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Univariate regression analyses showed that the Purdue Pegboard, the Modified Card Sorting test, the Tower of London and Wechsler's Associate Learning subtest were significantly linked to social functioning. The best fitting multivariate model to explain social functioning included fine motor dexterity and executive functioning. CONCLUSION: Various neuropsychological measures correlated to social functioning, the correlation involving fine motor dexterity being the strongest one. Future studies of the prediction of social functioning in schizophrenia should include fine motor dexterity.

Cognition Disorders↗

PubMed2003

A pilot neuropsychological study of Kraepelinian and non-Kraepelinian schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: This is the first study to report a direct comparison of neuropsychological performance in Kraepelinian vs. non-Kraepelinian schizophrenia (SZ). METHODS: 17 Kraepelinian and 19 non-Kraepelinian subjects were assessed on a neuropsychological battery including the Purdue Pegboard, Schwartz' Reaction Time task, the Modified Card Sorting Test, the Wechsler's Associate Learning Test and the Digit Span. RESULTS: Kraepelinian schizophrenia was characterized by more impaired performance on the Purdue Pegboard and the Card Sorting test. These differences remained significant when introducing, as covariates, the type of neuroleptic used, the use of anticholinergic medication, age and gender. Differences on the Reaction Time, the Associate Learning and the Digit Span tasks did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Kraepelinian schizophrenia is characterized by impaired performance on fine motor dexterity and executive functioning. These results further add to the evidence for the validity of the distinction between Kraepelinian and non-Kraepelinian schizophrenia as a strategy to better understand the factors influencing severity and/or outcome in schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Chromosome 1q12-q22 linkage results in eastern Québec families affected by schizophrenia.

An impressive LOD score of 6.5 has recently been reported for schizophrenia on chromosome 1q21-22 in large families from eastern Canada [Brzustowicz et al., 2000: Science 288:678-682]. We did not reproduce such a finding in large pedigrees of eastern Québec based on seven markers spanning the 1p13-1q22 region and using both the models and phenotypes of Brzustowicz et al. and those used in our ongoing genome scan in 21 large French Canadian families. There was no significant total LOD scores in that chromosomal region (a maximum of 0.57) either for schizophrenia or bipolar disorders, nor any signal in individual large pedigrees. However, the samples of Brzustowicz et al. and ours differed in terms of their origins, the latter being of French ancestry and the former of Celtic and German descent. Population difference, genetic heterogeneity, and differences in ascertainment might explain the lack of replication. The result reported by Brzustowicz et al. cannot be discarded and should probably be considered as a susceptibility locus for a subset of the schizophrenic population.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Quantifying dimensions in autism: a factor-analytic study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether the phenotypic variation in autism and the related pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) is a unitary construct or whether it is composed of distinct dimensions of autistic symptoms and measures of level of functioning. METHOD: One hundred twenty-nine children with autism and other forms of PDD from two samples with different inclusion criteria were assessed with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales to measure level of functioning and the Autism Diagnostic Interview to measure severity of autistic behaviors. A factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed on each sample, separately and combined. RESULTS: Two factors emerged; one representing autistic symptoms and another representing level of functioning. The factor structure was remarkably similar and robust to variations in ascertainment and inclusion criteria between the samples. The validity of the distinction was supported by differences between males and females on the symptom factor, but not on the level of functioning factor. IQ was modestly correlated with level of functioning, but not with symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The phenotypic variation seen in autism/PDD is composed of at least two different dimensions of autistic symptoms and level of functioning. The implications of this dimensional heterogeneity for research, classification, and clinical practice are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Family correlates of temperament continuity and change across middle childhood.

This paper reports on continuity and change of extreme traits of temperament from age seven to 12 in subgroups selected from a large random sample and on the association of continuity with certain aspects of family functioning. Results suggest a definite degree of stability of extreme temperament over time. Implications of the findings are discussed and directions for future research suggested.

Child↗