Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate executive functioning (EF) and impulsiveness in three groups of people aged 30 to 79 years: post-frontal stroke (n= 13) and post-extra-frontal chronic stroke of the right hemisphere (n= 31) and control (n= 38). The years of education varied between the groups was as follows, frontal lesion group:M= 12 (SD= 6.11); extra-frontal lesion group: M = 9.06 (SD = 4.94); and control: M= 9.61 (SD= 4.24) years. The following instruments were used: Behavioural Assessment Dysexecutive Syndrome, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT), Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Impulsivity Evaluation Scale, Delay Descounting Task and Go/No-Go Task. We found differences in EF between the extra-frontal lesion group and the control group with respect to cognitive flexibility (p= .018); number of WCST trials (p= .018); WCST perseverative errors (p= .014) and omission by impulsivity errors on the go/no-go task for 250 ms (p= .008) and 1750 ms trials (p= .006). The frontal lesion group made more errors of omission than the control group in the 1750 ms go/no-go trials (p= .006). These results suggest that extra-frontal lesions impair EF by influencing attentional impulsivity.

Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos Web of Science, Pubmed y Bireme entre los años 2000 y 2011 a través de los términos "reabilitação cognitiva e acidente vascular cerebral" y "cognitive rehabilitation and stroke". Los resultados mostraron escasez de trabajos sobre el tema en la literatura internacional y ausencia de trabajos en la literatura brasileña. En el estudio se incluyeron 19 artículos, los cuales relacionaron en su mayoría rehabilitación del lenguaje, siendo explorados los ambientes virtuales para la rehabilitación con metodología breve y frecuente. Los programas mostraron ser eficaces para las tareas de la vida cotidiana, lo que sugiere su validez ecológica. Se concluye que el proceso de rehabilitación debe ser mejor explorado, sistematizado y que las técnicas deben ser divulgadas y publicadas por la literatura científica.

We performed a systematic literature review using the databases Web of Science, Pubmed and Bireme covering the years 2000 to 2011, using the terms "reabilitação cognitiva e acidente vascular cerebral" and "cognitive rehabilitation and stroke". The results showed a paucity of publications on this subject in the international and Brazilian national literatures. We identified only 19 articles, and these reported mostly language rehabilitation exploring virtual environments for rehabilitation with brief and infrequent description of the methodology. The programs showed to be effective in improving tasks of daily living, suggesting their ecologic validity. We concluded that the rehabilitation process needs to be further explored and systematically analyzed and that the effective techniques should be disclosed and published in detail.

Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura nas bases de dados Web of Science, Pubmed e Bireme entre os anos de 2000 e 2011 através dos termos "reabilitação cognitiva e acidente vascular cerebral" e "cognitive rehabilitation and stroke". Os resultados mostraram escassez de trabalhos sobre o tema na literatura internacional e ausência de trabalhos na literatura nacional (brasileira), sendo incluídos no estudo 19 artigos, os quais relataram em sua maioria, reabilitação da linguagem, sendo explorados os ambientes virtuais para a reabilitação com metodologia breve e frequente, assim como, os programas mostraram ser eficazes às tarefas da vida diária, sugerindo sua validade ecológica. Conclui-se que o processo de reabilitação precisa ser mais bem explorado, sistematizado e que as técnicas devem ser divulgadas e publicadas pela literatura científica.

Este estudo teve por objetivo comparar homens dependentes de substâncias psicoativas, com não dependentes, quanto às funções executivas e à expressão emocional e comportamental relacionando com a presença de ideação suicida. A amostra foi composta por 25 dependentes de substâncias psicoativas e 25 não dependentes. Empregou-se na coleta de dados um questionário sociodemográfico e de aspectos de saúde, a Entrevista Diagnóstica (MINI-Plus), o Inventário de Expressão de Raiva como Estado e Traço, a Escala de Impulsividade de Barratt (BIS-11), o Teste Wisconsin de Classificação de Cartas e a Escala de Ideação Suicida de Beck. Conclui-se que os dependentes de substâncias psicoativas do estudo não apresentaram alterações cognitivas significativas, o que não vai ao encontro da literatura, porém apresentaram alterações quanto à impulsividade e à expressão de raiva.

This study aimed to compare men with substance use disorders and those who are no addicted/non-dependent on drugs in terms of their executive functions, emotional and behavioral expressions giving particular emphasis on the presence of suicidal ideation. The sample consisted of 25 individuals with substance use disorders and 25 non-dependent individuals. The data collection consisted of a questionnaire including sociodemographic and health data, the Diagnostic Interview (MINI-Plus), the Anger Expression Inventory - State and Trait (STAXI), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (I-BIS11), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI). The data revealed that the substance dependent individuals showed no significant cognitive impairment, fact that does not math with the literature. However, they presented alterations with respect to impulsivity and expression of anger.

Objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar: o abuso/dependência de drogas; os aspectos emocionais de carcerários e relacionar o uso de drogas com a conduta agressiva; sintomas depressivos e ansiosos; tipo de crime e reincidência. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: BDI, BAI, STAXI e MINI Plus. Os participantes (N=60) tinham média de idade de 27,88 (±4,53) anos com período mínimo de quatro meses de prisão. Constatou-se um nível de agressividade baixo, de sintomas depressivos e ansiosos mínimos, elevado índice de uso abusivo de álcool e outras drogas e associação entre uso de drogas, sintomas depressivos e agressividade. Concluiu-se que na amostra estudada houve alta frequência de uso de álcool e crime por roubo e que o uso de drogas tem um papel importante na agressividade e nos sintomas depressivos.

