Cognitive Functioning in Patients with Stress-Related Mental Disorders: Using a remote digitized self-administered testing platform
2021 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Adjustment disorder (AD) and exhaustion disorder (ED) are frequently diagnosed in individuals suffering from the effects of long-term stress. These patients often present with high subjective cognitive complaints. However, research investigating objective cognitive functioning in this group is scarce and inconsistent. Furthermore, internet-based treatment and assessment methods are needed in order to provide empirically supported care independent of geographic location, as well as to reduce costs. This study investigated objective cognitive funcioning in individuals with AD and ED compared to a healthy population (n>700) using a remote digitized self-administered testing platform. The cognitive domains of attention and processing speed, memory, and executive functioning were evaluated tin 5 tests in 69 patients (88% female), ages 24-65 (M±SD= 42.7 ± 9.63) with AD (n=38, 55%) and ED (n=31, 45%). The patients with AD performed poorer than controls in the domains of attention, processing speed and memory while patients with ED performed worse in all domains. These results indicate that cognitive assessment may provide important information for the conceptualization and diagnosis of stress-related mental disorders, as well as support the evaluation and development of treatment.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021.
Keywords [en]
adjustment disorder, exhaustion disorder, remote digital testing, objective cognitive functioning
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-488370OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-488370DiVA, id: diva2:1710698
Subject / course
Psychology
Educational program
Psykologprogrammet
Supervisors
Examiners
2023-03-032022-11-142023-03-03Bibliographically approved