Search

Background. Early detection and diagnosis of dementia are of key importance in treatment, slowing disease progression or suppressing symptoms. Color vision impairment may be observed in some cases in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and its potential role in early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is questioned. Objectives. The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information on color vision impairment in various neurodegenerative diseases Material and methods. A literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, and th term “dementia” was searched with keyword combinations related to color vision. Results. A total of 785 records were identified through database searching, and 25 articles were ultimately included in the analysis Multiple studies have shown that patients with neurodegenerative diseases and dementia have impaired color vision, and the possible role of color vision changes are considered as potential biomarkers for early detection in several cases. The results show that color vision impairment is being investigated not only in patients with Alzheimer’s disease but also in other neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusions. In individuals with cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases, color vision changes have repeatedly been reported. In some cases, the use of color vision changes for differential diagnosis between certain neurodegenerative diseases has proved useful. Several authors have agreed that color vision tests could be a possible simple method for early diagnosis of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric cancer can be considered an event potentially leading to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) as well as posttraumatic growth (PTG). While clinically significant levels of PTSS are rare in childhood cancer survivors, PTG is common in this population. However, the relationship of PTG to overall adaptation and quality of life (QOL) in pediatric cancer patients is not clear. Therefore, our study aims to analyse the relationships of PTSS and PTG with QOL in childhood cancer survivors. In this study, 172 childhood cancer survivors completed measures of quality of life (Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Scale; child and adolescent version), posttraumatic stress (UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DMS-IV) and posttraumatic growth (Benefit Finding Scale for Children). Correlation analyses were carried out separately for the child (up to 13 years, N = 47) and adolescent (more than 13 years, N = 125) groups and each QOL dimension. In the adolescent group, the relationship of PTSS and PTG with QOL was further verified by regression analyses while controlling for age, gender, and time off treatment. In children, negative relationships between PTSS and QOL were found, but the relationships between QOL and PTG were not significant. In adolescents, significant relationships were found for all dimensions of QOL and PTSS and also for several dimensions of QOL and PTG. The relationships between PTSS and QOL dimensions were negative in both groups, and the relationships between PTG and QOL in the adolescent group were weakly positive. In adolescents, regression analyses controlling for age, gender and time off treatment were performed and confirmed a negative relationship of PTSS with all QOL dimensions except for social functioning. For PTG, regression analyses revealed a significant positive relationship with QOL dimensions of social functioning, outlook on life and intimate relations. While the relationship between PTSS and QOL is negative for almost all QOL dimensions in children and adolescents, the nature of the relationship between PTG and QOL appears to be more complex and changing over time. PTG in children may reflect different processes with different outcomes than PTG in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to commemorate the lifelong work of Harry Harlow (31.10. 1905 - 6. 12. 1981) on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his death. Although Harry Harlow is best known mainly for his experiments with maternal separation and social isolation, his research in the field of cognitive abilities of primates also received great scientific acclaim. The results of his work contributed to the revolution in childcare as well as to the shift in the prevailing approaches of psychology, but ethics of his experiments is questionable from the contemporary point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to the clarification of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and growth (PTG) in childhood cancer survivors, taking into account the possibility of a nonlinear relationship and using a clinical approach to analyzing PTSS. Childhood cancer survivors (n = 167) aged 11–27 completed measures of posttraumatic stress (UCLA_PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (BFSC). Based on the clinical analysis of UCLA_PTSD symptoms, the sample was divided into three PTSS severity groups (no, mild, moderate). These groups were compared in the mean level of PTG. Correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship of PTG with overall PTSS as well as its subscales. The analysis was completed using the curve estimation procedure evaluating linear and quadratic curve fit. There was no significant difference in the mean PTG scores between the three PTSS severity groups and no significant correlation of PTG with overall PTSS score and its clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance and increased arousal). PTG was positively associated with the fear of cancer recurrence. We did not find support for the direct relationship of PTG and PTSS but we suggest the possibility of connection between the two through the specific nature of PTSS in cancer survivors and their future-oriented intrusive thoughts overlapping with fear of cancer recurrence. These findings offer a novel perspective for future research on PTSS and PTG relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This theoretical article aims to summarize the results of studies relevant to parental influence on coping with childhood cancer and provide implications for future research focused on parent–child connections in posttraumatic growth (PTG) following childhood cancer. Parental influence on child coping described by the socialization of coping and socialization of emotions theories has already been studied in connection with posttraumatic stress, but the role of parents in the process of PTG in the child has not been clearly described yet. Several studies focused on PTG in childhood cancer survivors and their parents simultaneously, but only two studies explicitly included a parent–child connection in PTG in statistical analysis. Studies suggest that child PTG may be facilitated through parental coping advice supporting emotion expression and that parent–child connection in PTG may be mediated by the child's subjective perception of the parents' PTG. More research is needed to describe specific strategies proposed by parents and leading to child PTG and design tailored interventions for the use in the clinical care of childhood cancer survivors and their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychologie Pro Praxi is the property of Charles University