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Introduction Training in Affect Recognition (TAR) is a “targeted” and computer-aided program that has been shown to effectively attenuate facial affect recognition deficits and improve social functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group “broad-based” intervention, that has also been shown to improve emotion recognition, theory of mind (ToM), and social functioning. To date, no study has compared the efficacy of two different social cognitive interventions. Objectives We aim to compare the efficacy of TAR and SCIT on schizophrenia patients’ performance on facial affect recognition, theory of mind, attributional style and social functioning before, after treatment, and three months thereafter. Methods One hundred outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomly assigned to the TAR or SCIT condition and completed pre- (T0) and posttreatment (T1) assessments and a 3-month follow up (T2) of emotion recognition (ER-40), theory of mind (Hinting Task), attributional style (AIHQ) and social functioning (PSP). Results The entire sample, receiving TAR or SCIT, showed improvements in theory of mind, attributional style, clinical symptoms and social functioning. This effect was maintained at three-months. The TAR intervention was more efficacious than the SCIT program in improving the recognition of facial emotions (ER-40). The TAR intervention also demonstrated a lower drop-out rate than the SCIT intervention. Conclusions There were improvements in social cognition, symptomatology and functioning of patients in the entire sample, receiving SCIT or TAR. Both TAR and SCIT appear as valuable treatments for people with schizophrenia and social cognitive deficits.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique recently used to investigate neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. Over the last years it has been used in schizophrenia research due to the potential utility of its measurements as biomarkers of the disease. From the first publication by Ascaso et al. (Eur J Psychiat. 2010) until now, a number of papers have been published regarding this topic. Although the majority of them have found a reduction in the thickness or the volume of some retinal and optic nerve structures, there have also been some results with contradictory data. These could be due on the one hand to methodological factors such as the use of different OCT devices or the inclusion/exclusion criteria. On the other hand, there could be an important limitation due to the fact that the different stages of the disorder and their different neurobiological correlates and biomarkers were not taken into consideration. Future longitudinal studies, that begin the assessments in the first psychotic episode (or even before, in ultra-high risk population) are needed in order to clarify the potential role of some OCT measures as biomarkers in schizophrenia.

Objective To examine emotion processing in euthymic bipolar patients (EBP) compared to healthy controls. In addition, to determine whether or not there is an association between emotion processing and psychosocial functioning. Material and methods A sample of 60 EBP and 60 healthy controls matched for age, gender, education level, and premorbid intelligence were studied. All subjects were assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and two additional executive function measures: the Trail Making Test-Part B and the Stroop Test. Emotion processing was examined using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST). Results Euthymic bipolar patients obtained lower scores than controls in all MSCEIT measures except for the using emotions branch. Likewise, EBP obtained a worse performance than healthy controls in all neurocognitive domains. Correlation between MSCEIT strategic area measures and FAST total score was found (r = −0.311; P < 0.016). Regression analysis showed that residual depressive symptomatology explains a 9.1% of the variance in functional outcome. MSCEIT strategic area score explained an additional 8.6%. Neurocognition did not increase the percentage of the variance explained by emotion processing. Conclusions Euthymic bipolar patients exhibit deficits in emotion processing. Emotion processing is associated with social functioning in these patients.

The importance of consuming functional foods has led the food industry to look for alternative sources of ingredients of natural origin. Eggplants are a type of vegetable that is valued for its content in phytochemical compounds and it is due to the fact that this research is conducted towards the development of eggplant flour as a proposal to be used as a functional ingredient in the food industry. In this study, the eggplant fruits were divided into four groups, based on the drying method and the equipment used: Minced, drying oven (T1), sliced, drying oven (T2), sliced and frozen, drying tunnel (T3), and sliced, drying tunnel (T4). All the eggplant flours showed the same trend regarding their antioxidant capacity and phenolic content in the order T2 &gt, T4 &gt, T1 &gt, T3. The freezing of eggplant was found to have a negative effect on functional and antioxidant properties. With respect to their nutritional composition, the flours did not change in their crude fiber, protein, and fat contents. In general terms, the T2 flour is a potential ingredient for the preparation of foods with functional properties since it is rich in phenolic compounds and antioxidants.

