To examine whether suboptimal performance as determined by formal validity testing would predict neurocognitive scores in a sample of 83 pre-surgical, non-litigating epilepsy patients.

Participants were 83 patients who underwent comprehensive outpatient neuropsychological testing as part as their evaluation as epilepsy surgery candidates. The sample consisted of 41 females and 42 males, with 72 patients identifying as White, 5 as Black, 2 as Hispanic, 1 as Asian, and 2 as other. Mean age was 36 (SD=12.4) mean FSIQ was 87 (SD=12.7), mean years of education of 12.9 (SD=2.1). Each patient’s assessment included a stand-alone performance validity test (PVTs)— Word Memory Test (WMT), the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM), or the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT)—as well as two embedded measures of validity—the California Verbal Learning Test Forced Choice (CVLT FC) and WAIS-IV Reliable Digit Span (RDS). Pass/fail rates were analyzed, with valid performance being defined as pass score on at least two of the completed PVTs (N=73 Pass Effort group 86.9%; N=10 Failed Effort group 11.9%). Point-biserial Pearson correlations were conducted to determine the relationship between validity pass/fail status and WAIS-IV FSIQ, VCI, and PRI scores, CVLT-II Trials 1-5 Total T scores, CVLT-II Long Delay Free Recall z scores, WMS-III Logical Memory II T scores, BVMT Total Recall T scores, BVMT Delayed Recall T scores, and Trail Making Test (TMT) B T scores.

Significant relationships were found between Failed Effort group and all neurocognitive scores except BVMT Total Recall. On average, the Failed Effort group obtained significantly lower FSIQ (M=76.57, SD=10.94), VCI (M=80.89, SD=16.03), PRI (M=81.00, SD=14.91), CVLT-II Trials 1-5 Total (M =34, SD=6.89), CVLT-II Long Delay Free Recall (M =-2.44, SD=1.43), WMS-IV Logical Memory II (M =4.83, SD=2.79), BVMT Delayed Recall (M=26.38, SD=6.41), and TMT B (M=29.70, SD=11.46) standard scores compared to the Pass Effort group (FSIQ M=88.09, SD=12.52; VCI M=92.13, SD=13.61; PRI M=91.14, SD=12.06; CVLT-II Trials 1-5 Total M=47.86, SD=12.02; CVLT- II Long Delay Free Recall M=-.44, SD=1.11; WMS-III Logical Memory II M=8.41, SD=3.17; BVMT Delayed Recall M=39.19, SD=12.66; TMT B M=39.34, SD=13.18). Correlation coefficients were r=-.266* (FSIQ), r=-.255* (VCI), r=-.271* (PRI), r=.361**(CVLT-II Total), r=-.474** (CVLT-II LDFR), r=-.298** (WMS-IV LM II), r=-.308** (BVMT DR), and r=-.240* (TMTB). All coefficients were significant at the .05 (*) or .01 (**) level.

Results suggest that pass/fail status on formal validity testing predicts depressed performance on a variety of neurocognitive measures. Therefore, predicting surgical outcome of resection/ablation (e.g., compensation of contralateral hemisphere) should not be based upon neuropsychological memory performance alone when there are failures on tests of engagement as memory scores have strong correlations to pass/fail status on formal validity testing. Overall, this emphasizes the importance of routinely integrating PVTs as part of pre-epilepsy surgery neuropsychological evaluations.

Clinical case about a 62 year old patient, diagnosed with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder. In current treatment with Paroxetine, Clorazepate and Trazodone. She presents low spirits secondary to a neurological process (stroke + amyloid angiopathy+ epilepsy+ cognitive impairment) and difficulties in performing daily activities. Her daughter reports that she is totally dependent, she spends the whole day in bed. On examination we observe a dull mood, without emotional reactivity. Lack of motivation. Psychomotor slowness.Significant cognitive impairment with difficulties in performing daily activities. Mnesic faults.

Clinical case shows radiological and cognitive improvement with vortioxetine

Last diagnoses: August 2020: HSA OF THE FRONTAL AND PARIETAL GROOVES RIGHTS September 2020:SYMPTOMATIC FOCAL EPILEPSY SECONDARY TO LEFT FRONTOPARIETAL INTRAPARENCHIMATOSUS HEMATOMA December 2020:MYELOID ANGIOPATIA February 2021:SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE March 2021:DEPRESSIVE DISORDER SECONDARY TO MEDICAL ILLNESS - MODERATE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Spectacular improvement in mood and cognitive deficit. The family reports that after 5 days they noticed the change. They find her more lively, she has returned to doing housework and is autonomous for day-to-day life. She has regained her memory and performed calculation exercises on a daily. The patient says that she has returned to being her usual self, “before I felt like a mummy and now I have finally woken up, it seems like a miracle”.

It has improved much with change of antidepressant, from paroxetine to vortioxetine in patient who show in cranial MRI: New-onset lesion in the right frontal lobe attributable and subarachnoid hemorrhage located in convex furrows ,radiological findings in favor of amyloid angiopathy

No significant relationships.

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is little high-quality evidence available to guide the management of DCI. The Canadian Neurosurgery Research Collaborative (CNRC) is comprised of resident physicians who are positioned to capture national, multi-site data. The objective of this study was to evaluate practice patterns of Canadian physicians regarding the management of aSAH and DCI.

