39 results on '"Odelia Elkana"'
Search Results
2. Intelligent Robotics in Pediatric Cooperative Neurorehabilitation: A Review
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Elishai Ezra Tsur and Odelia Elkana
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intelligent robotics ,neurorehabilitation ,artificial intelligence (AI) ,pediatric neurorehabilitation ,assistive robotics ,personalized rehabilitation ,Mechanical engineering and machinery ,TJ1-1570 - Abstract
The landscape of neurorehabilitation is undergoing a profound transformation with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven robotics. This review addresses the pressing need for advancements in pediatric neurorehabilitation and underscores the pivotal role of AI-driven robotics in addressing existing gaps. By leveraging AI technologies, robotic systems can transcend the limitations of preprogrammed guidelines and adapt to individual patient needs, thereby fostering patient-centric care. This review explores recent strides in social and diagnostic robotics, physical therapy, assistive robotics, smart interfaces, and cognitive training within the context of pediatric neurorehabilitation. Furthermore, it examines the impact of emerging AI techniques, including artificial emotional intelligence, interactive reinforcement learning, and natural language processing, on enhancing cooperative neurorehabilitation outcomes. Importantly, the review underscores the imperative of responsible AI deployment and emphasizes the significance of unbiased, explainable, and interpretable models in fostering adaptability and effectiveness in pediatric neurorehabilitation settings. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of AI-driven robotics in pediatric neurorehabilitation and offers valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. more...
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- 2024
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3. Children and adolescents with ASD treated with CBD-rich cannabis exhibit significant improvements particularly in social symptoms: an open label study
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Micha Hacohen, Orit E. Stolar, Matitiahu Berkovitch, Odelia Elkana, Elkana Kohn, Ariela Hazan, Eli Heyman, Yael Sobol, Danel Waissengreen, Eynat Gal, and Ilan Dinstein
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Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,RC321-571 - Abstract
Abstract In recent years there has been growing interest in the potential benefits of CBD-rich cannabis treatment for children with ASD. Several open label studies and one double-blind placebo-controlled study have reported that CBD-rich cannabis is safe and potentially effective in reducing disruptive behaviors and improving social communication. However, previous studies have mostly based their conclusions on parental reports without the use of standardized clinical assessments. Here, we conducted an open label study to examine the efficacy of 6 months of CBD-rich cannabis treatment in children and adolescents with ASD. Longitudinal changes in social communication abilities and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) were quantified using parent report with the Social Responsiveness Scale and clinical assessment with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). We also quantified changes in adaptive behaviors using the Vineland, and cognitive abilities using an age-appropriate Wechsler test. Eighty-two of the 110 recruited participants completed the 6-month treatment protocol. While some participants did not exhibit any improvement in symptoms, there were overall significant improvements in social communication abilities as quantified by the ADOS, SRS, and Vineland with larger improvements in participants who had more severe initial symptoms. Significant improvements in RRB were noted only with parent-reported SRS scores and there were no significant changes in cognitive scores. These findings suggest that treatment with CBD-rich cannabis can yield improvements, particularly in social communication abilities, which were visible even when using standardized clinical assessments. Additional double-blind placebo-controlled studies utilizing standardized assessments are highly warranted for substantiating these findings. more...
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- 2022
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4. The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective
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Orin Segal and Odelia Elkana
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vlPFC ,ventrolateral prefrontal cortex ,working memory ,functional neuroanatomical framework ,lateral OFC ,inattentiveness ,Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,RC321-571 ,Human anatomy ,QM1-695 - Abstract
For many years, the functional role of the ventrolateral Pre-Frontal Cortex (PFC) was associated with executive functions, specifically in the context of non-affective cognitive processes. However, recent research has suggested that the ventrolateral PFC is also involved in the attention system. The Ben Shalom model of the functional organization of the prefrontal cortex (2019) posits that the ventrolateral PFC selects perceptual stimuli after integration by the adjacent ventromedial PFC. This article reviews the state-of-the-art findings to better understand the role of the ventrolateral PFC in the selection of perceptual information as grounded in the Ben Shalom model. Numerous studies have reported converging evidence for the selective role of this area. However, most argue that this perceptual selection takes place through the active updating of information values linked to goal-oriented actions. These studies thus view the ventrolateral PFC as part of a system that actively manipulates and changes processed information such as the working memory function, rather than being part of the attention system. In agreement with this view, this review suggests that this area is part of a complex and modular working memory system and illustrates with reference to Diamond’s work on ADD. This working memory system is functionally and anatomically dispersed and includes the dorsolateral PFC, the ACC, the parietal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the cerebellum. Hence, future research should continue to explore the specific neurofunctional roles of these areas in working memory systems, and the connections between the different subareas in this complex array. more...
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- 2023
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5. Social Support Mediates the Association between Attachment Style and Psychological Distress during COVID-19 in Israel
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Tal Adar, May Davidof, and Odelia Elkana
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COVID-19 ,psychological distress ,depression ,anxiety ,attachment style ,social support ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between attachment style, social support, and psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) during the COVID-19 lockdown of the third wave in Israel. Specifically, we examined whether social support mediates the well-documented relationship between attachment style and psychological distress. Methods: An online survey was administered from 3 January to 6 February, 2021, while a strict lockdown was in place. The sample included 288 Israelis ranging between the ages of 18–78, recruited by snowball sampling. Psychological distress was evaluated by Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7); attachment style by the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-36), and social support by the Multi-dimensional Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). A mediation model was applied with social support mediating the association between attachment style and depression and anxiety. Results: Significant correlations were found between attachment style and psychological distress, and between social support and psychological distress. Social support partially mediated the associations between attachment style and psychological distress (Depression: p < 0.001, confidence interval [CI] = 0.4018, 1.7468; Anxiety: p < 0.001, confidence interval [CI] = 0.0493, 0.9822). These results remained the same while controlling for age. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the secure attachment style serves as a protective factor against psychological distress and vice versa; insecure attachment style serves as a risk factor for developing psychological distress during a peak period of COVID-19. Nevertheless, social support played a central role in the association between attachment style and psychological distress, thus, individuals with an insecure attachment may thus be helped by offering them social support during a crisis, which in turn may increase their well-being. more...
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- 2022
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6. Changes in Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Hippocampus Following Cognitive Effort Predict Memory Decline at Older Age—A Longitudinal fMRI Study
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Noga Oren, Elissa L. Ash, Irit Shapira-Lichter, Odelia Elkana, Osnat Reichman-Eisikovits, Lior Chomsky, and Yulia Lerner
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aging ,episodic memory ,functional magnetic resonance imaging ,memory deficit ,follow-up ,Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,RC321-571 - Abstract
Memory decline is a feature of some, but not all, healthy older adults. The neural patterns of this variability are still largely unknown. We examined the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of older and younger adults before and after cognitive effort as an underlying feature for subsequent memory changes, focusing on the RSFC between the left anterior hippocampus (laHC) and the posterior hippocampi (pHC). Results showed that for younger adults, post-effort increases in laHC–pHC RSFC were related to increases in RSFC between the laHC and the hubs of the default mode network (DMN). However, for older adults, post-effort increases in the RSFC of laHC–pHC were related to decreases in the RSFC of the laHC and right precentral gyrus. Thus, the correlation between intra-HC and inter-HC RSFC was altered with cognitive effort and aging. Importantly, older adults who had lower post-effort RSFC between the laHC and the pHC demonstrated a decline in episodic memory 2 years later. Hence, the change in intra-HC RSFC following cognitive effort was able to predict subsequent memory function with aging in our sample. more...