Lobo A, Lopez-Anton R, Santabarbara J, de-la-Camara C, Ventura T, Quintanilla MA, Roy JF, Campayo AJ, Lobo E, Palomo T, Rodriguez-Jimenez R, Saz P, Marcos G. Incidence and lifetime risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in a Southern European population. Objective: To calculate both the incidence rates and the lifetime risk (LTR) of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: A two-phase case-finding procedure was implemented in a cohort of 4057 cognitively intact individuals 55+ years of age living in Zaragoza, Spain, and followed-up at 2.5 and 4.5 years. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated. A mortality-adjusted, multivariate model was used to document LTRs. Results: The incidence rate of dementia continued to rise after the age of 90 years, but was slightly lower than in North and West European studies. Only a tendency for an increased LTR with age was observed. Thus, LTR was 19.7% for a 65-year-old woman and 20.4% at the age of 85 years, the corresponding figures for AD being 16.7% and 17.6%. The LTR of AD was higher in women and was about twice as high among illiterate individuals when compared with individuals with higher educational levels. Conclusions: The incidence rate of dementia in this Southern European city was slightly lower than in previous studies in North-West Europe. LTR of dementia and AD seems to be slightly increased with age. The association of illiteracy with higher LTR of AD is intriguing.

Background: Different neuropsychological studies have shown schizophrenic patients to have executive function deficits, as illustrated by their performance in neuropsychological tasks such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST); certain studies have described a relationship between these deficits and negative symptoms. Schizophrenic patients also exhibit a high lifetime prevalence (40–50%) of comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs). However, little attention has been paid to this comorbidity (dual diagnosis) in studies associating executive functions and negative symptoms. Sampling and Methods: Our objective is to investigate the relationship between performance in the WCST and psychopathology as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) in a sample of 65 male schizophrenic patients with a history of SUDs (Sch SUD+) and in a sample of 48 male schizophrenic patients without such history (Sch SUD–). Results: In the Sch SUD– group, patients who completed 4 or more categories in the WCST (‘good performers’) obtained a mean score of 21.2 ± 8.8 on the negative subscale of the PANSS, compared with a mean score of 27.8 ± 8.6 in those who completed 3 or less (‘poor performers’); these differences were statistically significant (p = 0.015). In the Sch SUD+ group, however, no association was found between WCST performance and the PANSS negative subscale score. Conclusions: The presence of a history of comorbid SUDs should be taken into consideration in studies investigating executive functions and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Introduction: Previous studies have associated a decreased striatal D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) binding with impaired performance in cognitive tasks. In vivo studies have found a lower DRD2 binding associated with the CC genotype of the C957T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the DRD2 gene. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between executive functions and the C957T DRD2 SNP. We hypothesized that the CC genotype would be associated with a poorer executive functioning. Methods: Our sample consisted of 83 healthy volunteers (28 males and 55 females; mean age 25.2, SD 1.7 years). To assess executive functions, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was used, considering the variables perseverative errors, perseverative responses, and number of categories achieved. The genotype distribution was 13 CC, 41 CT, and29 TT, satisfying Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Results: Carriers of the CC genotype, compared with carriers of the CT/TT genotypes, achieved significantly fewer categories (5.00 vs. 5.81; p = 0.004), made a greater number of perseverative errors (13.46 vs. 8.39; p = 0.018), and had a greater number of perseverative responses (14.92 vs. 8.94; p = 0.014). Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that the C957T DRD2 SNP may influence cognitive performance through its repercussions on central dopaminergic function.

Aims: To determine the clinically ascertained variables that are related to satisfactory response to naltrexone (NTX) treatment of alcohol dependence after detoxification. Methods: The use of intake and outcome variables were measured in a randomized 3-month open-controlled trial comparing the effects of naltrexone plus psychotherapy treatment versus psychotherapy treatment alone on the maintenance of abstinence in the final 28 days (n = 336, all male). Results: Predictors of a positive response to NTX treatment were family history of alcoholism (P = 0.010), early age at onset of drinking problems (P = 0.014) and comorbid use of other drugs of abuse (P < 0.001). Among the subjects not treated with NTX, the greater the number of predictor variables, the lower the final 28 days abstinence rates (P = 0.00003), but this was not the case in patients treated with NTX (P = 0.844). Conclusions: Patients with these features, suggesting biological vulnerability overall have poorer outcomes, but this can be reduced with NTX treatment. The type of alcoholism should be considered before deciding on the pharmacological strategy.

