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Biomedical subjects

B P Rourke

Publications and source records attributed to B P Rourke.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Human neuropsychology in the 1990s.

Predictions regarding research and service delivery in human neuropsychology during the 1990s are presented. Issues addressed include considerations regarding the following: developmental studies of "normal" brain-behavior relationships; simultaneous measurement of brain activity and behavior; dimensionality of psychometric instruments; statistics and mathematical models; socioemotional and personality correlates of brain disease; study of "at risk" groups; neuropsychological taxonomies; model and theory development; comparative neuropsychology; neurochemistry of brain-behavior relationships; impact of non-neurological diseases; the interface of neuropsychology and psychiatry; applications in social problem areas; cognitive rehabilitation; and trends in certification and credentialing.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Psychometric intelligence after infantile hydrocephalus. A critical review and reinterpretation.

Methodological issues in research concerning intellectual sequelae of infantile hydrocephalus are reviewed, and a multivariate statistical approach to this problem is proposed and exemplified. The significance of a variety of medical history variables with regard to psychometric intelligence was assessed in a sample of 5- to 8-year-old children who had been shunted in the 1st year of life. Stepwise discriminant analyses revealed that many medical history variables were neutral with regard to intellectual outcome (as assessed by performance on psychometric tests). The presence of additional medical problems in infancy, as well as current ocular defects, were the most significant variables that were associated with a high likelihood of mental retardation. Implications for further research are discussed.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed1990

Long-term effects of severe penetrating head injury on psychosocial adjustment.

The long-term effects of severe penetrating head injury on adjustment levels were studied. Forty-one World War II veterans who suffered penetrating injury to the brain were interviewed 40 years after their initial injury using the Washington Psycho-Social Seizure Inventory (WPSI). The results support a comparable behavioral impact of right and left hemispheric lesions. Similarly, no significant relations were found between anterior and posterior locus of damage and psychosocial difficulties, although the results pertaining to the right-anterior group could be interpreted as suggestive of much greater maladjustment in all life dimensions assessed by the WPSI. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical positions on hemispheric specialization and long-term expectancies that hold implications for planning rehabilitation programs for such patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Psychosocial functioning of learning-disabled children: relations between WISC Verbal IQ-Performance IQ discrepancies and personality subtypes.

A total of 132 children with learning disabilities (LD) between the ages of 6 and 12 years were divided equally into 3 groups on the basis of the difference between WISC VIQ-PIQ scores (viz., VIQ greater than PIQ, VIQ = PIQ, and VIQ less than PIQ). The mean Personality Inventory for Children (PIC) profiles for the VIQ = PIQ and VIQ less than PIQ groups were normal; however, the VIQ greater than PIQ group showed pathological elevations on some PIC scales. Group average linkage cluster analysis using 10 PIC scales revealed 6 psychosocial subtypes. Within these subtypes, children with VIQ greater than PIQ were found at lower than expected frequencies in normal and mildly disturbed subtypes, but at higher than expected frequencies in seriously disturbed subtypes. These results support the notion that patterns of cognitive performance are related to patterns of psychosocial functioning in children with LD.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Psychosocial functioning of learning-disabled children: replicability of statistically derived subtypes.

The PIC scores of 132 learning-disabled children between the ages of 6 and 12 years were investigated using Q-factor analysis, four hierarchical-agglomerative clustering techniques, and one iterative partitioning clustering technique. Results revealed excellent correspondence between the subtypes derived by all grouping methods in terms of both misclassifications and mean PIC profile similarity of the subtypes across techniques. The mean PIC profile of one subtype indicated normal psychosocial adjustment; a second subtype exhibited evidence of significant internalized psychopathology; a third subtype had a mean PIC profile suggestive of externalized psychosocial maladjustment. These subtypes were virtually identical to three subtypes reported by Porter and Rourke (1985) in another study of learning-disabled children. The results indicate that learning-disabled children comprise a heterogeneous population in terms of psychosocial functioning and that subtypes of learning-disabled children with similar patterns of socioemotional adjustment can be recovered reliably from this population across samples and statistical grouping techniques.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Recovery of memory after severe closed head injury: dissociations in recovery of memory parameters and predictors of outcome.

This study examined selective reminding and recognition memory performance of 21 severe closed-head injured patients tested within 6 months of regaining consciousness and then again after at least 1 year. Performances on selective reminding parameters were highly correlated and patients performed significantly worse at both testings than did hospitalized controls matched for age, education, and sex. Patients improved from testing 1 to testing 2 on only four of six memory variables. Average Impairment Rating at testing 1 was a marginally better predictor of memory performance at testing 2 than was length of coma. Results are discussed in terms of (a) utility of selective reminding parameters and predictors of outcome and (b) dissociations in recovery of memory parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A childhood learning disability that predisposes those afflicted to adolescent and adult depression and suicide risk.

A particular subtype of learning disability (nonverbal learning disability) is described. This subtype of individuals with learning disability is seen to be at particular risk for depression and suicide. The origins of the study of this subtype of learning disability, its incidence in various forms of neurological disease, disorder, and dysfunction, and its behavioral and socioemotional manifestations (including its association with significant internalized forms of psychopathology) are described. A case history of a young woman who manifests this disability and who has attempted suicide on three occasions is also presented.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1988

Discriminant validity of lateral sensorimotor tests in children.

The discriminant validity of left- (LH) and right-hand (RH) sensorimotor measures from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. A group of children (primarily learning disabled) was divided into analysis (n = 488) and cross-validation (n = 400) samples and the following measures were taken for both the LH and the RH Tactile Perception, Finger Agnosia, Fingertip Number Writing, Tactile Form Recognition, Finger Tapping, Grip Strength, Grooved Pegboard, and Mazes. RH- and LH scores from these tests, and scores from five WISC subtests (Information, Similarities, Vocabulary, Block Design, and Object Assembly) were analyzed in a series of four nested confirmatory factor models. Models distinguished between LH and RH skill factors, and/or between simple- and complex-skill factors. Models were compared using incremental fit ratios and chi 2 difference tests (Bentler & Bonnett, 1980). Model comparisons revealed little evidence for discriminant validity of LH and RH measures, but strong support for distinctions between measures of simple- and complex-skills. These findings were replicated in the cross-validation sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effects of hemodialysis on the cognitive and sensory-motor functioning of the adult chronic hemodialysis patient.

Twenty chronically dialyzed adults were administered a repeatable battery of 14 cognitive and sensory-motor tests on 3 consecutive days: immediately prior to their midweek dialysis, approximately 20 hr after their midweek dialysis, and again immediately prior to their end-of-the week dialysis. Serum electrolyte and methylamine analyses were performed at each test session. When compared to established norms, these patients scored within the normal range in a wide variety of areas. Limited impairments, probably due to peripheral neuropathy, were in evidence on the Grooved Pegboard, Finger Tapping (females), and Grip Strength (females) measures. Impairments suggestive of cerebral dysfunction were also noted on the Benton Visual Retention Test and on the Trail Making Test, Parts A and B, with particularly severe impairment noted on Part B. Despite significant daily changes in serum levels of toxic substances retained in uremia, there was little or no evidence to suggest that well-dialyzed patients undergo daily fluctuations in their cognitive and sensory-motor functioning.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Locus of control as a predictor variable in rehabilitation medicine.

Reports the results of preliminary work with the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. It was predicted that treatment motivation and treatment success would be related to the dimension of locus of control. Independent physiotherapist's ratings confirmed the first hypothesis, but not the second. This appears to be a fruitful area for further research with this instrument.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