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- 2019
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7. Effect of patient COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy on hospital care team perceptions
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Inbar Caspi, Ophir Freund, Omer Pines, Odelia Elkana, Jacob N Ablin, and Gil Bornstein
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General Medicine - Published
- 2023
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8. Attachment Anxiety Moderates the Association Between ADHD and Psychological Distress
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Hadil Kordahji, Odelia Elkana, and Shiri Ben-David
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Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Depression ,business.industry ,Public health ,Protective factor ,Anxiety ,Psychological Distress ,Moderation ,Anxiety Disorders ,Object Attachment ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,Mental health ,Patient Health Questionnaire ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ,mental disorders ,Attachment theory ,Humans ,Medicine ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Depression (differential diagnoses) ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
This study aims at examining the possible moderating role of attachment style in the association between ADHD and psychological distress, namely, anxiety and depression symptoms. Study included ninty nine participants: Sixty adults with ADHD diagnosis and thirty nine adults without ADHD or other neurological and/or psychiatric disorders. All participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), State-Trait Anxiety (STAI) questionnaires, Emotion in Close Relationships (ECR-R) questionnaire and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale–Version 1.1 (ASRS-v1.1). Adults with ADHD had greater symptoms of depression (p more...
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- 2021
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9. Risk and protective factors for psychological distress during COVID-19 in Israel
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Einat Kodesh, Sigal Levy, Odelia Elkana, Zohar Oryan, and Asia Avinir
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media_common.quotation_subject ,Population ,Protective factor ,Psychological distress ,Anxiety ,Article ,Life orientation ,Social support ,Gratitude ,medicine ,Young adult ,Risk factor ,education ,General Psychology ,media_common ,Coping strategies ,education.field_of_study ,Depression ,COVID-19 ,Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to identify the protective and risk factors related to psychological distress during COVID-19 in an Israeli sample. An online survey was administered from April 19 to May 2, 2020, while a strict lockdown was in place. Participants were recruited by snowball sampling. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Risk and protective factors for psychological distress were assessed on the Multi-dimensional Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the coping strategies (COPE), the Life Orientation Test (LOT), and the Gratitude questionnaire. Out of the 655 valid questionnaires collected (from participants ranging in age from 18 to 86, 246 males, 409 females), 138 (21.3%) were positive for moderate to very severe depression and 87 (13.2%) for moderate to extremely severe anxiety. Participants who were screened for depression and anxiety were more likely to be women and young adults (18–24). After adjusting statistically for gender, age, and socioeconomic status, depression and anxiety remained significantly associated with both emotion-focused (PHQ-β =.437, p more...
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- 2021
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10. A modified version of the 2016 ACR fibromyalgia criteria cognitive items results in stronger correlations between subjective and objective measures of cognitive impairment
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Odelia, Elkana, Chen, Yaalon, Sheer, Raev, Noy, Sobol, Jacob N, Ablin, Ran, Shorer, and Valerie, Aloush
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Cognition ,Fibromyalgia ,Rheumatology ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Immunology ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Severity of Illness Index ,Pain Measurement - Abstract
In a previous study, we showed that the subjective item assessing cognitive impairment (SSS-Cog) for fibromyalgia (FM) did not correlate with the objective cognitive measures. In the current study, we describe two modifications designed to enhance this correlation: extending the SSS-cog scale from 0-3 to 1-5, and administration of a new questionnaire that specifically targets the cognitive impairments associated with FM.Sixty-two FM patients underwent a computerised cognitive assessment battery. FM symptoms were assessed on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ); the Widespread Pain Index (WPI); the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), the new SSS-Cog scale ranging from 1 to 5, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the new cognitive questionnaire developed by the authors.Significant correlations were found between the new SSS-Cog, the global cognitive score and all indices [Global Score r=-0.532, p=0.00; Indices: Memory r=-0.305, p=.01; Executive function r=-0.514, p=0.00; Attention r=-0.471, p=0.00; Processing Speed r=-0.468, p=0.00; Motor Skills r=-0.495, p=.00]. Significant correlations were found between the new questionnaire and the global cognitive score and all indices except the memory index [Global Score r=-0.522, p=0.00; Indices: Memory r=-0.163, p=0.212; Executive function r=-0.477, p=0.00; Attention r=-0.439, p=0.00; Processing Speed r=-0.496, p=0.00; Motor Skills r=-0.532, p=0.00].Given the simplicity involved in extending the scale, we suggest incorporating this modification into the FM diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). more...
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- 2021
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11. Can the RAVLT predict deterioration from MCI to dementia? Data from long term follow up
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Sigal Levy, Liraz Dawidowicz, Amos D. Korczyn, Elissa L. Ash, Odelia Elkana, and Fani Andelman
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Male ,Aging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Long term follow up ,MEDLINE ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Audiology ,Memory and Learning Tests ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous) ,mental disorders ,medicine ,Humans ,Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test ,Dementia ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Dementia diagnosis ,Cognitive impairment ,General Psychology ,business.industry ,Follow up studies ,medicine.disease ,Female ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,business ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
To assess whether the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) could differentiate deterioration from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to dementia.Twenty-six participants who were diagnosed with MCI performed the RAVLT and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and after nearly a decade (M = 8.8 years, SD = 3.16), in order to evaluate whether they progressed to dementia.Twelve participants [5 males, 7 females; age M = 63.7 (7.7)] kept their diagnoses of MCI; 14 participants [11 males, 3 females; age M = 75.0 (6.5)] converted to dementia. Both groups had similar MMSE scores at baseline [26.6 (0.6); and 26.6 (0.7) respectively]. Significant differences between dementia and MCI groups were found on most measures of the RAVLT at baseline: Immediate memory [The results extend previous findings with follow-up of nearly a decade demonstrating that most of the RAVLT measures are sensitive to differentiate conversion from MCI to dementia. more...
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- 2021
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12. Quantitative Meta-Analyses: Lateralization of Memory Functions Before and After Surgery in Children with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
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Mony Benifla, Odelia Elkana, Naomi Kahana Levy, and Jonathan Segalovsky
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Neurology ,Neuropsychological Tests ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,Functional Laterality ,050105 experimental psychology ,Lateralization of brain function ,Temporal lobe ,03 medical and health sciences ,Epilepsy ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance ,Child ,Memory Disorders ,05 social sciences ,Neuropsychology ,medicine.disease ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Temporal Lobe ,Surgery ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ,Meta-analysis ,Verbal memory ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Memory deficits in children with epilepsy have been reported in some but not all studies assessing the effects of side of seizures and resection from the temporal lobe on cognitive performance. This meta-analysis provides a quantitative systematic review of previous studies on this issue. A critical review and meta-analysis of the literature on memory performance in children with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) was conducted. Search identified 25 studies, 13 of which compared children with TLE to healthy age-matched controls and 12 of which compared children with TLE before and after surgery. Heterogeneity of the comparisons of children with TLE to healthy controls impeded drawing definitive conclusions. However, in 55% of the studies, verbal memory in children with left TLE (LTLE) was impaired as compared to healthy controls. Verbal memory performance slightly declines after pediatric LTLE surgery, but nonverbal memory tasks are not affected. By contrast, verbal memory performance is not affected by pediatric right TLE (RTLE) surgery. The findings suggest that side of the epileptogenic zone and resection from the temporal lobe affect verbal memory in children with LTLE. Right resection seems to be safe with respect to verbal memory performance. more...
