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Introduction and objective: Posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus constitutes one of the most serious complications of subarachnoid haemorrhage. The most common cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage is a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Clinical and neuropsychological presentations of the posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus include mainly gait apraxia, urinary incontinence, and various neurocognitive impairments. The main neurosurgical treatment of the posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus is ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation. The study aimed to analyse the neuropsychological functioning of a patient with post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus, describe the dynamics of cognitive changes during hydrocephalus, and emphasise the importance of neuropsychological diagnosis in planning neurosurgical intervention. Materials and methods: In this article, we report a case of a 52-year-old male patient, who suffered from subarachnoid haemorrhage after an anterior communicating artery complex aneurysm rupture. After the surgery, the patient presented with massive episodic memory deficits, periodical illogicality, and disorientation. Neuropsychological examination, conducted using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) in parallel versions and the Trail Making Test A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B), showed deterioration of psychomotor speed, decreased concentration of attention and impaired executive functions. Results: Due to the gradual neurological condition improvement, the patient was discharged from the hospital but four months after the surgery, he was readmitted with gait apraxia, a decline in cognitive and executive functions in neuropsychological examination, and radiological signs of hydrocephalus in the computed tomography. The patient underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation, but due to the suspicion of iatrogenic peritonitis, the ventriculoperitoneal shunt system was removed. The recurrence of the clinical and neuropsychological symptoms was observed and ventriculoperitoneal shunt reimplantation was necessary. The surgery was performed after seven weeks. In the postoperative course and followup examination, the patient was again in logical contact, did not show any cognitive decline and did not present any clinical disturbances. Conclusions: Thus, we demonstrated the importance of neuropsychological assessment in the diagnosis of posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus and the clinical and psychological characteristics of the patient with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus with the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. This study shows that neuropsychological examination is highly sensitive to detection of subtle changes in the cognitive and emotional functioning of a patient with hydrocephalus, which are early signs of deterioration of the patient's neurological condition and changes in the ventricular system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the quantity and quality of errors made by schizophrenia patients in understanding and interpretation of the same metaphors, to evaluate metaphor understanding and explanation depending on the type of presentation material, and to analyze the correlation of illness symptoms with metaphor comprehension and explanation. Two groups of participants were examined: a schizophrenia sample (40 participants) and a control group (39 participants). Metaphor processing was assessed by the subtests of the Polish version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery (RHLB-PL). The patients were also evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Schizophrenia patients scored significantly lower in explanation of metaphors, making more incorrect literal and abstract mistakes or providing no answer more frequently. No differences were observed in understanding metaphors; no correlation between symptoms and metaphor processing was obtained. In both groups, picture metaphors were easier to comprehend and written metaphors were easier to comprehend than to explain.

The present article reviews the existing literature on the application and effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy in a group of patients with spine problems. It encompasses publications describing the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy in the treatment of patients with back pain and spinal cord injuries of various aetiologies, as well as those experiencing disabilities and difficulties in social and emotional functioning. The findings confirm that cognitive-behavioural interventions are effective in reducing the intensity of pain, improving mobility, reducing the duration of professional inactivity, facilitating adaptation to disability, and enhancing overall life satisfaction. They also support the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in addressing depressive and anxiety disorders among these patients. It appears that both the traditional and newer approaches of cognitive-behavioural therapy offer potential in patients with spine issues and their families and caregivers. However, due to the insufficient number of randomised and controlled studies, high heterogeneity among study groups, and diversity of research protocols, it is not possible to definitive formulate final conclusions or recommendations at this stage. Nevertheless, the literature findings herein support further exploration of cognitive-behavioural therapy among patients experiencing spine problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]