Background The high illiteracy rates in the North African and Middle Eastern region make direct cognitive testing challenging. Validated instruments for dementia in Arabic language are lacking specially those targeting low-educated subjects. Objectives The aim of this study was to develop a cognitive evaluation battery suitable for both educated and illiterate Egyptian elderly people. Design A cross-sectional study was conducted. Setting: Ain-Shams University geriatric and ophthalmology wards, geriatrics outpatient clinic, and geriatric clubs. Participants: 159 male and female participants aged ≥ 60 years were recruited. Measurements Cut-off points were determined according to DSM-IV criteria for dementia and MMSE scores which divided the participants into 3 quadrants as normal, having mild cognitive impairment and having dementia then application of the new battery test was done. Results Test re-test reliability ranged from adequate to high in most of its tests with r ≥ 0.7. There was a statistical significance between all battery tests when divided into normal and dementia according to DSM IV criteria except in digit span forward length, digit span backward length, stimulus cue of confrontation naming and judgment. Means and standard deviations were calculated for each battery subset, for the whole sample, for low-educated group and group with > 9 years education according to three quadrants of MMSE. Conclusion A new valid and reliable neurocognitive evaluation battery that can differentiate between normal, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia in both educated and illiterate subjects under the name of Ain Shams Cognitive Assessment (ASCA) scale is now available.

Background With aging of the population dementia became a public health problem increasing health care costs. It affects about 5-10% of elderly population above the age of 65 with doubling prevalence each 5 years till reaching about 50% at the age of 85 1, 2. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was published in 1975 as a practical method to assess cognitive functions. Although it has some advantages as it is affected by age and education and does not measure executive function, indeed it is the most commonly used screening method in the assessment of the severity of dementia in clinical and research fields and for longitudinal follow up of patients. Researchers stated that most of the healthcare professionals use the MMSE and its variants during their medical practice 3, 4. MMSE has several strengths including that it can be quickly administered in clinical interview and research settings. It has demonstrated utility in its widespread and long-standing use in cognitive screening. The test largely meets its goals as a screening tool of cognitive function and serial measurement of cognitive changes 5. The maximum score for MMSE is 30, with lower scores indicating more severe cognitive problems. The cut point established for the MMSE defines 'normal' cognitive function and is usually set at 24 6. However, these scores need to be adjusted according to age,

No abstract

Background: Divorce rates have increased during the last decade, leading to a greater focus of marital scholars on the importance of understanding couple-maintaining strategies within marital life. Distresses in couples are attributable to difficulties controlling felt, experienced, and expressed emotions; thus, emotion dysregulation is a core stressor in couples with maladaptive responses. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) on outpatient couples to treat emotion dysregulation. Methods: We recruited 20 couples with marital distress in which partners presented emotion dysregulation. We offered the couples the opportunity to join a couple DBT group at their convenience and based on the immediate availability of treatment slots. We measured the treatment efficacy using psychometric tools (the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Dyadic Adjustment Ccale (DAS) at baseline and after DBT therapy. Results: Both male and female partners presented significant improvements in marital adjustment DAS and emotion regulation scores. Female partners showed significantly greater amplitude changes in both scales. Female partners showed significant improvement in most DERS subscales (except the GOALS subscale); on the other hand, male partners showed significant improvements in impulse, awareness, strategies, and clarity subscales. We found significant improvements in most DAS subscales in both sexes; only affectional expression remained unchanged before and after therapy. Conclusion: DBT for couples is an effective approach to treat emotion dysregulation.

No abstract