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- 2021
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13. The effect of a single training session on cognition and mood in young adults – is there added value of a dual-task over a single-task paradigm?
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Einat Kodesh, Yael Netz, Rona Louzia-Timen, Odelia Elkana, and Sigal Levy
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Social Psychology ,05 social sciences ,Cognition ,030229 sport sciences ,DUAL (cognitive architecture) ,050105 experimental psychology ,Cognitive training ,Task (project management) ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Mood ,Verbal fluency test ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Session (computer science) ,Young adult ,Psychology ,Applied Psychology ,Cognitive psychology - Abstract
The combination of simultaneous physical and cognitive training has rarely been assessed in young adults. Here we consider whether one dual-task cognitive and physical session was more effective th... more...
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- 2020
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14. Physical fitness mediates the association between age and cognition in healthy adults
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Shlomo Segev, Ramit Ravona-Springer, Odelia Elkana, Michal Schnaider Beeri, Yaara Orland, Ariel Israel, and Sigal Levy
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Gerontology ,Aging ,business.industry ,Physical fitness ,Cardiorespiratory fitness ,Cognition ,Metabolic equivalent ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Cognitive decline ,Treadmill ,Path analysis (statistics) ,Psychology ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Cognitive reserve - Abstract
Physical fitness is an important contributor to healthy aging that improves cognition. Older adults who engage in cardiorespiratory fitness activities show less cognitive decline. To examine whether physical fitness acts as a potential protective mechanism shielding against the negative associations between age and cognition. Specifically, we examined whether physical fitness mediates the relationship between age and processing speed. 114 (M = 63.80, SD = 10.63) senior executives completed a computerized cognitive battery composed of four processing speed tasks. Level of physical fitness was assessed on a treadmill stress test and reported in metabolic equivalents (METs). Older age was associated with slower processing speed (r = 0.25, p = 0.007), whereas greater physical fitness was associated with faster processing speed (r = −0.30, p = 0.001). Path analysis indicated that the association between age and processing speed was fully mediated by the level of physical fitness (Indirect effect: β = 0.10, p = 0.008; Direct effect: β = 0.16, p = 0.20). The findings indicate that physical fitness is a strong mediator of the relationship between age and processing speed and imply that physical fitness makes a major contribution to cognitive reserve during the aging process. The results may suggest that the decrease in physical fitness during aging may partially account for slower cognitive processing. more...
- Published
- 2020
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15. Pain Catastrophizing Mediates the Association Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress in Chronic Pain Syndrome
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Odelia Elkana, Jean-Jacques Vatine, Sami Hamdan, Yael Conti, Yulia Levin Meltz, and Sigal Levy
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Adult ,Male ,Mediation (statistics) ,Mindfulness ,Adolescent ,Psychological Distress ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Moderated mediation ,030202 anesthesiology ,Adaptation, Psychological ,medicine ,Humans ,business.industry ,Catastrophization ,Chronic pain ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Patient Health Questionnaire ,Distress ,Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine ,Anxiety ,Female ,Pain catastrophizing ,Chronic Pain ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Stress, Psychological ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
AIM Trait mindfulness has been found to be inversely associated with emotional distress such as depression and anxiety among patients suffering from pain. The current study investigated the putative mechanisms underlying these associations by examining whether pain catastrophizing mediates the association between mindfulness and psychological distress and whether this model differs in patients suffering from chronic pain compared to patients experiencing nonchronic pain in a medical rehabilitation setting. METHODS Forty-eight patients in their subacute stage of recovery participated in the study. Seventeen participants had a diagnosis of chronic pain. Trait mindfulness was assessed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, pain catastrophizing was assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, and anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Two mediation models were used, with pain catastrophizing mediating the association between mindfulness and depression and anxiety. RESULTS Catastrophizing significantly mediated the association between trait mindfulness and depression (P more...
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- 2020
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16. Associations between social support and anxiety during the COVID-19 lockdown in young and middle-aged Israelis: A cross-sectional study
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Yang Xi, Odelia Elkana, Wo-Er Jiao, Di Li, and Ze-Zhang Tao
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General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,General Environmental Science - Abstract
This study examined the associations between social support and anxiety during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an Israeli sample.To examine the associations between social support and anxiety during the COVID-19 in an Israeli sample.Data for this cross-sectional study were retrieved from an online survey. Linear regression, logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were conducted to test for associations between social support and anxiety.A total of 655 individuals took part in the present study. In the univariate linear regression model, there is a negative correlation between the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score (GAD-7) and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS) score. For MSPSS score, the multivariable adjusted regression coefficient and 95% confidence interval (CI) of GAD-7 score were -0.779 (-1.063 to -0.496). In the univariate logistic regression model, there was a negative correlation between anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 9) and MSPSS score, and there was still a negative correlation in multivariate logical regression analysis. The odds ratios and 95%CI were 0.709 (0.563-0.894).Social support was inversely correlated with anxiety during COVID-19 in an Israeli sample. more...
- Published
- 2022
17. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia
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Odelia Elkana, Yael Nimni, Jacob N. Ablin, Ran Shorer, and Valerie Aloush
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Male ,Fibromyalgia ,Rheumatology ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Immunology ,Immunology and Allergy ,Humans ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Female ,Middle Aged ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Mental Status and Dementia Tests - Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is one of the criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM) and is typically based on self-report questionnaires such as the Symptom Severity Scale. However, recent studies have shown that there is no correlation between these subjective measures of cognitive dysfunction and more lengthy objective measures of cognitive functioning. This points to the need for a briefer valid evaluation tool for cognitive dysfunction in FM. The aim of this study is to examine whether the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test is a valid measure of cognitive assessment in FM patients, by comparing it to a comprehensive computerised cognitive assessment battery.Sixty-two FM patients (55 women, 7 men, mean age = 46.17 years, sd=12.56) were administered the MoCA and a computerised cognitive assessment battery. FM symptoms were assessed on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Widespread Pain Index (WPI), the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2). Patient effort was controlled on the TOMM (Test of Memory Malingering).Moderate positive correlations were found between the MoCA and the computerised cognitive scores as follows: Global Cognitive Score (r=0.493**, p=0.00), Memory Index Score (r= 0.384**, p=0.002), Executive Function Index Score (r=0.461**, p=0.00), Attention Index Score (r=0.310*, p=0.016), Information Processing Speed Index Score (r=0.435**, p=0.001), and Motor Skills (r=0.406**, p=0.002).The MoCA is an acceptable cognitive screening test for the cognitive evaluation of FM patients. more...
