Open Access
Multivariate base rates of low scores on tests of executive functions in a multi-country Latin American sample
(Routledge, 2021) Rivera, Diego; Mascialino, Guido; Brooks, Brian L.; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Longoni, Melina; Galarza-Del-Ángel, Javier; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of low scores in a diverse Latin American population for two neuropsychological commonly used tests to evaluate executive functions and to compare the number of low scores obtained using normative data from a Spanish-speaking population from Latin America versus an English-speaking population from U.S.A. Healthy adults (N = 5402) were administered the Modiﬁed Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Stroop Color-Word. Low scores on measures of executive functioning are common. Clinicians working with Spanish-speaking adults should take into account the higher probability of low scores on these measures to reduce false-positive diagnoses of cognitive deficits in an individual.
Open Access
Moderate, little, or no improvements in neurobehavioral symptoms among individuals with long COVID: A 34-country retrospective study
(MDPI, 2022) Ramos Usuga, Daniela; Perrin, Paul B.; Bogdanova, Yelena; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Alzueta, Elisabet; Baker, Fiona C.; Iacovides, Stella; Cortes, Mar; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
(1) Background: Some people with COVID-19 develop a series of symptoms that last for several months after infection, known as Long COVID. Although these symptoms interfere with people’s daily functioning and quality of life, few studies have focused on neurobehavioral symptoms and the risk factors associated with their development; (2) Methods: 1001 adults from 34 countries who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory reporting the symptoms before their COVID-19 diagnosis, during the COVID-19 infection, and currently; (3) Results: Participants reported large-sized increases before vs. during COVID-19 in all domains. Participants reported a medium-sized improvement (during COVID-19 vs. now) in somatic symptoms, a small-sized improvement in affective symptoms, and very minor/no improvement in cognitive symptoms. The risk factors for increased neurobehavioral symptoms were: being female/trans, unemployed, younger age, low education, having another chronic health condition, greater COVID-19 severity, greater number of days since the COVID-19 diagnosis, not having received oxygen therapy, and having been hospitalized. Additionally, participants from North America, Europe, and Central Asia reported higher levels of symptoms across all domains relative to Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa; (4) Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of evaluating and treating neurobehavioral symptoms after COVID-19, especially targeting the higher-risk groups identified. General rehabilitation strategies and evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation are needed in both the acute and Long COVID phases.
Open Access
Phonological and semantic verbal fluency test: Scoring criteria and normative data for clustering and switching strategies for Colombian children and adolescents
(Wiley, 2023) Álvarez Medina, María Nazareth; Vergara Moragues, Esperanza; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Restrepo Moreno, Juan Carlos; Calderón Chagualá, José Amilkar; Rivera, Diego; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Background: Verbal fluency tests (VFT) are highly sensitive to cognitive deficits. Usually, the score on VFT is based on the number of correct words produced, yet it alone gives little information regarding underlying test performance. The implementation of different strategies (cluster and switching) to perform effi-ciently during the tasks provide more valuable information. However, normative data for clustering and switching strategies are scarce. Moreover, scoring criteria adapted to Colombian Spanish are missing. Aims: (1) To describe the Colombian adaptation of the scoring system guidelines for clustering and switching strategies in VFT; (2) to determine its reliability; and (3) to provide normative data for Colombian children and adolescents aged 6–17 years. Methods & Procedures: A total of 691 children and adolescents from Colombia completed phonological (/f/, /a/, /s/, /m/, /r/ and /p/) and semantic (animals and fruits) VFT, and five scores were calculated: total score (TS), number of clusters (NC), cluster size (CS), mean cluster size (MCS) and number of switches (NS). The intraclass correlation coefficient was used for interrater reliability. Hierarhical multiple regressions were conducted to investigate which strategies were associated with VFT TS. Multiple regressions were conducted for each strategy, including as predictors age, age2, sex, mean parents’ education (MPE), MPE2 and type of school, to generate normative data. Outcomes & Results: Reliability indexes were excellent. Age was associated with VFT TS, but weakly compared with strategies. For both VFT TS, NS was the strongest variable, followed by CS and NC. Regarding norms, age was the strongest predictor for all measures, while age2 was relevant for NC (/f/phoneme) and NS (/m/ phoneme). Participants with higher MPE obtained more NC, and NS, and larger CS in several phonemes and categories. Children and adolescents from private school generated more NC, NS and larger CS in /s/phoneme. Conclusions & Implications: This study provides new scoring guidelines and normative data for clustering and switching strategies for Colombian children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years old. Clinical neuropsychologists should include these measures as part of their everyday practice.