The TaqIA1 allele of the dopamine receptor gene D2 (DRD2) has been associated with alcoholism, as well as with other addictive behaviours. The exact nature of how the presence of this allele can be a vulnerability factor in the development of alcoholism remains unclear. In this study we found that the presence in the DRD2 genotype of the TaqIA1 allele in Spanish alcoholics is associated with higher levels of urine homovanillic acid (HVA) when compared to patients homozygous for the TaqIA2 allele. A sample of 142 Spanish male alcoholic patients was split into 2 groups on the basis of the presence or absence of the A1 allele in their genotype. The urine sample was analyzed by high performance liquid cromatography (HPLC), and the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and vanilylmandelic acid (VMA) was determined. We found a statistical difference in the concentration of HVA between the groups, that suggests this polymorphism could be related to the variance of urine HVA levels.

The TaqIA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs1800497), which is located in the gene that codes for the putative kinase ANKK1 (ANKK1) near the termination codon of the D2 dopamine receptor gene (DRD2; chromosome 11q22-q23), is the most studied genetic variation in a broad range of psychiatric disorders and personality traits. A large number of individual genetic association studies have found that the TaqIA SNP is linked to alcoholism and antisocial traits. In addition, it has also been related to other conditions such as schizophrenia, eating disorders, and some behavioral childhood disorders. The TaqIA A1 allele is mainly associated with addictions, antisocial disorders, eating disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, while the A2 allele occurs more frequently in schizophrenic and obsessive-compulsive patients. Current data show that the TaqIA polymorphism may be a marker of both DRD2 and ANKK1 genetic variants. ANKK1 would belong to a family of kinases involved in signal transduction. This raises the question of whether signaling players intervene in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Basic research on the ANKK1 protein and its putative interaction with the D2 dopamine receptor could shed light on this issue.

BackgroundThe Taql-A polymorphism of the ANKK1 gene, adjacent to the DRD2 gene, has been associated with alcoholism and other psychiatric conditions, although other DRD2 gene variants, such as the C957T polymorphism, could be related to these phenotypic traits.AimsTo investigate the contribution of the Taql-A and the C957T polymorphisms to the presence of psychopathic traits in patients with alcoholism.MethodWe performed association and interaction analyses of the polymorphisms in 150 controls and 176 male alcohol-dependent patients assessed for the presence of dissocial personal disorder, using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).ResultsThere was a significant association of the Taql-A and C957T polymorphisms when both genotypes were present, with PCL-R scores of F1–171=0.13 (P=0.01) and a frequency of dissocial personal disorder OR=10.52, PConclusionsThe Taql-A of the ANKK1 gene and the C957T of the DRD2 gene are epistatically associated with psychopathic traits in alcohol-dependent patients.

The existing hydrous titanium oxide (HTiO) technique for the measurement of 224Ra and 226Ra in the water at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) has been changed to make it faster and less sensitive to trace impurities in the HTiO eluate. Using HTiO-loaded filters followed by cation exchange adsorption and HTiO co-precipitation, Ra isotopes from 200-450 tonnes of heavy water can be extracted and concentrated into a single sample of a few millilitres with a total chemical efficiency of 50%. Combined with beta-alpha coincidence counting, this method is capable of measuring 2.0x10^3 uBq/kg of 224Ra and 3.7x10^3 uBq/kg of 226Ra from the 232Th and 238U decay chains, respectively, for a 275 tonne D2O assay, which are equivalent to 5x10^16 g Th/g and 3x10^16 g U/g in heavy water., 8 Pages, 2 figures and 2 tables

Objective: The objective was to confirm whether a homozygous genotype for the C957 allele of the C957T DRD2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with schizophrenia in an independent study population. Method: We examined the genotypic distribution of this SNP in a set of clinically ascertained schizophrenic patients (n = 131) and age-matched control subjects (n = 364). Individuals were genotyped using automated analysis of fluorescently labeled PCR products. Results: The distribution of grouped genotypes for the C957T DRD2 SNP (CC vs. CT, TT) showed that C homozygote genotype was over-represented in our patient sample when compared with control subjects. This difference reaches the statistical significance (χ2 = 7.0; df = 1; P = 0.008; OR = 2.05; % CI 1.2–3.4). Conclusion: The findings of this study provide additional evidence that genetic variation at the DRD2 gene plays an important role in the vulnerability to schizophrenia.