- Published
- 2021
18. The associations between executive functions and different aspects of perceived pain, beyond the influence of depression, in rehabilitation setting
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Jean-Jacques Vatine, Yael Conti, Odelia Elkana, Sami Hamdan, Motty Franko, and Ofir Heyman
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Male ,030506 rehabilitation ,Pain ,Context (language use) ,Severity of Illness Index ,Executive Function ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous) ,Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ,Memory span ,Humans ,Medicine ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Applied Psychology ,Aged ,Depression ,business.industry ,Catastrophization ,Rehabilitation ,Cognitive flexibility ,Chronic pain ,Pain Perception ,Middle Aged ,Executive functions ,medicine.disease ,Patient Health Questionnaire ,Inhibition, Psychological ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Female ,Pain catastrophizing ,Chronic Pain ,0305 other medical science ,business ,Psychomotor Performance ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
We investigated the relations between several aspects of Perceived Pain (PP) and different measurements of Executive Functions (EFs), above the influence of depression, in the context of medical rehabilitation. Eighty-one neurologically intact patients participated in this study in their sub-acute stage of recovery. Different aspects of EFs were assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the Stop-Signal Test (SST) and the Digit Span Backward subtest of the WAIS-III (Span-B). Different aspects of PP were measured: Pain Disability Index (PDI), The Short-Form McGill Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire. The results indicate that irrespective of the presence of depression, mental flexibility is correlated with pain disability and pain severity (WSCT - PDI partial correlation: r = -.23; p=.047, WSCT - SF-MPQ partial correlation: r = -.31; p = .006). Response inhibition is correlated with pain disability (SST - PDI partial correlation: r = .37; p = .001). Updating was not correlated with any of the PP aspects. These results remain much the same after removing the chronic pain patients from the analyses. The present study emphasizes the multidimensional nature of the term "perceived pain", as well as the term "executive functions", and the relations between them. more...
- Published
- 2019
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19. Physical and mental impact of COVID-19 outbreak on fibromyalgia patients
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Valerie Aloush, Avital Gurfinkel, Noam Shachar, Jacob N. Ablin, and Odelia Elkana
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Cross-Sectional Studies ,Fibromyalgia ,Rheumatology ,Depression ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Immunology ,Communicable Disease Control ,Immunology and Allergy ,COVID-19 ,Humans ,Anxiety ,Disease Outbreaks - Abstract
Acute or chronic stress may trigger or aggravate symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM). We aimed to evaluate the physical and mental health of fibromyalgia patients during the COVID 19 outbreak and identify protective/risk factors.An online survey was published in May 2020, following two months of lockdown due to the COVID 19 outbreak, including questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, access to medical services, anxiety, depression, life approach, coping strategies, perception of social support, widespread pain index (WPI) and symptoms severity scale (SSS), insomnia severity index (ISI) and patient global assessment.Of the 233 patients included in the study, 98% were forced to discontinue complementary or alternative treatments during lockdown. Up to 30% of responders who had been treated with medical cannabis had to stop due to logistic difficulties and this was associated with significantly higher scores of WPI/SSS (p=0.024). Higher levels of anxiety and depression were significantly correlated with higher levels of pain, sleep disorders and subjective perception of deterioration (p=0.00). Higher scores of social support and positive life approach were correlated with less anxiety and depression (p0.01), lower levels of pain (p0.05) and less sleep disturbances (p0.01). Avoidant coping style was strongly associated to higher levels of pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and subjective perception of worsening (p0.01).Fibromyalgia patients reported adverse mental and physical outcomes during the COVID-19 outbreak. Factors such as stopping current treatments may play a central role. Social support and a positive life approach appear to be protective. more...
- Published
- 2021
20. Good pain, bad pain: illness perception and physician attitudes towards rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients
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Valerie Aloush, Dana Niv, Jacob N. Ablin, Iris Yaish, Ori Elkayam, and Odelia Elkana
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid ,Physician-Patient Relations ,Fibromyalgia ,Rheumatology ,Attitude ,Physicians ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Immunology ,Immunology and Allergy ,Humans ,Pain ,Perception ,Severity of Illness Index - Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) are common diagnoses encountered in rheumatology practice, but do not enjoy the same status. We aimed to examine physician's illness perceptions regarding these two rheumatologic disorders and to evaluate how they correlate with their relationship with these patients.Forty-five rheumatologists were enrolled in the study. Demographic data were registered. Measures collected included the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) and the Difficult Doctor- Patient Relation Questionnaire (DDPRQ-10). Both were recorded twice, related to FM and RA. Empathy and burnout were also assessed.Of 45 physicians included in the study, only 53% were willing to accept FM patients. FM was considered a more severe disease than RA (FM-BIPQ mean score 54, SD 5.5 versus RA-BIPQ mean 45.6 SD 6.5, p0.00) in terms of treatment control, understanding and emotional response generated by the disease. Doctor-patient relationship was perceived more difficult with FM patients compared to RA patients (FM-DDPRQ mean score 35.1, SD 9.2 versus RA-DDPRQ mean 19.6, SD 7.1, p0.00), and was significantly correlated to the patient's concern about the illness (p0.034) and patient's emotional response (p0.036). Resistance to accept FM patients was largely influenced by difficult doctor-patient relationship. Higher levels of empathy were found in physicians experiencing less difficulty with FM patients.FM patients were perceived as more difficult than RA patients, with a high level of concern and emotional response. A high proportion of physicians were reluctant to accept them because they feel emotional/psychological difficulties meeting and coping with these patients. more...
- Published
- 2020
21. Physical fitness mediates the association between age and cognition in healthy adults
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Yaara, Orland, Michal Schnaider, Beeri, Sigal, Levy, Ariel, Israel, Ramit, Ravona-Springer, Shlomo, Segev, and Odelia, Elkana
- Subjects
Aging ,Cognition ,Cardiorespiratory Fitness ,Physical Fitness ,Humans ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Aged - Abstract
Physical fitness is an important contributor to healthy aging that improves cognition. Older adults who engage in cardiorespiratory fitness activities show less cognitive decline.To examine whether physical fitness acts as a potential protective mechanism shielding against the negative associations between age and cognition. Specifically, we examined whether physical fitness mediates the relationship between age and processing speed.114 (M = 63.80, SD = 10.63) senior executives completed a computerized cognitive battery composed of four processing speed tasks. Level of physical fitness was assessed on a treadmill stress test and reported in metabolic equivalents (METs).Older age was associated with slower processing speed (r = 0.25, p = 0.007), whereas greater physical fitness was associated with faster processing speed (r = -0.30, p = 0.001). Path analysis indicated that the association between age and processing speed was fully mediated by the level of physical fitness (Indirect effect: β = 0.10, p = 0.008; Direct effect: β = 0.16, p = 0.20).The findings indicate that physical fitness is a strong mediator of the relationship between age and processing speed and imply that physical fitness makes a major contribution to cognitive reserve during the aging process. The results may suggest that the decrease in physical fitness during aging may partially account for slower cognitive processing. more...