The objectives of the present work were to evaluate the severity of drug abuse and drug dependence among prisoners as well as their emotional aspects, and to relate drug use with violent behavior, symptoms of depression and anxiety, type of crime and relapse. The instruments used were: BDI, BAI, STAXI and MINI Plus. The participants (N=60) were on average 27.88 years old (SD=4.53) and the minimum period of imprisonment was four months. The results showed that aggressiveness levels were low, and depression and anxiety levels were minimal in prisoners. However, a long history of alcohol consumption and other drugs abuse were observed among them as well as traits of depressive symptoms and aggressiveness. In conclusion, a large number of prisoners were alcohol addicted and their main kind of crime was robbery. They also showed emotional disorders related to aggressiveness and depression.

The present study compared men and women who suffered a frontal lobe stroke with regard to problem solving, decision making, impulsive behavior and depressive symptoms and also correlated these variables between groups. The sample was composed of 10 males and nine females. The study period was 6 months after the stroke. The following instruments were used: Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST), Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS11), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). For the exclusion criteria of the sample, the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I Plus) and Mini Mental Stage Examination (MMSE) were used. To measure functional severity post-stroke, the Rankin Scale was used. The average age was 60.90 ± 8.93 years for males and 60.44 ± 11.57 years for females. In females, total impulsiveness (p = .013) and lack of planning caused by impulsiveness (p = .028) were significantly higher compared with males, assessed by the BIS11. These data indicate that females in the present sample who suffered a chronic frontal lesion were more impulsive and presented more planning difficulties in situations without demanding cognitive processing. These results that show gender differences should be considered when planning psychotherapy and cognitive rehabilitation for patients who present these characteristics.

Este estudo objetivou verificar a frequência de transtornos psiquiátricos em dois grupos de dependentes químicos, cocaína/crack e álcool/cocaína/crack, por meio do Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I Plus). Foram entrevistados 32 indivíduos do sexo masculino, com idade média de 27,65 (DP=7,38) anos. A maioria tinha Ensino Fundamental incompleto (34,37%), era solteira (81,25%) e relatou história familiar de consumo de álcool (76,5% - grupo cocaína/crack; 53,3% - grupo álcool/cocaína/crack). O período médio de abstinência era de 33,05 (DP=19,52) dias. Os resultados mostraram uma frequência maior de Transtorno do Humor nos dois grupos. Embora a diferença não tenha sido estatisticamente significativa, os dependentes de álcool/cocaína/crack apresentaram, adicionalmente, alta frequência de Transtorno de Personalidade, sugerindo a necessidade de tratamento diferencial para essa população.

This study investigated the frequency of psychiatric disorders in two groups of drug users, cocaine/crack and alcohol/cocaine/crack, by means of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I Plus). The participants, 32 men, had an average age of 27.65 (SD=7.38) years. Most of them had not completed Fundamental School (34.37%), were single (81.25 %) and reported a family history of alcohol consumption (76.5% - cocaine/crack; 53.3% - alcohol/ cocaine/crack). On average, the time of abstinence was 33.05 (SD=19.52) days. The results showed a high frequency of Mood Disorders in both groups. Although the difference was not statistically significant, the alcohol/cocaine/crack group presented, additionally, high frequency of Personality Disorder, suggesting the need of a distinct treatment for that population.

O uso nocivo do álcool configura-se como um problema de saúde pública, associado ao aumento da violência, envolvendo ambos os sexos. Esse artigo tem por objetivo discutir sobre o impacto do uso do álcool em homens e mulheres do ponto de vista neurobiológico, enfatizando a ação psicoativa da substância e sua implicação no comportamento violento. Foi conduzida uma análise baseada em artigos selecionados nas fontes eletrônicas do Scielo, LILACS, MEDLINE, PubMed e Web of Science no período de 1996 a 2008. Do total de 420 artigos selecionados, 90 foram considerados relevantes para a análise. Verificou-se que o uso nocivo do álcool causa mudanças neuroquímicas e alterações nas funções cognitivas, podendo gerar comportamentos violentos em homens e mulheres, entretanto, evidenciou-se importantes diferenças entre os sexos quanto à ação psicoativa do álcool, assim como, no tipo de violência expressa. Estudos sobre a temática proposta ainda são escassos, sugerindo a necessidade de pesquisas futuras que possam contribuir para um melhor entendimento e para ações preventivas eficazes.

The abuse of alcohol can engender serious public health problems in certain people, particularly due to its link to violence involving both men and women. This article has the aim to discuss the impact of alcohol in men and women regarding neurobiological mechanisms, emphasizing its psychoactive effects as well as its implication for violent behavior. An analysis was conduct based on reviews and articles in electronic databases, selected from 1996 to 2008 at Scielo, Lilacs, MEDLINE, Pub Med and Web of Science. From a total of 420 selected articles 90 were considered relevant for this analysis. It was evident that the abuse of alcohol causes changes in neurochemistry and in cognitive functions, and some of those changes lead to violent behavior in men and women. However, there are important differences between both genders and the type of aggressive behavior expressed. Studies on this topic are still rare and more research is necessary in order to develop better diagnostic tools and favor relevant neurobiological mechanisms for more effective treatments.