The gut microbiome and depression: a review.

Background: Recent explorations into the gut microbiome of humans and animals reveal implications in chronic physical and mental health disorders. Relatively little is known regarding the relationship of gut microbiome and depression. In the current review, we reviewed existing scientific data related to the gut microbiome and healthy patients versus patients with depression.

Recent Advances in Research on Hoarding.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of the following paper is to review recent literature trends and findings in hoarding disorder (HD). Our goal is to highlight recent research on etiology, associated features, and empirically based treatments.

Recent Findings: Recent literature has added support for cognitive differences as a risk factor for HD; however, there is evidence that individuals with HD may overestimate their level of cognitive impairment.

Neuropsychological predictors of health and safety abilities in dementia.

The Independent Living Scales Health and Safety (ILS HS) scale is commonly used by neuropsychologists when evaluating older adults' instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). However, there is a minimal amount of research on its use in dementia populations and, specifically, its relationship to other neuropsychological measures. The present study investigated relationships between the ILS HS scale and measures of cognition and depression.

RBANS factor structure in older adults with suspected cognitive impairment: Evidence for a 5-factor structure.

Previous research has yielded minimal empirical support for the theoretically formulated five-factor structure of the RBANS, a brief, yet comprehensive standardized neuropsychological test battery used to assess cognitive impairment. The present study tested the theoretically formulated five-factor structure, as well as three alternative factor solutions, using a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic approaches. The present study utilized archival data from a clinical sample of 150 older adults who were evaluated at an outpatient neuropsychological service.

A single case report of Moyamoya disease presenting in a psychiatric setting.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebral vasculopathy with limited information on the associated cognitive and emotional sequelae, particularly presenting in a psychiatric setting. We present the case of a 25-year-old female with a history of MMD and depressive disorder. She underwent revascularization surgery following an ischemic stroke at age 15 years.

Neurocognitive dysfunction in adult moyamoya disease.

We wanted to determine the neurocognitive profile of adult patients with moyamoya disease prior to neurosurgical intervention. The experience of three United States medical centers, Columbia University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, were combined. Clinical data from adult patients (N = 29) referred for neuropsychological evaluation from 1996 to 2008 were reviewed.

Forensic neuropsychological evaluations in an academic medical center.

Within the expanding field of clinical neuropsychology, the subspecialty of forensic neuropsychology has developed. Currently, there is considerable diversity within the discipline as to how practitioners approach test selection, reports, and number of hours billed. How individuals handle these issues is subject to debate, but what is clear is that there are no specific guidelines as to how to conduct these evaluations.

Factors contributing to performance on the Rey Complex Figure Test in individuals with traumatic brain injury.

When examining visual memory test results one must be aware of other variables that impact performance, particularly in individuals with traumatic brain injury who have broad cognitive deficits. The present investigation sought to determine the extent to which executive functioning, as operationally defined as perceptual organization, planning, and mental flexibility, impacted Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) performance. Results indicated that executive functioning measures accounted for between 11% and 16% of the variance in RCFT scores.

Detecting feigned impairment with the digit span and vocabulary subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-third edition.

The WAIS-III Digit Span and Vocabulary subtests were investigated as indicators of feigned cognitive impairment. Participants included 64 undergraduates randomly assigned to control, symptom-coached, or test-coached groups. Six previously researched validity indicators were examined.