- Published
- 2020
22. Conscientiousness is associated with improvement in visuospatial working memory and mood following acute physical exercise: A randomized controlled trial
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Einat Kodesh, Glen M. Doniger, Motty Franco, Odelia Elkana, Nina Yaara Krueger Bustanai, and Rona Louzia-Timen
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Working memory ,05 social sciences ,Conscientiousness ,Physical exercise ,Cognition ,Profile of mood states ,050105 experimental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Mood ,Heart rate ,Physical therapy ,medicine ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Big Five personality traits ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,General Psychology - Abstract
Background In recent years, there has been heightened interest in the short-term effects of physical exercise on cognition and mood state. However, personality traits that may account for individual differences have not been studied. Aim To investigate whether conscientiousness is associated with improvement in visuospatial working memory (VS-WM) and mood following acute physical exercise. Method 69 healthy young adults (M = 25.9, SD = 3.17) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: acute physical exercise; resting control. All completed the Big-5, Profile of Mood States (POMS), and a computerized standardized cognitive battery in Hebrew. The acute physical exercise was a 15-minute moderate-intensity (60% of predicted maximal heart rate) cycle ergometer test. After a 5-minute rest participants completed the POMS again and an alternate form of the computerized battery. Results Multiple regression yielded a significant interaction between conscientiousness and group on VS-WM (p = 0.037) and on positive mood (p = 0.02). Simple slope analysis revealed strong positive correlations in the acute physical exercise group between conscientiousness and VS-WM (p Conclusions Individuals who are relatively more conscientious demonstrate better cognitive function and more positive mood following acute physical exercise. more...
- Published
- 2018
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23. Downwards Vertical Attention Bias in Conversion Disorder vs Controls: A Pilot Study
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Liraz Dawidowicz, Odelia Elkana, Sivan Gazit, Liel Yeshayahu, and Iftah Biran
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Adult ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Pilot Projects ,Anxiety ,Attentional bias ,Affect (psychology) ,050105 experimental psychology ,Developmental psychology ,Attentional Bias ,Correlation ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous) ,Perception ,medicine ,Functional neurological symptom disorder ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Prospective Studies ,Somatoform Disorders ,Conversion disorder ,Applied Psychology ,media_common ,Conceptualization ,Depression ,05 social sciences ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Conversion Disorder ,Case-Control Studies ,Space Perception ,Metaphor ,Female ,Psychology ,Somatization ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Cognitive psychology - Abstract
Background Conversion disorder (CD) is a largely enigmatic disorder, one that requires a thorough ruling-out process. Prior research suggests that metaphors and conceptualization are rooted in physical experience, and that we interpret our affective world through metaphors. Spatial metaphors (interaction of affect and vertical space) are a prominent example of the grounding of metaphors. This is a relatively unpaved direction of research of CD. Objectives The present pilot study sought to explore this view by investigating the “healthy is up, sick is down” spatial metaphors (e.g., “fell ill” and “top shape”) in patients with CD, examining the correlation between the processing of bodily-related words, CD, and vertical space. We hypothesized that patients with CD, who experience their bodies as ill, will demonstrate a downwards bias when processing bodily-related words; corresponding to the “healthy is up, sick is down” spatial metaphor. Methods A total of 8 female patients (ages M-38.13 SD-10.44) and 42 female controls (ages M-36.4 SD-14.57) performed a visual attention task. Participants were asked to identify a spatial probe at the top or the bottom of a screen, following either a bodily related (e.g., arm) or non–bodily related (e.g., clock) prime word. Results As predicted, when processing bodily-related words, patients with CD demonstrated a downwards attention bias. Moreover, the higher the patient's level of somatization, the faster the patient detected lower (vs upper) spatial targets. Conclusions This study suggests that the changed health paradigm of patients with CD is grounded in sensorimotor perception. Further research could propose new diagnostic and treatment options for CD. more...
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- 2017
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24. Cognitive function is largely intact in methadone maintenance treatment patients
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Anat Sason, Odelia Elkana, Miriam Adelson, Einat Peles, and Glen M. Doniger
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Adult ,Male ,Narcotics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Methadone maintenance ,Neuropsychological Tests ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cognition ,0302 clinical medicine ,mental disorders ,Opiate Substitution Treatment ,medicine ,Humans ,Psychiatry ,Biological Psychiatry ,Middle Aged ,Opioid-Related Disorders ,medicine.disease ,030227 psychiatry ,Substance abuse ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Treatment Outcome ,Schizophrenia ,Cognitive screening ,Female ,Psychology ,Methadone ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
To confirm our previous findings of less cognitive impairments (based on cognitive screening tools) among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients who achieved take-home dose (THD) privileges.a random sample of 65 Israeli MMT patients were studied using computerised, age and education standardised, cognitive domains (attention, executive function, memory, motor skills), and non-computerised phonetic and semantic verbal fluency.Cognitive scores were within ±1 standard deviation (SD) of average for most domains, including non-verbal IQ, attention and motor skills. Verbal fluency and memory were 1 SD below average (mean = 84; z = -1.1 for both). Females were younger than the males and had poorer motor skills (P = 0.005) but better verbal memory (P 0.0005). Opiate usage duration correlated with reaction time (P = 0.05) and inversely with verbal memory (P = 0.01). Overall cognitive function was poorest among 25 (38.5%) current drug users, and 6 (9.2%) lifetime schizophrenia patients. Cognitive domains were comparable between THD privileges subgroups.Despite heterogeneity in MMT duration, abuse duration, substance use and psychiatric comorbidity, all performed within ±1 SD of average for age and education in most cognitive domains. Our findings challenge the notion of MMT as being synonymous with compromised cognition and may lead to reduced bias regarding cognitive function of MMT patients. more...
- Published
- 2017
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25. Is the Cutoff of the MoCA too High? Longitudinal Data From Highly Educated Older Adults
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Odelia Elkana, Elissa L. Ash, Noga Oren, Noy Tal, and Shani Soffer
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Gerontology ,Male ,050103 clinical psychology ,Longitudinal data ,Neuropsychological Tests ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cognition ,Predictive Value of Tests ,Cutoff ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Cognitive decline ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ,Thesaurus (information retrieval) ,Trail Making Test ,05 social sciences ,Montreal Cognitive Assessment ,Mental Status and Dementia Tests ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Educational Status ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Background: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is widely used to evaluate cognitive decline in older individuals. Although, age and education-related norms have been published, the vast majority of diagnostic clinicians use the MoCA cutoff score to identify patients with cognitive impairment. Aim: To identify whether the MoCA cutoff is too stringent for cognitively normal older adults. Methods: Twenty-seven participants aged 68 to 83 (mean = 75.07, standard deviation [SD] = 4.62), with high education level (mean = 17.14 years, SD = 3.21) underwent cognitive assessment once a year for 5 consecutive years. The cognitive assessment included MoCA; Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure test; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Information and Digit Span Subtest; Trail Making Test; Verbal Fluency Test; and Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze all standardized scores as well as MoCA standardized and raw scores across all years. Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA for MoCA raw scores yielded significant decline across the years ( P < .05). From the second year and forward, the average MoCA total score was below the cutoff of 26/30. However, in substantial contrast, all other neuropsychological scores and the MoCA standardized scores were within the normal range and even above in all years. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the currently used MoCA cutoff is too high even for highly educated, cognitively normal older adults. Therefore, it is crucial to use the age- and education-related norms for the MoCA in order to avoid misdiagnosis of cognitive decline. more...
