Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2007
Multicenter StudyA multicentre longitudinal observational study of changes in self reported health status in people with Parkinson's disease left untreated at diagnosis.
The issue of when to start treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains controversial. Some favour treatment at diagnosis while others opt for a "wait and watch" policy. The effect of the latter policy on the self reported health status of people with PD is unknown. ⋯ This study addresses for the first time self reported health status, an indicator of health related quality of life, in untreated PD. The findings may strengthen the call for re-evaluation of the policy to delay treatment in newly diagnosed patients with PD.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe effect of cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome on self-reported cognitive impairments and neuropsychological test performance.
Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) often have concentration and memory problems. Neuropsychological test performance is impaired in at least a subgroup of patients with CFS. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for CFS leads to a reduction in fatigue and disabilities. ⋯ CBT leads to a reduction in self-reported cognitive impairment, but not to improved neuropsychological test performance. The findings of this study support the idea that the distorted perception of cognitive processes is more central to CFS than actual cognitive performance.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2007
Clinical TrialFunctional and magnetic resonance imaging correlates of corpus callosum in normal pressure hydrocephalus before and after shunting.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is associated with corpus callosum abnormalities. ⋯ The postsurgical corpus callosum increase might be the result of decompression, re-expansion and increase of interstitial fluid, although it may also be caused by differences in shape due to cerebral reorganisation.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2007
Body lateropulsion as an isolated or predominant symptom of a pontine infarction.
Lateropulsion of the body--that is, falling to one side--is a well-known clinical feature of stroke in the posterior circulation. Body lateropulsion as an isolated or predominant manifestation of a pontine stroke has not been reported previously. ⋯ Based on the known anatomy of ascending vestibular pathways, SVV tilting and MRI findings, it is concluded that body lateropulsion probably results from damage to the graviceptive pathway ascending through the paramedian pontine tegmentum.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Apr 2007
Clinical TrialHow is disease progress in Friedreich's ataxia best measured? A study of four rating scales.
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common genetic cause of ataxia, is characterised by progressive neurodegeneration and cardiomyopathy. Initial treatments are likely to slow progression rather than reverse morbidity. An appropriate and sensitive scale to measure disease progress is critical to detect the benefit of treatments. ⋯ Of the scales assessed, the FARS is the best to use in clinical trials of FRDA. This is based on effect size, and power calculations that show that fewer participants are required to demonstrate the same effect of an intervention. Further work is required to develop more sensitive and responsive instruments.