Pathological gambling (PG) has been associated to both impulsiveness and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in different studies. Our objective was to compare different impulsivity and sustained attention variables, using both behavioural tasks and self-administered questionnaires, in a group of pathological gamblers with a history of childhood ADHD (PG-ADHD; n = 16), a group of pathological gamblers without this history (PG-non-ADHD; n = 39), and a control group (n = 40). As instruments of measure, we used the stop signal task (to evaluate inhibitory control/impulsivity), the differential reinforcement of Low Rate Responding Task (delay of gratification/impulsivity) and the Continuous Performance Test (sustained attention). The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) was used as a self-administered questionnaire to measure impulsiveness. Our results show that patients in the PG-ADHD group exhibit a significantly lower capacity to delay gratification than those in the PG-non-ADHD and control groups, and less inhibitory control than patients in the PG-non-ADHD group. On self-administered questionnaires such as the BIS-11 the PG-ADHD group obtained higher scores than the PG-non-ADHD and control groups. However, no differences were found with respect to sustained attention using the CPT. Our results suggest a possible selective implication of the prefrontal cortex in PG, which would be especially evident in those with a childhood history of ADHD.

Publisher Summary The studied routes cover the most significant IBERIA destinations and provide a good estimate of the route doses as required by the new Spanish regulations on air crew radiation protection. The results from the different instruments and the comparisons with the predictions from some route-dose codes (CARI, EPCARD) are discussed. High LET detectors were tested in the CERF facility at CERN that provides a realistic approach to the radiation fields at 9–12 km altitudes. In contrast with the data already published, that are mainly focused on North latitudes over parallel 50, many of the data presented in this work have been obtained for routes to Central and South America. These data can be of special interest for the route-dose code developers. The first analysis of the obtained data shows that the annual dose received by the IBERIA air crew members ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 mSv, considering 600 hours of effective flying time (from take-off to landing).

Fibromyalgia and ADHD share some clinical features, and a reduced dopamine function has been proposed for both disorders. Here we found, in a large sample of fibromyalgia female patients, a higher frequency of childhood ADHD antecedent when compared with healthy women. Our data suggest that Fibromyalgia and ADHD have some common etiopathological mechanism.

Background and aims:The Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) was developed for the retrospective diagnosis of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It consists of a list of childhood behaviours and symptoms suggestive of ADHD. Our objective was to study correlations of WURS scores with different impulsivity, personality, anxiety and depression psychometric scales.Methods:A group of 110 healthy university students were evaluated using the WURS. Four subjects scored higher than the cut-off value of 37 (compatible with childhood ADHD) and were excluded. The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), the Big Five Questionarie (BFQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered. Partial bivariate correlation analyses were performed.Results:WURS scores were correlated with total scores on the BIS-11 (r=0.430; p

Background and aims:Different personality factors have been investigated in connection with addictive disorders such as pathological gambling. “Impulse control”, proposed as a dimension of personality in modern “Big Five” models, has been associated with pathological gambling. Pathological gamblers have a high prevalence of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is also associated with high impulsivity. Based on a five-factor personality model, our objective was to compare different personality dimensions in a group of pathological gamblers with childhood ADHD history, a group of pathological gamblers without such history and a control group. Special emphasis was placed on the factor “emotional stability”, which includes the subdimensions “emotion control” and “impulse control”.Methods:A sample of 30 pathological gamblers with childhood ADHD history (ADHD+PG group), 33 pathological gamblers without ADHD history (ADHD-PG group) and 42 control subjects were assessed using the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ). The different BFQ dimensions and subdimensions were compared.Results:For the “emotional stability” factor, the T-scores obtained indicated statistically significant differences between groups (ADHD+PG group: 44.1; ADHD-PG group: 51.9; control group: 57.9; ANOVA, p

Introduction It is hypothesized that in the etiology of schizophrenia genetic and environmental factors are involved. Between the environmental events linked to the causation of this condition an inmune dysfunction has been described. First degree biological relatives of people with schizophrenia also have an incrased incidence of autoimmune diseases. Objectives The aim of this work was to examine the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, sIL-2R IL-6, IL-12p70, TNF-α and IFN-γ) as well as of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in male patients with schizophrenia and in their first degree-biological relatives. Methods Blood samples were obtained from patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in a stable psychophatological condition (n = 36), first degree biological relatives of those patients and a healthy control group (n = 26). Serum interleukins were analyzed using a commercial ELISA preparation (Bender MedSystems). We used non-parametric test for statistical analysis. Results Patients with schizophrenia showed significantly higher serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (sIL-2R, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL12-p70) and lower serum levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 than in the healthy control group. The unaffected first-degree relatives showed changes in proinflammatory cytokines (sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF-α,) in the same way as the corresponding schizophrenia patients, but at a lower level than the healthy control group. Conclusions Ours findings suggest that sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF-a may be biologic vulnerability markers for psychiatric disorders and also these alterations might have an hereditably pattern.