We performed a cross-sectional survey of Canadian neurosurgeons, intensivists, and neurologists who manage aSAH. A 19-question electronic survey (Survey Monkey) was developed and validated by the CNRC following a DCI-related literature review (PubMed, Embase). The survey was distributed to members of the Canadian Neurosurgical Society and to Canadian members of the Neurocritical Care Society. Responses were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods.

The response rate was 129/340 (38%). Agreement among respondents was limited to the need for intensive care unit admission, use of clinical and radiographic monitoring, and prophylaxis for the prevention of DCI. Several inconsistencies were identified. Indications for starting hyperdynamic therapy varied. There was discrepancy in the proportion of patients who felt to require IV milrinone, IA vasodilators, or physical angioplasty for treatment of DCI. Most respondents reported their facility does not utilize a standardized definition for DCI.

DCI is an important clinical entity for which no homogeneity and standardization exists in management among Canadian practitioners. The CNRC calls for the development of national standards in the definition, identification, and treatment of DCI.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains a devastating condition with a case fatality of 36% at 30 days. Risk factors for mortality in SAH patients include patient demographics and the severity of the neurological injury. Pre-existing conditions and non-neurological medical complications occurring during the index hospitalization are also risk factors for mortality in SAH. The magnitude of the effect on mortality of pre-existing conditions and medical complications, however, is less well understood. In this study, we aim to determine the effect of pre-existing conditions and medical complications on SAH mortality.

For a 25% random sample of the Greater Montreal Region, we used discharge abstracts, physician billings, and death certificate records, to identify adult patients with a new diagnosis of non-traumatic SAH who underwent cerebral angiography or surgical clipping of an aneurysm between 1997 and 2014.

The one-year mortality rate was 14.76% (94/637). Having ≥3 pre-existing conditions was associated with increased one-year mortality OR 3.74, 95% CI [1.25, 9.57]. Having 2, or ≥3 medical complications was associated with increased one-year mortality OR, 2.42 [95% CI 1.25–4.69] and OR, 2.69 [95% CI 1.43–5.07], respectively. Sepsis, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrhythmias were associated with increased one-year mortality. Having 1, 2, or ≥3 pre-existing conditions was associated with increased odds of having medical complications in hospital.

Pre-existing conditions and in-hospital non-neurological medical complications are associated with increased one-year mortality in SAH. Pre-existing conditions are associated with increased medical complications.

Behavioral changes are common after acquired brain injury (ABI) and may be caused by social cognition impairments. We investigated whether impaired emotion recognition, specifically Negative Emotion Recognition (NER) and Anger Misattribution (AM), after ABI was related to behavioral problems, so-called Behaviors of Concern (BoC).

The study included 139 participants with ABI and 129 healthy controls. BoC was measured using four scales of the Brock Adaptive Functioning Questionnaire (BAFQ): Impulsivity, Aggression, Social Monitoring, and Empathy. Both self-ratings and informant ratings of BoC were obtained. Emotion recognition was measured with the Ekman 60 Faces Test (FEEST). A NER score was composed of the summed scores on Anger, Disgust, Fear, and Sadness. An AM score was composed of the number of facial expressions wrongly recognized as Anger.

Total FEEST scores in ABI participants were significantly worse than in healthy controls. The effect size is moderate. Informants rated significantly more problems in Social Monitoring and Empathy than participants. Effect sizes were small. Scores on FEEST total, NER, and AM were significantly correlated to informant ratings of Social Monitoring. Correlations were weak to moderate.

Worse NER and more profound AM were related to more informant-rated problems in social monitoring. In addition, informants rated more problems in social monitoring and empathy than participants. This strongly suggests problems in self-awareness in ABI participants. Consequently, social cognition tests and informant ratings should be used in clinical practice to improve the detection and treatment of BoC after ABI.

Mean cerebral blood flow velocity (mean-CBFV) obtained from Transcranial Doppler (TCD) poorly predicts cerebral vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Variability descriptors of mean-CBFV obtained during extended TCD recordings may improve this prediction. We assessed the feasibility of generating reliable linear and non-linear descriptors of mean-CBFV variability using extended recordings in aSAH patients and in healthy controls. We also explored which of those metrics might have the ability to discriminate between aSAH patients and healthy controls, and among patients who would go on to develop vasospasm and those who would not.

Bilateral mean-CBFV, blood pressure, and heart rate were continuously recorded for 40 minutes in aSAH patients (n = 8) within the first 5 days after ictus, in age-matched healthy controls (n = 8) and in additional young controls (n = 8). We obtained linear [standard deviation, coefficient of variations, and the very-low (0.003–0.040 Hz), low (0.040–0.150 Hz), and high-frequency (0.15–0.4 Hz) power spectra] and non-linear (Fractality, deterministic Chaos analyses) variability metrics.

We successfully obtained TCD recordings from patients and healthy controls and calculated the desired metrics of mean-CBFV variability. Differences were appreciable between aSAH patients and healthy controls, as well as between aSAH patients who later developed vasospasm and those who did not.

A 40-minute TCD recording provides reliable variability metrics in aSAH patients and healthy controls. Future studies are required to determine if mean-CBFV variability metrics remain stable over time, and whether they may serve to identify patients who are at greatest risk of developing cerebral vasospasm after aSAH.