- Published
- 2019
26. WAIS Information Subtest as an indicator of crystallized cognitive abilities and brain reserve among highly educated older adults: A three-year longitudinal study
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Vered Bezalel, Elissa L. Ash, Noga Oren, Shani Soffer, Odelia Elkana, and Osnat Reichman Eisikovits
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Male ,050103 clinical psychology ,Longitudinal study ,Neuropsychological Tests ,behavioral disciplines and activities ,Memory and Learning Tests ,Cognition ,Cognitive Reserve ,mental disorders ,Developmental and Educational Psychology ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Longitudinal Studies ,Cognitive decline ,Cognitive reserve ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Trail Making Test ,05 social sciences ,Neuropsychology ,Wechsler Scales ,High education ,Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ,Reproducibility of Results ,Mental Status and Dementia Tests ,Test (assessment) ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Educational Status ,Female ,Psychology ,psychological phenomena and processes ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) Information Subtest (IS) is known as a neuropsychological "Hold" test that is relatively resistant to decline with aging. We administered neuropsychological tests among highly educated healthy older adults once a year for three subsequent years. Results showed highly stable performances on the IS across years (Mean Z score: T0 = 1.39 more...
- Published
- 2019
27. Suplementary_25_5_19_(1) - Is the Cutoff of the MoCA too High? Longitudinal Data From Highly Educated Older Adults
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Odelia Elkana, Noy Tal, Oren, Noga, Soffer, Shani, and Ash, Elissa L.
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FOS: Psychology ,FOS: Clinical medicine ,170199 Psychology not elsewhere classified ,110319 Psychiatry (incl. Psychotherapy) ,110308 Geriatrics and Gerontology ,110904 Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases ,Neuroscience - Abstract
Suplementary_25_5_19_(1) for Is the Cutoff of the MoCA too High? Longitudinal Data From Highly Educated Older Adults by Odelia Elkana, Noy Tal, Noga Oren, Shani Soffer and Elissa L. Ash in Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology more...
- Published
- 2019
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28. Improvement in Cognitive Performance after One Year of Methadone Maintenance Treatment
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Miriam Adelson, Anat Sason, Glen M. Doniger, Odelia Elkana, and Einat Peles
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Adult ,Male ,Longitudinal study ,Methadone maintenance ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Perceived Stress Scale ,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cognition ,0302 clinical medicine ,Opiate Substitution Treatment ,medicine ,Humans ,Longitudinal Studies ,Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance ,Biological Psychiatry ,business.industry ,Opioid use disorder ,Middle Aged ,Opioid-Related Disorders ,medicine.disease ,030227 psychiatry ,Analgesics, Opioid ,Substance abuse ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Physical therapy ,Female ,Sleep ,business ,Methadone ,Psychomotor Performance ,Stress, Psychological ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
Individuals with substance use disorders are known to suffer from stress, poor sleep, and cognitive impairment. We investigated whether individuals with opioid use disorder would improve cognitive performance following a year of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a standardized computerized cognitive battery were administered at admission (T0) to 29 patients, and repeatedly following one year of MMT (T1) by 19 patients. Admission measures did not differ between those who studied once or twice. Patients who perceived very high stress levels (PSS ≥24) at T0 (11, 37.9%) had lower computerized global cognitive scores (67.6±16.2 vs. 90.9±12.5 p≤0.0005). At T1, PSS and PSQI scores improved significantly among 11 patients with no substance abuse, but worsened among 8 with substance abuse (PSS p(interaction)=0.009, p(groups)=0.005, PSQI p(interaction)=0.01, p(groups)=0.04). Global cognitive score improved at T1 for the entire sample (81.8±20.1 to 89.2±13.8, p=0.05). Differentiation by high stress at T0 or by substance abuse at T1 subgroups showed that improvement was observed by those with very low cognitive scores at T0. Patients with poor cognition may improve following one year of MMT, due to stress and substance abuse reduction. Interventions for stress reduction are recommended. more...
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- 2020
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29. Stress and Cognition Among Patients in Methadone Maintenance Treatment
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Einat Peles, Miriam Adeson, Odelia Elkana, and Anat Sason
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Methadone maintenance ,business.industry ,Stress (linguistics) ,Medicine ,Cognition ,business ,Biological Psychiatry ,Clinical psychology - Published
- 2020
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30. Changes in Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Hippocampus Following Cognitive Effort Predict Memory Decline at Older Age-A Longitudinal fMRI Study
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Noga Oren, Elissa L. Ash, Irit Shapira-Lichter, Odelia Elkana, Osnat Reichman-Eisikovits, Lior Chomsky, and Yulia Lerner
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0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Cognitive Neuroscience ,Audiology ,lcsh:RC321-571 ,Correlation ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,follow-up ,Memory impairment ,Hippocampus (mythology) ,lcsh:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry ,Episodic memory ,Default mode network ,Original Research ,Resting state fMRI ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Functional connectivity ,aging ,episodic memory ,functional magnetic resonance imaging ,030104 developmental biology ,Functional magnetic resonance imaging ,Psychology ,memory deficit ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Neuroscience - Abstract
Identifying older adults at risk for memory impairment is an important goal for initiating early treatment and prevention strategies. We examined the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of older and younger adults before and after cognitive effort as a marker for subsequent memory decline, focusing on the connectivity between the left anterior hippocampus (laHC) and the posterior hippocampi (pHC). Results showed that for younger adults, post-effort increases in laHC-pHC connectivity were related to increases in connectivity between the laHC and the hubs of the default mode network. However, for older adults, post-effort increases in the RSFC of laHC-pHC were related to decreases in the connectivity of the laHC and right precentral gyrus. Thus, the correlation between intra-HC and inter-HC RSFC was altered with cognitive effort and aging. Importantly, older adults who had lower post-effort RSFC between the laHC and the pHC demonstrated a decline in an episodic memory 2 years later. Hence, the change in intra-HC RSFC following cognitive effort was able to predict subsequent memory function with aging in our sample. more...
