title: [Early neuropsychological changes in patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis].
abstract: The presence of latent encephalopathy was assessed by means of various psychodiagnostic tests in 24 non-alcoholic cirrhotics. Twenty-four subjects hospitalized for chronic extrahepatic conditions served as the control group. The following tests were utilized: 1) semistructured individual clinical interviews; 2) Rorschach test; 3) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory; 4) Reitan's test; 5) spatial capability test (hand test); 6) reaction times to sound and light stimulation. Mood and behavioural modifications were frequently found in cirrhotics, probably as a consequence of the reaction to a chronic disease. Such abnormalities could, however, be differentiated from the early impairment of superior psychomotor functions which were present in nearly 50% of cirrhotics as latent encephalopathy. Results indicate that the use of the Reitan's test, can allow for a better management of cirrhotics even at non advanced stages of the disease and that more sophisticated tests failed to add further clues to diagnosis of latent encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: I Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Istituto di Medicina Generale e Metodologia Clinica, Università di Napoli.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loguercio
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Immirzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio Blanco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coltorti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012392:Rorschach Test
vernacular_title: Studio delle modificazioni neuropsichiche precoci in cirrotici non alcolisti.