Cognitive deficits constitute a core symptom in schizophrenia, are difficult to treat, and have special relevance regarding prognosis and functional outcome. The search for pharmacological strategies for improving cognition in schizophrenic patients has been hindered by the lack of a consensus regarding instruments for cognitive assessment. The 'Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia' (MATRICS) initiative of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) set the development of a consensus cognitive battery as one of its objectives. In a first phase, the seven cognitive domains which have been shown to be impaired in schizophrenia and that were to be assessed were identified: Speed of processing, Attention/Vigilance, Working memory, Verbal learning, Visual learning, Reasoning and problem solving, and Social cognition. In a second phase, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was developed. This is a cognitive assessment battery composed of ten instruments, which assess the seven domains in a little over one hour. The MCCB has been standardized in U.S. population, and the Spanish standardization has been recently published.

Impulsivity is associated with different types of disorders, included substance used disorders. The purposed of this study is get to know if alcohol and cocaine affect in the same way to the impulsivity paradigms or if they strength each other or if there are specific bias associated to each one of the substances.Material and methodsThis is a 380 heavy drinker patient's sample recruited from twelve primary care centers. The patients were screened using The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT > 8). Neuropsicological tests done at the base line and after the 4 years of the study were the Continous Performance Test (CPT) and the Barrat Impulsivity scale. The alcohol and cocaine consume accumulated along the four years was also study.ResultsThe two variables of the CPT (ommission and commission errors) had a significant correlation with the alcohol and cocaine use accumulated in these four years. The variable that was associated with a greater risk of making more commission and ommission errors was the cocaine risk consumption. The years of study were protective variable.ConclusionsThe most important conclusion of this study is that alcohol and cocaine use produces a modification in the conductual paradigm of impulsivity characterized by the inhibition difficulties measured by the CPT. Also, the cocaine use effects are added respect to the alcohol ones and finally that cocaine plus alcohol effects over the number of ommission and commission errors are more potent that the ones made only with alcohol.

Introduccion. Diversos estudios de seguimiento han mostrado la persistencia del trastorno por deficit de atencion e hiperactividad (TDAH) en la edad adulta. Objetivo. Revisar los hallazgos en adultos con TDAH relacionados con alteraciones en las funciones ejecutivas. Desarrollo. Las investigaciones realizadas en poblacion infantil con TDAH muestran la existencia de alteraciones en diferentes tareas que evaluan funciones ejecutivas: test de planificacion, tareas atencionales de vigilancia, tareas de flexibilidad cognitiva, de fluidez verbal y de memoria de trabajo, asi como en diversas tareas de inhibicion de respuesta. En los adultos con TDAH, a pesar del menor numero de publicaciones, asi como de las limitaciones metodologicas existentes en algunos estudios, tambien se han descrito resultados analogos con relacion al funcionamiento ejecutivo: alteracion en la respuesta de inhibicion, en la capacidad de planificacion, dificultades en la flexibilidad cognitiva y la fluidez verbal, y dificultades en la memoria de trabajo, que incluyen aspectos de memoria de trabajo espacial, de memoria logica o visual. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos disponibles permiten afirmar la persistencia de disfunciones ejecutivas en pacientes adultos con TDAH similares a las observadas en ninos con TDAH.

Introduccion. El sindrome de abstinencia alcoholica puede acompanarse de complicaciones graves, como patologia epileptica o delirium tremens. En su tratamiento y prevencion se han utilizado diversas estrategias farmacologicas, especialmente benzodiacepinas (BZD), si bien estos farmacos pueden resultar problematicos por su capacidad adictiva. Los anticonvulsionantes clasicos son una alternativa poco usada por sus efectos secundarios, pero los de nueva generacion podrian ser especialmente utiles. Objetivo. Estudiar la tolerabilidad de oxcarbacepina (OXC) para la prevencion de crisis epilepticas y complicaciones del sindrome de abstinencia en el tratamiento de desintoxicacion de alcohol. Pacientes y metodos. Se comparan dos grupos de pacientes con sindrome de dependencia fisica de alcohol, 42 de ellos tratados con OXC y otros 42 tratados con BZD como pauta de desintoxicacion programada. Resultados. Tanto la OXC como la BZD resultaron igualmente eficaces para evitar la aparicion de complicaciones epilepticas y reducir la sintomatologia de abstinencia. La OXC produjo, en conjunto, menos acontecimientos adversos (p < 0,001) y presento menos problemas para su retirada (p < 0,001). Conclusion. La OXC puede ser una alternativa util a la BZD y otros tratamientos farmacologicos para la prevencion de complicaciones en el tratamiento de desintoxicacion, en especial por la ausencia de capacidad adictiva y por poseer un mejor perfil de seguridad que los anticonvulsionantes clasicos.

