Abstract

BRITO, Ivone Lúcia; AREOSA, Silvia Coutinho; LOPES, Regina Maria Fernandes  and  ARGIMON, Irani I. de Lima. Executive functions Evaluation in elderly patients with chronic degenerative diseases. Cuad. neuropsicol. [online]. 2012, vol.6, n.1, pp. 46-62. ISSN 0718-4123.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7714/cnps/6.1.203.

The advancement of health conditions has facilitated the increase in longevity and therefore a longer life expectancy. This research was conducted with the objective of verifying the existence of deficits in the performance of executive functions in elderly patients with chronic diseases through the Test Wisconsin Card Sorting, and to investigate associated pathologies (depression and anxiety) and their implications in the life the elderly. We studied 30 elderly men and women, aged over 60 years, diagnosed with (Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension). The design was a quantitative and transversal study, with the instruments: socio-demographic data sheet, Test Wisconsin Card Sorting (WCST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Depression Scale geriatric (GDS). The results indicate that the elderly have shown difficulties in performing the tasks as descriptors of the WCST. It is highly significant correlations between the total score of the GDS BAI (r = 0.667, p <0.001), which means that, inasmuch as the symptoms of anxiety increase also increases depressive symptoms.

Keywords : Aging; Psychological assessment; Test Wisconsin; Card Sorting (WCST); Chronic degenerative diseases.

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