Prague, Karolinum Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This longitudinal study aims to analyze predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among gender, age, objective factors of the disease and its treatment, family environment factors and negative emotionality. The sample consisted of 97 childhood cancer survivors (50 girls and 47 boys) aged 11-25 years who were in remission 1.7 to seven years at T1 and four to 12.5 years at T2. Survivors completed a set of questionnaires including the Benefit Finding Scale for Children and the University of California at Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index. Regression and correlation analyses were performed. The relation between PTSS and PTG was not proven. A higher level of PTSS (T2) was associated with higher levels of negative emotionality (T1). A higher level of PTG (T2) was connected to a higher level of warmth in parenting (T1), female gender and older age at assessment. Medical variables such as the severity of late effects and the time from treatment completion did not play a significant role in the prediction of PTSS and PTG. PTG and PTSS are more influenced by factors of parenting and emotional well-being of childhood cancer survivors than by objective medical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviews existing research devoted to the topic of social support in childhood cancer survivors, the structure of their social network and its influence to selected characteristics of childhood cancer patients and survivors according to the source of support. Parents, siblings, friends, medical staff, classmates and teachers are analyzed as support sources. Positive as well as negative social support outcomes are reported. Among the positive outcomes, lower levels of anxiety, loneliness and pain, quality of life improvements and strenghtening of coping strategies can be named. Negative outcomes can be represented for example by excessive parental care, lack of privacy and feeling of being left out after the end of treatment. The limits of existing research are discussed, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The purpose of this study is to describe the structure and the level of perceived social support in childhood cancer survivors and compare it with the support of control group. Sample and settings. Data from 101 childhood cancer survivors and 231 individuals from the general population were used. To determine the structure and level of social support Questionnaire of social support QOLOP which was originally designed for the QOLOP (Quality of Life Longitudinal Study in Oncology Paediatric Patients) project was used. Hypotheses. Perceived parental social support in childhood cancer survivors is higher than in the general population. Social support provided by friends is lower in childhood cancer survivors than in the general population. Statistical analysis: The statistical analysis (descriptive statistics and factorial analysis of variance) was performed using SPSS. Results. Parents (especially mothers) were the most important sources of perceived social support for both groups. Grandparents, friends and siblings were mentioned as relevant sources of social support, too. Childhood cancer survivors perceived higher level of social support from mothers, teachers, grandparents, siblings and friends. Specific differences in perceived social support were also found depending on age and gender. Study limitation. The health status of control group was not monitored. In the group of childhood cancer survivors, the age in time of diagnosis and the time since the end of the treatment were not taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In pediatric cancer settings, parents can be asked to provide information about the impact of cancer on the child. However, their assessment of the child may not be accurate. Research has shown that parents tend to underestimate the quality of life of their child following pediatric cancer. Little is known about the accuracy of parental reports of posttraumatic growth (PTG) as a consequence of pediatric cancer. Our study aimed to examine concordance of parent- and child-reported PTG with taking into account the parents' own level of PTG. We found poor parent–child concordance, with parents reporting higher levels of PTG for their children than the children themselves. When assessing their child's PTG, parents are influenced by their own level of PTG. These findings provide implications for the research on psychosocial outcomes of pediatric cancer using a multi-informant perspective as well as for the topic of veracity of PTG in general. This article aimed to analyze concordance of parent- and child-reported child posttraumatic growth (PTG) following pediatric cancer, the influence of the parents' own level of PTG on the level of concordance and the influence of the parents' and the child's own level of PTG on the parents' proxy reports of PTG in the child. The sample included 127 parent–child dyads. The children provided self-reports of PTG and the parents provided reports of their own as well as the child's PTG. Overall, the results showed poor parent–child agreement on the child PTG, with the parents proxy-reporting higher levels of PTG than the children. The parents' proxy reports of the child PTG were the most accurate at the lowest levels of the parents' own level of PTG. The parents' own level of PTG was a stronger predictor of the parents' proxy reports than the child self-reported PTG. The results suggest that parents are not very accurate reporters of PTG in the child; therefore, their reports should be completed with child self-reports whenever possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The purpose of this study is to map the coping strategies used by childhood cancer survivors during the treatment and also in their current life and to find a relationship between coping strategies and the rate of depressive symptomatology. Sample and setting. The research group consists of 65 adolescent childhood cancer survivors (M=18,29; SD=2,71). Coping strategies and depression symptoms were assessed through KIDCOPE and CDI (Children's Depression Inventory). Hypotheses. Adolescent childhood cancer survivors use significantly more avoidance coping strategies during the treatment. They use significantly more approach coping strategies in longterm remission. Certain coping strategies (e.g. resignation, social support) contribute to lower rate of depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Spearman's correlation through SPSS. Results. Resignation (avoidant coping) and social support (approach coping) were the most used coping strategies during the treatment in both girls and boys. The use of coping strategies in current life was more steady. Cognitive restructuring seems to be effective strategy both during the treatment and in long-term remission in both girls and boys. In contrast emotion regulation, blaming others, social withdrawal and social isolation used both during the treatment and in long-term remission are associated with more depressive symptoms but only in boys. Study limitations. The main study limitation is retrospective information retrieval using questionnaire form several years after treatment that can cause distortion of information by adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]