The TaqIA polymorphism linked to the DRD2 gene has been associated with alcoholism. The aim of this work is to study attention and inhibitory control as per the continuous performance test and the stop task in a sample of 50 Spanish male alcoholic patients split into two groups according to the presence of the TaqIA1 allele in their genotype. Our results show that alcoholics carrying the TaqIA1 allele present lower sustained attention and less inhibitory control than those patients without such allele.

The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) initiative, has been recommended as the standard battery for clinical trials of cognition-enhancing interventions for schizophrenia. Normative data for the MCCB has been previously obtained in the U.S. Extrapolation of these normative data to different countries may be problematic due to the translation of the different tests, as well as potential cultural influences. We present the process of obtaining normative data for the MCCB in Spain with administration of the battery to a general community standardization sample. In addition, we examine the influence of age, gender, and educational level on test performance. The MCCB was administered to a total sample of 210 healthy volunteers, at three Spanish sites. For each site, recruitment of the sample was stratified according to age, gender, and educational level. Our findings indicate significant age, gender, and education effects on the normative data for the MCCB in Spain, which are comparable to those effects described for the original standardized English version in the U.S. The fact that the normative data are comparable, and that the variables age, gender, and education have a similar influence on performance, supports the robustness of the MCCB for use in different countries.

Background and Objectives: Different studies carried out mainly in young non-consuming children of alcoholics show an association of P300 abnormalities with alcoholism and with the T aqI- A1 allele. Since the relationship between P300 and the T aqI- A1 allele has not been specifically studied in alcoholic patients, our objective was to investigate whether the association exits in this population. Methods: Our sample consisted of 176 recently detoxified male alcohol-dependent patients. These patients had been alcohol dependent from a mean age of 22.6 years and consumed on average 164.63 (± 142.99) cm 3 of alcohol daily. P300 was studied using an auditory paradigm. T aqI -A polymorphism genotyping was performed. The association between P300 and T aqI- A, and correlation with age and alcohol consumption, was studied. Results: The T aqI- A1 allele was found in 38.6% of our patients (n = 68). The latency and amplitude of P300 were 361.64 milliseconds and 17.53 microvolts, respectively. P300 wave latency in alcoholic patients was longer than the reference value obtained from a sample of healthy men of the Event-Related Potentials Unit (p < 0.001). Alcoholic patients who carried the T aqI -A1 allele showed more prolonged P300 latency than non-carriers, and these in turn more than the control subjects. P300 characteristics varied according to age, but an associa- tion with amount of alcohol or number of years consuming was not found. Conclusions: There is a relationship between the T aqI -A polymorphism and P300 wave characteristics in alcoholic patients. Further investigations need to be carried out in non- consuming alcoholic patients and in healthy control subjects to confirm this association and to clarify the possible influence of the neurotoxic effects of alcohol on P300 physiology.

Background: To assess insight in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and to study its relationship with set shifting as an executive function. Methods: The insight of a sample of 161 clinically stable, community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia was evaluated by means of the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD). Set shifting was measured using the Trail-Making Test time required to complete part B minus the time required to complete part A (TMT B-A). Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationships of TMT B-A with different dimensions of general insight. Results: Regression analyses revealed a significant association between TMT B-A and two of the SUMD general components: ‘awareness of mental disorder' and ‘awareness of the efficacy of treatment'. The ‘awareness of social consequences' component was not significantly associated with set shifting. Conclusions: Our results show a significant relation between set shifting and insight, but not in the same manner for the different components of the SUMD general score.

The results from 2 years (2001-2002) of experimental measurements of in-board radiation doses received at IBERIA commercial flights are presented. The routes studied cover the most significant destinations and provide a good estimate of the route doses as required by the new Spanish regulations on air crew radiation protection. Details on the experimental procedures and calibration methods are given. The experimental measurements from the different instruments (Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter and the combination of a high pressure ion chamber and a high-energy neutron compensated rem-counter) and their comparison with the predictions from some route-dose codes (CARI-6, EPCARD 3.2) are discussed. In contrast with the already published data, which are mainly focused on North latitudes over parallel 50, many of the data presented in this work have been obtained for routes from Spain to Central and South America.