Open Access
Executive function tests: normative data for Spanish-speaking adults in the United States
(2024-09-02) Ramos Usuga, Daniela; Rivera, Diego; Xia, Bridget; Carrión, Carmen I.; Morel Valdés, Gloria M.; Moreno, Oswaldo; Rodríguez, Miriam J.; Krch, Denise; Wongserbchart, Wongthipa; Drago, Christin I.; García, Patricia; Rivera, Patricia M.; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Perrin, Paul B.; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: normative data for Spanish-speaking populations, particularly Hispanics in the U.S., is notably scarce. Objective: This study aims to establish normative data for executive function tests (M-WCST, SCWT) among Spanish-speaking Hispanics in the U.S. Methods: we assessed 245 individuals aged 18-80 from eight U.S. states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin) and employed Bayesian regression to estimate norms, considering various sociodemographic factors influencing performance. Results: age impacts SCWT scores negatively, especially in older individuals, with stronger effects among those proficient in Spanish. Age also affects M-WCST performance more in individuals with longer U.S. residency. Education correlates with M-WCST outcomes, with lower attainment linked to more errors. Education interacts with Spanish proficiency, influencing SCWT scores differently based on proficiency levels. Sex and acculturation levels interact, affecting SCWT performance differently between men and women. Conclusions: establishing culturally sensitive normative data can enhance accurate identification of executive dysfunction and reduce misdiagnosis risks. This underscores the importance of considering sociocultural factors including acculturation and language proficiency in neuropsychological assessments to better serve diverse populations.
Open Access
Network analysis of neurobehavioral symptom patterns in an international sample of spanish-speakers with a history of COVID-19 and controls
(MDPI, 2023) Perrin, Paul B.; Ramos Usuga, Daniela; West, Samuel J.; Merced, Kritzia; Klyce, Daniel W.; Lequerica, Anthony H.; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Alzueta, Elisabet; Baker, Fiona C.; Iacovides, Stella; Cortes, Mar; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Background: Psychometric network analysis provides a novel statistical approach allowing researchers to model clusters of related symptoms as a dynamic system. This study applied network analysis to investigate the patterns of somatic, cognitive, and affective neurobehavioral symptoms in an international sample of Spanish-speaking individuals with a history of COVID-19 positivity and non-COVID controls; (2) methods: the sample (n = 1093) included 650 adults from 26 countries who reported having previously tested positive for COVID-19 (COVID+) through a viral and/or antigen test (average of 147 days since diagnosis). The control group (COVID−) was comprised of 443 adults from 20 countries who had completed the survey prior to the COVID19 pandemic; (3) results: relative to the COVID− network, the COVID+ network was very wellconnected, such that each neurobehavioral symptom was positively connected to the network. The organize-to-headache and dizzy-to-balance connections in the COVID+ network were stronger than in the COVID− network. The hearing, numbness, and tense symptoms were more central to the COVID+ network with the latter connected to the sleep, fatigue, and frustrated symptoms. The COVID− network was largely disjointed, with most of the somatosensory symptoms forming their own cluster with no connections to other symptom groups and fatigue not being connected to any other symptom. The cognitive and affective symptoms in the COVID− network were also largely connected to symptoms from within their own groups; (4) conclusions: These findings suggest that many of the long-term neurobehavioral symptoms of COVID-19 form a discernable network and that headaches, frustration, hearing problems, forgetfulness, and tension are the most central symptoms. Cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation strategies targeting these central symptom network features may hold promise to help fracture the lingering symptom network of COVID-19.
Embargo
Test of memory malingering 2nd edition: normative data from cognitively intact adults living in Spain
(Routledge, 2024-11-05) Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ayearst, Lindsay E.; Rivera, Diego; Dini, Mia E.; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Ramos Usuga, Daniela; Perrin, Paul B.; McCaffrey, Robert; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This study evaluated the universality of the TOMM 2 and provided a reference sample of cognitively intact adults living in Spain whose native language was Spanish. A total of 203 adults completed the TOMM 2 from June 2019 to January 2020. When using the original TOMM cutoff scores derived from English speakers, all participants scored in a range that would suggest that they passed the TOMM. When using a cut score less than 40 on Trial 1, only one participant in this study would be mistakenly classified as providing an invalid performance. Spanish-speaking adults in Spain from this study achieved a perfect score on Trial 1 at a rate more than double that of English-speaking individuals on the original TOMM. At the item level, all but one item met the minimum standard for performance validity; this item fell only marginally below the standard at 89%. This study found a very low failure rate for the TOMM 2, suggesting that the second edition has at least as high specificity as the original in Spanish adults.
