The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of a standardized placebo protocol using a moist swab pad application in children and adolescents with psychogenic seizures vs epileptic seizures. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data and video-EEG monitoring records with the standardized placebo protocol of 408 patients. Video -EEG diagnosis with PNES-consistent semiology was made in the context of clinical data by a two-certified epileptologist. Results of induction of psychogenic seizure by moist swab pad application were analyzed in 158 patients with PNES. A control group was composed of 74 patients with epilepsy in which induction was performed. Results: Sensitivity of placebo test for the diagnosis of PNES was 81.1%, specificity 79.8%, positive predictive value 89.6% and negative predictive value 66.3%.
Conclusion:The placebo technique with a moist swab can be regarded as helpful in triggering a psychogenic episode in children and adolescents.
SUMMARYThe problems of children and adolescents with epilepsy pose an important challenge for educational systems around the world. Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease, which occurs in up to 1% of children and adolescents. The largest incidence of onset is from early childhood to adolescence, therefore, mostly the emotional, cognitive and social problems experienced by patients coincide with the school period. It is commonly believed, as indicated by research, that some of the children and adolescents with epilepsy experience learning difficulties and school problems. This article presents the educational problems of a group of patients in Poland with epilepsy and the co-occurring specific difficulties in the acquisition of scholastic skills like dyslexia, spelling disorder or dyscalculia. The work is a review with an analysis of a case study.
Introduction: Professional work is an extremely important aspect of the life of an adult. Probably we all want to be satisfied with this, and not just financially. It can be a source of positive experiences, but also a huge negative burden. It often generates and provides us with many adverse reactions, strains or stresses. The aim of the study was to determine the current status of psychological support to Medical Rescue Teams, and the opinions of medical rescuers on the need for psychological help in their work.Materials and methods: A questionnaire was addressed to medical rescuers across the country; 115 respondents participated in the study. It was conducted in April 2016. A statistical analysis of results was performed using the statistical package PQStat ver. 1.6. Analyses of dependences were carried out with χ2 tests. Significance was considered at p < 0.05, and highly significant was taken at p < 0.01.Results: Almost 90% of respondents had never taken part in a psychological workshop. About 80% of medical rescuers had never participated in training courses on the techniques of relieving tension. In the workplaces of 98 (85.2%) of the medical rescuers, there had never been any group meetings held in which stress was relieved via conversation. Sometimes such meetings were held in the workplaces of 17 (14.8%) of the medical rescuers. More than the half of respondents, 72 (62.6%) people, believe that such meetings are definitely needed and could be effective.Conclusions: 1. The current level of psychological support for Medical Rescue Teams is negligible. Only in a few workplaces it is offered to the medical rescuers. The majority of the study group were not provided access to a psychologist. 2. Medical rescuers believe that the profession requires working with a psychologist, and this cooperation should be ensured by the employer. 3. In 85.2% of cases there were no conversational meetings after difficult actions, with analysis and relieving of emotional tensions. If such meetings were held, almost 90% of respondents would participate. 4. The current ways of reducing stress for medical rescuers are not always safe for their health and can lead to addictions. A possible cause is non-attendance by the majority in workshops on the techniques of relieving tension and psychological training.
Recently, extensive studies investigating executive functions in children with specific language impairment (SLI) have been performed. In the present study, we compared the level of executive functions (i.e., inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility) and literacy skills between 53 healthy children and 53 children with SLIs between the ages of 3 and 11 years. The groups were matched by age, gender and parental education level. Executive functions were assessed using the Children Card Sort, and the Literacy Assessment Battery was applied to measure literacy skills. The patients with SLI displayed a significantly lower level of cognitive flexibility than that of the healthy children. No significant differences were observed between the groups in inhibitory control and the majority of literacy skills. The results confirm the hypothesis that patients with SLI experience difficulties in cognitive flexibility.
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