Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) significantly enhances quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). In a trial involving 99 patients, MBCT improved depressive symptoms (Cohen's d = -0.46) and mental well-being (d = -0.73) at post-treatment, with mindfulness skills showing lasting effects even six months later (d = 0.42). Cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) also reduced depressive symptoms (d = -0.46) but lacked long-term benefits. Both therapies positively impacted self-reported cognitive issues, highlighting their importance in managing MS-related psychological challenges.
Delirium is a common complication of acute ischemic stroke and is linked to poor outcomes. A new risk score, PREDELIS, was developed using data from 14,475 stroke patients admitted to five Austrian stroke units between 2013 and 2021. Eight factors available at hospital admission predicted delirium: previous delirium, chronic alcohol use, age over 70, male sex, infection, high stroke severity, non-lacunar stroke type, and vision or hearing impairment. The score achieved moderate predictive accuracy, with patients scoring 5 or fewer points having a 2.5% risk of delirium, while those scoring 9 or more had a 30.9% risk. The tool can help clinicians identify high-risk patients for targeted prevention.
Vestibular disorders are linked to distortions in own-body representations beyond known deficits in balance and spatial cognition. A study of 60 patients with dizziness found that 12% experienced distorted body size perceptions (hands or feet feeling larger or smaller), 37% reported abnormal sense of agency, 35% reported disownership for the body, and 22% reported disembodiment, all at higher rates than in healthy controls. A second experiment using caloric vestibular stimulation in healthy volunteers showed that left-warm/right-cold stimulation specifically increased the perceived length of the dorsum of both hands. The findings indicate a vestibular contribution to how the body is represented.