Open Access
Sexual functioning, desire, and satisfaction in women with TBI and healthy controls
(Hindawi, 2015) Strizzi, Jenna; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Pappadis, Monique; Olivera, Silvia Leonor; Valdivia Tangarife, Edgar Ricardo; Fernandez Agis, Inmaculada; Perrin, Paul B.; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can substantially alter many areas of a person’s life and there has been little research published regarding sexual functioning in women with TBI. Methods. A total of 58 women (29 with TBI and 29 healthy controls) from Neiva, Colombia, participated. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in sociodemographic characteristics. All 58 women completed the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire (SQoL), Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI), Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI), and the Sexual Satisfaction Index (ISS). Results. Women with TBI scored statistically significantly lower on the SQoL (𝑝 < 0.001), FSFI subscales of desire (𝑝 < 0.05), arousal (𝑝 < 0.05), lubrication (𝑝 < 0.05), orgasm (𝑝 < 0.05), and satisfaction (𝑝 < 0.05), and the ISS (𝑝 < 0.001) than healthy controls. Multiple linear regressions revealed that age was negatively associated with some sexuality measures, while months since the TBI incident were positively associated with these variables. Conclusion. These results disclose that women with TBI do not fare as well as controls in these measures of sexual functioning and were less sexually satisfied. Future research is required to further understand the impact of TBI on sexual function and satisfaction to inform for rehabilitation programs.
Open Access
Early predictors of employment status one year post injury in individuals with traumatic brain injury in Europe
(MDPI, 2020) Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Zeldovich, Marina; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Vindal Forslund, Marit; Nuñez Fernández, Silvia; Derecho; Zuzenbidea
Sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often affects the individual's ability to work, reducing employment rates post-injury across all severities of TBI. The objective of this multi-country study was to assess the most relevant early predictors of employment status in individuals after TBI at one-year post-injury in European countries. Using a prospective longitudinal non-randomized observational cohort (The Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (CENTER-TBI) project), data was collected between December 2014-2019 from 63 trauma centers in 18 European countries. The 1015 individuals who took part in this study were potential labor market participants, admitted to a hospital and enrolled within 24 h of injury with a clinical TBI diagnosis and indication for a computed tomography (CT) scan, and followed up at one year. Results from a binomial logistic regression showed that older age, status of part-time employment or unemployment at time of injury, premorbid psychiatric problems, and higher injury severity (as measured with higher Injury severity score (ISS), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and longer length of stay (LOS) in hospital) were associated with higher unemployment probability at one-year after injury. The study strengthens evidence for age, employment at time of injury, premorbid psychiatric problems, ISS, GCS, and LOS as important predictors for employment status one-year post-TBI across Europe.
Open Access
15-item version of the Boston naming test: normative data for the Latin American spanish-speaking adult population.
(American Psychological Association, 2023) Del Cacho Tena, Ana María; Merced, Kritzia; Perrin, Paul B.; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Rivera, Diego; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objective: Naming is commonly impaired in people with neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury, and as a result, its accurate assessment is essential. The aim of this study was to provide normative data for the 15-item Spanish version of the Boston Naming Test (BNT) for an adult population from eight Latin American countries/regions. Method: The total sample consisted of 2,828 participants from Argentina, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico. Multiple regressions were used to generate normative data following a four-step process. Results: Regression models showed a linear effect of age on the 15-item BNT total score for Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. In contrast, Paraguay showed a quadratic age effect. Almost all countries showed a positive linear effect of education, except Cuba which had a quadratic effect. Sex was a significant predictor in Argentina, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico, where in women scored lower than men. Conclusions: This study generates normative data for the 15-item Spanish version of the BNT and offers a free open-source calculator that will assist in the efficacious use of this neuropsychological test in clinical practice and research.
Open Access
Spain, the land of diversity
(Routledge, 2022) Olabarrieta Landa, Laiene; Goméz López, María Jesús; González Wongvalle, Isabel; Rivera, Diego; Arango Lasprilla, Juan Carlos; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The aim of this chapter is to present relevant cultural aspects that a neuropsychologist should take into account in order to provide adequate service to Spanish patients and their families. In the first section, there is an introduction to the Spanish culture, which is linked to small case studies that reflect its relevance from a neuropsychological point of view. Spain is culturally complex, with different regions that maintain their own traditions and languages. For Spaniards, social relationships and family are so important that patients may prioritize some rehabilitation goals against others in order to recover their social functioning. Likewise, the complex relationship between languages and education is presented, as well as the educational and socioeconomic level of the country. In the second section, the importance of social relationships and the role of the family in the neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation, as well as the context in which the patient lives, are explored closely through RJ case. Finally, the chapter ends with a summary of the most relevant ideas to consider when assessing a Spanish patient.