title: The relationship between executive functions and capacity to consent to treatment in acute psychiatric hospitalization.
abstract: Despite the acknowledged influence of cognition on patients' capacity to consent to treatment, the specific neuropsychological domains involved remain elusive, as does the role of executive functions. We investigated possible associations between executive functions and decisional capacity in a sample of acute psychiatric inpatients. Patients were recruited and evaluated through the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T), the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Patients with poor executive functioning performed worse in MacCAT understanding, appreciation, and expression of a choice, compared with good performers. These findings point to the importance of cognition in decisional capacity processes. In addition, the strong association found between learning abilities and informed consent decision-making provide empirical evidence indicating possible cognitive enhancement strategies that may improve psychiatric patients' competency.
authors: Departmentof Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome Sapienza, Sant’Andrea Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Roma, Italy. gabriele.mandarelli@uniroma1.it
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Mandarelli
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Parmigiani
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Tarsitani
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Frati
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Biondi
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Ferracuti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D032882:Comprehension; D003657:Decision Making; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged