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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1: Boban, M., Malojcic, B., Mimica, N., Vukovic, S. & Zrilic, I. (2012). The Frontal Assessment Battery in the Differential Diagnosis of Dementia. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 25 (4), 201-207.DOI: 10.1177/0891988712464821

[This research study evaluated the clinical utility of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) for differentiating diagnoses of Alzheimer disease, subcortical vascular cognitive impairment, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.  Some of the subtests from the FAB were found to enhance diagnostic accuracy when evaluating executive function.]

Questions to Consider:

1.  Describe why many tests fail to find differences among groups with executive dysfunction, like Alzheimer disease, vascular cognitive impairment and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
2. Describe the various general and neurological examinations all subjects went through prior to the start of the experiment.  Were there any differences in examinations based on the subject’s identified disorder?
3. Discuss the clinical implications for the results if this study, e.g. due to the researchers not finding any significant differences in the total FAB scores among the three different executive dysfunction groups.

Article 2: Cacciatore, J., Lacasse, J.R., Lietz, C.A. & McPherson, J. (2013-2014). A Parent's Tears: Primary Results from the Traumatic Experiences and Resiliency Study. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 68 (3), 183-205. DOI: 10.2190/OM.68.3.a

[The health/mental health status, family functioning, and resiliency of parents who had lost a child was the focus of this study.  The bereaved parents completed an online survey, which contained a variety of self-report instruments.]

Questions to Consider:

1. Describe some of the current research findings focusing on the impact upon the parent’s health, family and marital functioning when their child dies.
2. Discuss the process in which the authors of this study gathered information about the impact of the child’s death on a parent’s health.  Include in your discussion your personal view on if you feel this was an adequate or inadequate approach to gathering this information.
3. Describe this study’s findings related to family functioning and if these findings were congruent or incongruent with the family resilience literature.