Background: Little is known about the cognitive signature of bipolar disorder (BD) in elderly brains. The neuropsychological features of depressive elderly with early-onset BD are largely unknown. This issue is relevant because cognitive impairment can produce an additional impact on the already compromised functionality of elderly with BD. The aim of this study is to assess executive functions (EFs) in the depressive phase of elderly outpatients with early-onset BD.Methods: Forty-nine elderly outpatients with early-onset BD were assessed with several neuropsychological tests for EF in the depressive phase of the disorder.Results: Executive dysfunction is very common in old age bipolar depression. Thirteen patients (26.5%) had a pseudodementia presentation. The worst performances were observed in the following tests: Trail Making B, Stroop Test 3, Backward Digit Span and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.Conclusion: Executive dysfunction profile in elderly BD is complex and heterogeneous, but most cases display difficulties in working memory, inhibitory control, mental flexibility, and information processing speed. The performance of elderly with bipolar depression in executive assessment can be divided into two main categories: (1) Single EF domain impairment; and (2) Multiple EF domain impairment with or without a pseudodementia syndrome. Executive dysfunction in old age bipolar depression may be explained by lack of sufficient mental energy to run those cognitive processes that require larger amounts of effort to be performed.

The russian Alexander Romanovich Luria, commonly credited as the father of modern neuropsychology, was responsible for the greater understanding of human psychic and behavioral processes. Through studies on brain injuries, Luria tried to generate an integrative and logical theory for brain functions, in other words, to develop further technical studies on mental functions. To this end, he divides the general brain activities into three units, the first having the function of maintaining surveillance, the second being responsible for obtaining, processing, integrating and storing the information provided by the environment, and the third unit is responsible to plan, execute and direct the pattern of human behavior. Thus, the aim of this study is to review the frontal lobe (FL) neuropsychology and to associate it with the third functional unit of Luria. The references of the book "The Working Brain" were used. In the end, it was possible to conclude from Luria's conceptions that the third functional unit is responsible for the stimuli synthesis, preparation for action, program constructions, verification of the activity’s ways, generation of activation process linked to the most complex conscious actions and a speech collaboration.

ABSTRACT. Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a sporadic tauopathy that presents with a varied combination of motor, cognitive, and behavioral features, making its diagnosis difficult. CBD has high morbidity and poor prognosis, with no effective therapy at present. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE database for articles published from 1990 to 2019, using the keywords “corticobasal degeneration” AND “treatment.” The PRISMA method was adopted. Retrieved articles were characterized as having one of two methodological approaches: (1) studies aimed at primary tauopathy treatment and (2) symptomatic management. Review articles (based on CBD expert groups), case reports, case series, and pilot clinical trials were selected. Few attempts have been made to study drug options and drug efficacy in CBD systematically, and an effective treatment is not yet available. Treatment is symptomatic and based on similarity with other diseases due to the scarcity of studies specifically addressing CBD. CBD seems not to spark interest in more clinical trials for its low prevalence and reliability in clinical diagnosis.

IntroductionPseudocyesis is a rare condition in which a non-pregnant patient believes to bear a child due to psychological or somatic manifestations,or even both.Usually,there is a misinterpretation of body changes associated with emotional aspect of pregnancy or thought disorders(or chronic mental disorders),what makes pseudopregnancy a complex disorder to deal with,starting with its confusing classification in the DSM IV-TR.ObjectivesTo document epidemiologic aspects of false pregnancies in a Brazilian population, reporting the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis and demographic features associated, and compare it to the literature.MethodologyRetrospective study of 20 patients diagnosed with pseudocyesis over a ten-year period in 3 hospitals of a Brazilian central region.Compare data with studies on sociodemographic, clinic, biological and evolutive correlates of pseudocyesis in PubMed.ResultsThe mean age was 33, with the majority between 20–44. The symptomology matches the literature.Of the women, 15 (83%) were in the reproductive age, but 8 (44%) of them were infertil. Two male patients with pseudocyesis had a typical psychiatric presentation. The psychiatric diagnosis were: 9(45%) affective disorders, 9(45%) psychotic disorders, 1 (2,5%) Huntington‘s Disease and 1 (2,5%) epilepsy.ConclusionsIn terms of Brazil, this is an unique study of the subject, with the greatest data collected so far. We found many similarities,including age, socioeconomic status, symptoms, underlying disorders and history. And we notted the frequency of psychiatric disorders in those patients (specially Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia)

Work can be an important etiologic factor in the genesis of some mental disorders including cognitive disability. Occupational neuropsychology constitutes an intriguing new but neglected area of research and clinical practice which deals with the neurocognitive consequences of the work environment and work habits. Neuropsychological knowledge is fundamental to understand cognitive requirements of work competence. Work can impact sleep patterns and mental energy, which in turn can cause neuropsychological symptoms. This report presents relevant evidence to illustrate the relationship between work and cognitive dysfunction.

Despite recent advances in cognitive rehabilitation of patients with cognitive disorders, there are many major obstacles to the optimized global use of this therapeutic resource.Objective:The authors outline the concept of ‘therapeutic synergism’, i.e. the concurrent use of pharmacological and cognitive rehabilitation therapies to maximize functional benefits, addressing the optimization of therapeutic approaches for cognitive disorders.Methods:Three psychopharmacological and rehabilitation interrelationship paradigms are presented in three different clinical settings.Results:Paradigm 1: Behavioral and cognitive symptoms that hinder a cognitive rehabilitation program, but can be improved with psychopharmacology. Paradigm 2: Cognitive symptoms that hinder cognitive rehabilitation, but can be improved with anticholinesterases. Paradigm 3: Behavioral symptoms that hamper the use of cognitive rehabilitation, but can be improved by psychotropic drugs.Conclusion:Judicious use of psychotropic drugs in cognitive disorders can benefit, directly or indirectly, cognitive functions, thereby favoring other treatment modalities for cognitive impairment, such as neuropsychological rehabilitation.

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