Introduction. The addition onto the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) of the Memory Index Score (MoCA MIS) has enabled the use of the MoCA for screening of memory impairment through this MoCA...Show moreIntroduction. The addition onto the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) of the Memory Index Score (MoCA MIS) has enabled the use of the MoCA for screening of memory impairment through this MoCA MIS. This MoCA MIS has been little compared with a neuropsychological measure of memory. A comparison which would indicate the level to which (parts of) the MoCA would measure the cognitive domain of memory. The current study aimed to examine whether one part of the MoCA MIS could predict this domain of memory, whether the MoCA MIS predict this as well, and whether the prediction of memory due this specific part of the MoCA MIS could be improved upon through the addition of the rest of the MoCA MIS. Method. A cross-sectional design is used, within a sample of neuropsychiatric patients of an outpatient care clinic (n =22). The MoCA delayed recall trial, MoCA MIS, MoCA MIS points due to MoCA delayed recall trial, and MoCA MIS points due to the combined cued recall/recognition trials are the independent variables. The dependent variable is the AVLT delayed recall trial. Simple regression and hierarchical regression is used to examine the assumed predictive relationship. Results. The MoCA delayed recall and the MoCA MIS, each significantly predicted performance on the AVLT delayed recall. The prediction of the AVLT delayed recall trial with the points due to the MoCA delayed recall trial, did not improve significantly through the addition of the MIS points due to the combined cued recall/recognition trials. Discussion. Limitations in sample size, sample composition and the outcome measures restrict the generalization of the results. In spite of the limitations of the current study, the current study's results might reflect that the raw MoCA delayed recall score could potentially be as informative as the MoCA MIS when estimating a patient's future performance on a verbal memory test. Though within clinical practice, relevant cut-offs or other normative data should be utilized when using to screen for, or when estimating (memory) impairment, with the MoCA/MoCA MIS.Show less
Emotion regulation (ER) often happens in social contexts but research on interpersonal ER is still scare. This study aimed to investigate the impact of interpersonal ER strategies on emotional...Show moreEmotion regulation (ER) often happens in social contexts but research on interpersonal ER is still scare. This study aimed to investigate the impact of interpersonal ER strategies on emotional working memory (eWM) performance, particularly focusing on individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The study hypothesized that ER domains, specifically those addressing negative affect, adversely affect eWM performance and that the presence of BPD would moderate this relationship. This within-subject, experimental study involved 164 participants, with complete data from 89 individuals (68 females, mean age 25.30 ± 4.16 years). BPD was assessed by trained clinicians using the International Personality Disorder Examination. Participants completed the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and an Emotional Working Memory Task (EWMT) featuring emotionally arousing stimuli as distractors. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the predictive and moderating effects of interpersonal ER strategies and BPD on eWM performance. The study found opposite effects of what was originally hypothesized: the Perspective Taking domain of ER significantly predicted eWM performance. This relationship was moderated by BPD: individuals with BPD and higher scores on the Perspective Taking scale experienced less distraction during the EWMT in the presence of emotional facial stimuli, while there was no significant difference for controls. Additionally, Enhancing Positive Affect negatively influenced eWM performance, suggesting that higher scores in this domain were associated with increased distraction by emotional stimuli. However, no significant effects were found for the Soothing and Social Modeling domains. The findings highlight the importance of not only considering intrapersonal but also interpersonal ER strategies in understanding and treating emotional dysregulation in BPD. Integrating computer-based eWM training programs and interpersonal ER strategies into therapeutic approaches may enhance cognitive control and emotional regulation in individuals with BPD.Show less
