Читать книгу English for Psychologists. 20 articles to expand professional vocabulary - Оксана Вячеславовна Иванова, Роман Сергеевич Серебряный - Страница 5

Investigating cognitive functioning in psychotic disorders

Introduction:

Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are characterized by profound alterations in thinking, perception, and behavior. Impaired cognitive functioning is a core symptom that significantly impacts the daily lives of individuals with these disorders. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these cognitive deficits is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Neurocognitive Deficits:

Individuals with psychotic disorders exhibit a range of cognitive deficits, including:

Attention and executive function: Difficulty sustaining attention, inhibiting impulses, and planning complex tasks.

Memory: Impaired short-term and long-term memory, particularly for episodic and semantic information.

Processing speed: Slowed information processing and reaction times.

Language: Reduced verbal fluency, impaired comprehension, and difficulty with social communication.

Neurobiological Basis:

The underlying neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive deficits in psychotic disorders are complex and multifaceted. They involve alterations in brain structure, function, and neurochemical systems.

Brain structure: Reduced brain volume, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala.

Brain function: Abnormal patterns of brain activity, such as hyperactivity in certain regions and hypoactivity in others.

Neurochemical systems: Dysregulation of dopamine, glutamate, and GABA neurotransmitter systems.

Assessment of Cognitive Functioning:

Assessing cognitive functioning in psychotic disorders is essential for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring progress. Standardized neuropsychological batteries are commonly used to measure a wide range of cognitive domains. These batteries can provide a comprehensive profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

Implications for Treatment:

Understanding cognitive deficits in psychotic disorders has important implications for treatment. Cognitive remediation therapy aims to improve cognitive functioning through targeted exercises and training programs. These therapies have shown promise in improving attention, memory, and executive function.

Future Directions:

Ongoing research is investigating the genetic, environmental, and neurodevelopmental factors that contribute to cognitive deficits in psychotic disorders. Advanced neuroimaging

techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), are providing new insights into the neural processes underlying these cognitive impairments.

Conclusion:

Investigating cognitive functioning in psychotic disorders is crucial for understanding the nature and severity of these impairments. By elucidating the neurobiological basis of cognitive deficits, we can develop more effective interventions to improve the quality of life for individuals with these conditions.

WORDLIST:

– psychotic disorders – психотические расстройства

– profound alterations – глубокие изменения

– impaired cognitive functioning – нарушение когнитивных функций

– core symptom – основной симптом

– significantly impacts – существенно влияет

– cognitive deficits – когнитивные нарушения

– effective interventions – эффективные вмешательства

– attention and executive function – внимание и исполнительные функции

– difficulty sustaining attention – трудности с поддержанием внимания

– reduced verbal fluency – снижение вербальной

беглости

– impaired comprehension – нарушение понимания

– complex and multifaceted – сложные и многогранные

– reduced brain volume – уменьшение объема мозга

– abnormal patterns of brain activity – аномальные

паттерны мозговой активности

– cognitive domains – когнитивные области

– cognitive remediation therapy – когнитивная

реабилитационная терапия

– targeted exercises – целевые упражнения

– executive function – исполнительная функция

– ongoing research – текущие исследования

– advanced neuroimaging techniques – передовые нейровизуализационные методы

– cognitive impairments – когнитивные нарушения

– elucidating the neurobiological basis of cognitive

deficits – выяснение нейробиологической основы когнитивных нарушений