Full text
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| Author(s): |
Elaine Cristina Zachi
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD) |
| Defense date: | 2005-08-08 |
| Examining board members: |
Dora Selma Fix Ventura;
Marcia Martins Silveira Bernik;
Maria Teresa de Araujo Silva
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| Advisor: | Dora Selma Fix Ventura |
| Abstract | |
Neuropsychological function is known to be affected by exposure to toxic substances and metabolic disorders. Two descriptive studies were performed. The aim was to examine possible neuropsychological dysfunction in individuals with history of occupational exposure to mercury vapor, and in type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy, in comparison with controls. The neuropsychological assessment included measures of attention (WMS Digit Span), inhibitory control (Stroop Interference Test), verbal memory (Buschke Selective Reminding Test), visual memory (WMS Visual Reproduction), manual dexterity (Grooved Pegboard), verbal fluency (FAS), visuomotor ability (WAIS Block Design), executive function (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test), verbal knowledge (WAIS Vocabulary), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) symptoms. P<0.05 was taken as significance level. Neuropsychological assessments of 26 fluorescent lamp ex-workers with chronic mercurialism diagnosis who had been exposed to mercury vapor for 10.2 ± 3.8 years were compared with 20 controls. The time since the cessation of exposure was 6 ± 4.7 years and the mean urinary mercury concentration was 1.8 ± 0.9 mg/gCr. Compared with the controls, the ex-workers performed worse on the Stroop Test part 1 (p=0.004) and 2 (0.010), SRT long term recall (p=0.028), long term storage (p=0.045), consistent long term recall (p=0.006), and delayed recall (p=0.008), FAS (p=0.010) and Grooved Pegboard dominant hand (p=0.019) and nondominant hand (p=0.008). Their depression, anxiety state and trait scores were higher than controls (p<0.001). Individuals with history of exposure to mercury vapor presented slowed processing speed and verbal memory spontaneous recall, verbal fluency and motor function impairment along with symptoms of depression and anxiety. The high scores on depression and anxiety are expected in chronic mercurialism and may be also associated with psychosocial problems related to unemployment. The other study compared the neuropsychological performances of 19 diabetic patients without retinopathy diagnosis (assessed by eye fundus examination) with 20 nondiabetic control subjects. The patients had diabetes for 8.2 ± 8.1 years and their recent glycaemic control levels (HbA1C) mean was 7 ± 1.3%. Other diabetic groups characteristics included non-insulin treatment, no neuropathy complaints, normal microalbumin urine tests, and 9 (47%) hypertensive patients. No significant (p<0.05) differences were found between the diabetic and control groups on any measure. The results suggest that type 2 diabetes is not directly related to significantly neuropsychological alterations. It is possible that cognitive decrements and mood alterations among type 2 diabetic patients described in previous studies are associated with the presence of complications such as retinopathy, hypoglicaemia, or even neuropathy with clinical signs. (AU) | |