- Published
- 2018
31. Does the cognitive index of the symptom severity scale evaluate cognition? Data from subjective and objective cognitive measures in fibromyalgia
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Odelia, Elkana, Amir K, Falcofsky, Ran, Shorer, Tamar, Bar-On Kalfon, and Jacob N, Ablin
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Cognition ,Fibromyalgia ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Humans ,Cognition Disorders ,Severity of Illness Index ,Pain Measurement - Abstract
The current provisional diagnostic criteria for the fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) include a cognitive index score (SSS-Cog), which constitutes a part of the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS). The current study aimed at assessing the validity of the cognitive index score, by comparing this subjective measure of cognitive impairment with an objective measure of cognitive functioning, collected through comprehensive computerised cognitive testing and assessment.50 FM patients underwent a computerised cognitive assessment battery, including testing in domains of memory, executive function, attention and information processing speed (NeuroTraxCorp.). Age and education standardised scores were computed. FM symptoms were assessed by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of clinical pain and the Beck Depression inventory (BDI-II).The index score for subjective assessment of cognitive decline (SSS-Cog) was not correlated with any of the objective cognitive measures. However, a positive correlation was found between the SSS-Cog and the FIQ, the WPI and the VAS measures, all reflecting subjective overall functional ability.No significant relationship was found between FM patients' subjective appraisal of cognitive deficit and objective cognitive scores on all computerised subtests. However, subjective appraisal of cognitive impairment was found to be strongly and significantly related to patients' functional ability. Therefore, we suggest reconsidering the definition of this index score (SSS-Cog) and propose developing novel and more accurately defined tools in order to measure cognitive impairment in FM patients, for both diagnostic and epidemiological purposes. more...
- Published
- 2018
32. The association of total cholesterol with processing speed is moderated by age in mid- to late-age healthy adults
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Odelia Elkana, Motty Franko, Ariel Israel, Michal Schnaider Beeri, Shlomo Segev, Vitali Dayman, and Ramit Ravona Springer
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Adult ,Male ,Aging ,Neuropsychological Tests ,050105 experimental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cognition ,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous) ,Total cholesterol ,Medicine ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Association (psychology) ,General Psychology ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,business.industry ,05 social sciences ,Middle Aged ,Cholesterol ,Female ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Demography - Abstract
To investigate the nature of the association of normal levels of total cholesterol with cognitive function and the contribution of age to this association.A sample of 61 senior executives, who were summoned for an annual medical examination with approximately four measurements of total cholesterol during 4 years, were examined with a computerized cognitive battery assessing mental processing speed as a sensitive measure of cognitive decline. We examined the association of total cholesterol with processing speed and the moderating effect of age on this association.A multiple regression analysis yielded a significant interaction between cholesterol and age for processing speed (p = .045). In order to examine the source of the interaction, simple slope analysis was performed. A significant negative high correlation was found for young subjects (p = .021), while no significant correlation was observed at middle (p = .286) or older (p = .584) age. The difference in slopes was robust to adjustment for potential confounding factors, including body mass index, and fasting glucose.Within the normal range, higher total cholesterol levels were associated with better processing speed in younger ages and this association diminished with increasing age. Our findings highlight the important role of brain cholesterol in good cognitive functioning. more...
- Published
- 2018
33. Higher Fasting Plasma Glucose Levels, within the Normal Range, are Associated with Decreased Processing Speed in High Functioning Young Elderly
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Meytal Raizes, Ramit Ravona Springer, Odelia Elkana, Shlomo Segev, Motty Franko, and Michal Schnaider Beeri
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Blood Glucose ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Type 2 diabetes ,Neuropsychological Tests ,High functioning ,Article ,Cognition ,Reference Values ,Internal medicine ,Linear regression ,Reaction Time ,medicine ,Humans ,Normal range ,Aged ,Subclinical infection ,Plasma glucose ,business.industry ,General Neuroscience ,Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ,Mean age ,Fasting ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Endocrinology ,Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ,Linear Models ,Female ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,business ,Psychomotor Performance - Abstract
We explored the association of plasma glucose levels within the normal range with processing speed in high functioning young elderly, free of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A sample of 41 participants (mean age = 64.7, SD = 10; glucose 94.5 mg/dL, SD = 9.3), were examined with a computerized cognitive battery. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that higher plasma glucose levels, albeit within the normal range ( more...
- Published
- 2015
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34. Sensitivity of Neuropsychological Tests to Identify Cognitive Decline in Highly Educated Elderly Individuals: 12 Months Follow up
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Osnat Reichman Eisikovits, Vered Betzale, Nir Giladi, Elissa L. Ash, Noga Oren, and Odelia Elkana
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Male ,Aging ,Statistics as Topic ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Developmental psychology ,medicine ,Memory span ,Humans ,Dementia ,Verbal fluency test ,Neuropsychological assessment ,Cognitive decline ,Aged ,Cognitive reserve ,Aged, 80 and over ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,General Neuroscience ,Neuropsychology ,Brain ,Cognition ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Educational Status ,Female ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Cognition Disorders ,Psychology ,Follow-Up Studies ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Highly educated individuals have a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A common assumption is that their “cognitive reserve” protects them from cognitive decline and postpones the clinical manifestation of dementia. These highly educated individuals usually obtain normal scores on cognitive screening tests, although at the same time they can experience subjective cognitive decline and difficulty in multiple cognitive domains. Although comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations usually identify subtle changes in cognition, they demand extensive resources and thus are expensive and difficult to obtain. Therefore, lack of sensitivity of screening tests on the one hand, along with difficulty to acquire a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation on the other hand, impede identification of cognitive decline at its earliest stages in this special population. Accordingly, this study aims to identify which neuropsychological tests have the highest sensitivity to detect the earliest stages of cognitive decline among highly educated elderly [n = 27, ages 66–80 (mean = 72.6 SD = 4.54), mean education level = 17.14 (SD = 3.21 range: 12–24 years)]. Baseline scores and scores at one-year follow up were obtained. We also conducted MRI scans to characterize the relation between brain volume and cognitive performance. Results show significant reductions in RVALT, Semantic verbal Fluency, ROCF copy, and MoCA scores whereas PF, TMT, ROCF delay, digit span, and knowledge tests were not significant. The study stresses the importance of using sensitive neuropsychological tests to examine this special population and the need to create norms that combine an individual’s education with age. more...
- Published
- 2015
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35. Cerebral language reorganization in the chronic stage of recovery: A longitudinal fMRI study
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Odelia Elkana, Avraham Schweiger, Uri Kramer, Ram Frost, and Dafna Ben-Bashat
- Subjects
Adult ,Brain Infarction ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Cognitive Neuroscience ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Brain damage ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Audiology ,Functional Laterality ,Developmental psychology ,Text mining ,Aphasia ,Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ,medicine ,Humans ,Child ,Brain Mapping ,Language Disorders ,Chronic stage ,Neuronal Plasticity ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Functional Neuroimaging ,Brain ,Recovery of Function ,Language acquisition ,Functional recovery ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Cohort ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Functional magnetic resonance imaging ,Psychology - Abstract
The goal of the present study was to investigate whether spontaneous functional recovery following insult to the language-dominant hemisphere continues in the so-called “chronic stage,” and if so, to examine its neuro-functional correlates. We used a longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) block design, where each young patient served as his/her own control. Specifically, we examined whether language functions differed significantly in two monitoring sessions conducted years apart, both in the chronic stage, where almost no functional changes are expected. We focused on a unique cohort of young brain damaged patients with aphasiogenic lesions occurring after normal language acquisition, in order to maximize the potential of plasticity for language reorganization following brain damage. The most striking finding was that the linguistic recovery of our patients was significant not just relative to their linguistic scores on initial testing (T1), but also in absolute terms, relative to the respective age-matched normal population. Such improvement, therefore, cannot be simply attributed to the natural process of development. Overall, we found that right hemisphere (RH) activation was associated with better recovery in the chronic stage. Our longitudinal findings may challenge the view of recovery as ending within the first year following onset, suggesting that the RH may provide the substrate for ongoing plasticity in the damaged brain. more...
