Scielo RSS http://scielo.isciii.es/rss.php?pid=0213-616320160002&lang=es vol. 30 num. 2 lang. es http://scielo.isciii.es/img/en/fbpelogp.gif http://scielo.isciii.es http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0213-61632016000200001&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Background and Objectives: The cognitive impairments known as schizophrenia have been extensively reported in the literature. The severity of such impairments has been shown to vary depending on the cognitive domain that is being studied. Impairments in performance in VF tasks have also been extensively reported by comparing schizophrenic patients on the one hand with healthy controls and patients suffering from other mental disorders on the other, and it is suggested that such impairments can be considered as part of the neuropsychological endophenotype for schizophrenia. This study analyzed the organization of semantic memory in patients with chronic schizophrenia by means of the "Human Body Parts" VF task. Methods: 44 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 44 healthy controls were examined, paired by age, sex, years of education, and handedness. The organization of semantic memory was derived from the construction of semantic maps obtained by means of correspondence analysis. Results: Performance in the VF task studied was significantly lower in the patients group. The semantic maps obtained from the CoA show a semantic organization partly differential in both groups of participants. Conclusions: The hypothesis that there would be better performance because this is a test that has a self-referential key was partially rebutted. Although there was a deficit in per­formance, the findings from this study suggest that such performance cannot be accounted for by lack of organization in semantic networks or clinical variables. http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0213-61632016000200002&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Background and Objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) are neurotrophic neuropeptides that play important roles in the synaptic plasticity, neuronal growth, survival and function. A possible neuroprotective role of neurotrophic factors against alcohol-induced cell damage has been suggested, and dysregulations in neurotrophic factors may be involved in the vulnerability to addiction. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of BDNF and GDNF serum levels in alcohol-addicted patients during alcohol withdrawal compared to healthy controls. Methods: BDNF and GDNF serum levels of 34 male inpatients diagnosed with alcohol addiction according to DSM-IV-TR were investigated during alcohol withdrawal (day 1, 7 and 14) in comparison to 32 healthy controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Severity of alcohol withdrawal was measured by Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar), and intensity of alcohol craving was measured by Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) during alcohol withdrawal (day 1, 7 and 14). Results: BDNF serum levels increased significantly during alcohol withdrawal (p = 0.020). They were negatively correlated to the severity of alcohol withdrawal, and the correlation was close to being statistically significant (p = 0.058). BDNF and GDNF serum levels did not differ significantly between the patient and control groups. GDNF serum levels did not change significantly during alcohol withdrawal. Conclusions: Our results may provide support for the previously hypothesized role of BDNF in the neuroadaptation during alcohol withdrawal. http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0213-61632016000200003&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Background and Objectives: We investigated idiom comprehension in patients with schizophrenia, and the involvement of working memory and executive functions in this comprehension. Methods: Nineteen patients with schizophrenia aged 22-46 years (mean = 34.73 years) took part in this study, and were matched for age and education level with a control group. Our assessment consisted of (1) an experimental task assessing idiom comprehension through short stories, (2) three tasks assessing verbal, visuospatial and multimodal spans, and (3) four tasks assessing executive functions (Hayling test, Stroop test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Trail Making Test). Results and Conclusion: Results highlighted several deficits in the comprehension of idioms in patients with schizophrenia. An executive deficit is not sufficient to explain these difficulties. Nevertheless, the conceptual disorganization observed in the patients conduce them to not focus their attention on the relevant elements avoiding the comprehension of idioms. http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0213-61632016000200004&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Background and Objectives: Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in serotonin biosynthesis in the nervous system. Several variants of human TPH2 have been reported to be associated with a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders such as unipolar major depression, bipolar disorder and suicidality etc. Recent studies suggested that two variants (T212 and A375) in the exon 7 and exon 9 were associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: To replicate these findings, two polymorphisms located in exons 7 and 9 of TPH2 (rs7305115 and rs4290270, respectively) were analysed by DNA sequence in the case-control sample study in 191 MDD and 191 healthy volunteers. Statistical analyses were carried out using the program SPSS. The comparison of allele and genotype frequencies of each polymorphism between case and control groups was carried out on the online software SHEsis. All subjects were unrelated southern Han Chinese. Results: No difference was observed on the allelic or genotypic distribution of TPH2 gene polymorphisms between the groups. However, the two-marker haplotype covering components T212 (rs7305115) A and A375 (rs4290270) T were observed to have a significantly protective effect MDD in female (corrected p = 0.0032; OR = 0.241[95% CI = 0.099-0.587]). Conclusions: The results suggest that TPH2 might be associated with a lower risk of female MDD. However, confirmatory studies in independent samples are needed. http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0213-61632016000200005&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Background and Objectives: The nature and pattern of cognitive deficits (CD) in schizophrenia and whether the deficits are generalised or domain specific continues to be debated vigorously. We ascertained the pattern of CD in schizophrenia using a novel statistical approach by comparing the similarity of cognitive profiles of patients and healthy individuals. Methods: In a consecutive sample of 78 patients with schizophrenia, performance on six cognitive domains (verbal memory, working memory, motor speed, processing speed, verbal fluency and executive functions) was measured using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). The similarity of cognitive profile between patients and two groups of healthy controls (age-matched and older adults who were in the age group of 70-79) was evaluated using a special purpose-built macro. Results: Cognitive performance profiles in various domains of patients with schizophrenia and age-matched controls were markedly similar in shape, but differed in the overall performance, with patients performing significantly below the healthy controls. However, when the cognitive profiles of patients with schizophrenia were compared to those of older adult controls, the profiles remained similar whilst the overall difference in performance vanished. Conclusions: Cognitive deficit in schizophrenia appears to be generalised. Resemblance of cognitive profiles between patients with schizophrenia and older adult controls provides some support for the accelerated ageing hypothesis of schizophrenia. http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0213-61632016000200006&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Background and Objectives: Internet use, which has become extremely important and essential in everyday life, often leads to problematic use. The main aim of our study was to answer the question of whether self-esteem is a predictor of Internet addiction. Methods: The participants were 1,011 people from three countries: Turkey (N = 320), Poland (N = 350), and Ukraine (N = 341). Young's Internet Addiction Test and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale were used. Results: Results provide evidence that self-esteem is a predictor of Internet addiction and that this pattern is found across cultures. Conclusions: People who approach themselves with heavy self-criticism and evaluate themselves as unworthy are more prone to Internet addiction. More research is also needed to provide a better understanding of the Internet addiction phenomenon and its relation to self-esteem, personality, and culture.