- Published
- 2013
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36. Neuropsychological Markers of Suicidal Risk in the Context of Medical Rehabilitation
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Motty Franko, Alexandra Pustilnik, Odelia Elkana, Sami Hamdan, and Jean-Jacques Vatine
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Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Decision Making ,Poison control ,Context (language use) ,Suicide, Attempted ,Anxiety ,Suicide prevention ,Risk Assessment ,Suicidal Ideation ,Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ,03 medical and health sciences ,Social support ,Executive Function ,Young Adult ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Psychiatry ,Suicidal ideation ,Aged ,Depression ,Social Support ,Middle Aged ,Iowa gambling task ,030227 psychiatry ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Inhibition, Psychological ,Suicide ,Memory, Short-Term ,Chronic Disease ,Wounds and Injuries ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Chronic Pain ,Psychology ,Neurocognitive ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
While great strides have been made to advance the understanding of the neurobiology of suicidal behavior (SB), the neural and neuropsychological mechanisms associated with SB are not well understood. The purpose of the current study is to identify neurocognitive markers of SB in the context of medical rehabilitation. The performances of 39 patients at a medical rehabilitation center, aged 21-78, were examined on a series of neurocognitive executive tasks-decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task - IGT), mental flexibility (WCST), response inhibition (SST) and working memory (digit span). Self-report questionnaires were administered, for Suicidal behaviors, depression, Anxiety, and PTSD as well as perceived social support. Suicidal participants performed more poorly on the IGT. A mediation analysis presented a significant direct effect of decision making on suicidal risk (p more...
- Published
- 2016
37. Evaluation and comparison of tools for diagnosing problematic prescription opioid use among chronic pain patients
- Author
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Merav, Kovatch, Daniel, Feingold, Odelia, Elkana, and Shaul, Lev-Ran
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ,Substance-Related Disorders ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Humans ,Female ,Original Articles ,Chronic Pain ,Opioid-Related Disorders - Abstract
Prescription opioid medications are commonly used for the treatment of chronic pain. Assessments of problematic opioid use among pain patients are inconsistent across studies, partially due to differences between various measures. Therefore, the most appropriate measure to use is often unclear. In this study we assessed problematic opioid use in a sample of 551 individuals receiving treatment for chronic pain, using three questionnaires: the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule – Fourth Edition (AUDADIS‐IV), the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) questionnaire and Portenoy's criteria (PC). These questionnaires yielded discordant positive rates of problematic use: 52.6%, 28.7%, and 17.1%, respectively, which did not change substantially when excluding AUDADIS‐IV criteria of physical symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. Although these three questionnaires share some statistically correlated content‐based congruent questions, positive response rates to them were significantly different based on construction features, including questionnaires' referred time‐frame, wording of questions and response alternatives. The findings of the present study illustrate strengths and limitations of the AUDADIS‐IV, COMM and PC in diagnosing problematic opioid use in a population of adults suffering from chronic pain, and highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing specific questionnaire and question‐related differences when identifying problematic opioid use in this population. more...
- Published
- 2016
38. Cerebral reorganization as a function of linguistic recovery in children: An fMRI study
- Author
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Uri Kramer, Talma Hendler, Odelia Elkana, Ram Frost, Dafna Ben-Bashat, David Schmidt, and Avraham Schweiger
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Middle Cerebral Artery ,Adolescent ,Cognitive Neuroscience ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Brain damage ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Functional Laterality ,Lateralization of brain function ,Young Adult ,Aphasia ,Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ,Reaction Time ,medicine ,Humans ,Longitudinal Studies ,Age of Onset ,Child ,Dominance, Cerebral ,Language ,Intelligence Tests ,Language Tests ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Intelligence quotient ,Linguistics ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,Recovery of Function ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Comprehension ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Linguistic performance ,Brain Damage, Chronic ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Functional magnetic resonance imaging ,Psychology ,Psychomotor Performance - Abstract
Characterizing and mapping the relationship between neuronal reorganization and functional recovery are essential to the understanding of cerebral plasticity and the dynamic processes which occur following brain damage. The neuronal mechanisms underlying linguistic recovery following left hemisphere (LH) lesions are still unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated whether the extent of brain lateralization of linguistic functioning in specific regions of interest (ROIs) is correlated with the level of linguistic performance following recovery from acquired childhood aphasia. The study focused on a rare group of children in whom lesions occurred after normal language acquisition, but prior to complete maturation of the brain. During fMRI scanning, rhyming, comprehension and verb generation activation tasks were monitored. The imaging data were evaluated with reference to linguistic performance measured behaviorally during imaging, as well as outside the scanner. Compared with normal controls, we found greater right hemisphere (RH) lateralization in patients. However, correlations with linguistic performance showed that increased proficiency in linguistic tasks was associated with greater lateralization to the LH. These results were replicated in a longitudinal case study of a patient scanned twice, 3 years apart. Additional improvement in linguistic performance of the patient was accompanied by increasing lateralization to the LH in the anterior language region. This, however, was the result of a decreased involvement of the RH. These findings suggest that recovery is a dynamic, ongoing process, which may last for years after onset. The role of each hemisphere in the recovery process may continuously change within the chronic stage. more...
- Published
- 2011
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39. Evaluation and comparison of tools for diagnosing problematic prescription opioid use among chronic pain patients
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Daniel Feingold, Shaul Lev-Ran, Merav Kovatch, and Odelia Elkana
- Subjects
education.field_of_study ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Opioid use ,Population ,Opioid-Related Disorders ,Chronic pain ,Alcohol use disorder ,medicine.disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,0302 clinical medicine ,Positive response ,Opioid ,Prescription opioid ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,business ,education ,Psychiatry ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Prescription opioid medications are commonly used for the treatment of chronic pain. Assessments of problematic opioid use among pain patients are inconsistent across studies, partially due to differences between various measures. Therefore, the most appropriate measure to use is often unclear. In this study we assessed problematic opioid use in a sample of 551 individuals receiving treatment for chronic pain, using three questionnaires: the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule - Fourth Edition (AUDADIS-IV), the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) questionnaire and Portenoy's criteria (PC). These questionnaires yielded discordant positive rates of problematic use: 52.6%, 28.7%, and 17.1%, respectively, which did not change substantially when excluding AUDADIS-IV criteria of physical symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. Although these three questionnaires share some statistically correlated content-based congruent questions, positive response rates to them were significantly different based on construction features, including questionnaires' referred time-frame, wording of questions and response alternatives. The findings of the present study illustrate strengths and limitations of the AUDADIS-IV, COMM and PC in diagnosing problematic opioid use in a population of adults suffering from chronic pain, and highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing specific questionnaire and question-related differences when identifying problematic opioid use in this population. more...
- Published
- 2016
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