BACKGROUND The benzodiazepine lorazepam is widely utilized in the treatment of elderly individuals with anxiety disorders and related conditions. Negative effects of acute lorazepam administration on cognitive performance, especially memory, have been reported in both previously untreated elderly and in individuals who have received short term (up to three weeks) treatment with therapeutic dose...

Mental illness and the use of psychotropic drugs are considered to influence driving skills of patients. However, studies which indicate the relative contributions of these factors are rare. It is emphasized that for measuring the effects of psychotropic drugs on driving performance of patients, real driving tests are needed. Actual driving and psychomotor performance of patients receiving diaz...

People suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) complain of a variety of symptoms that could impair cognitive and psychomotor function either directly or indirectly. This paper discusses the use of cognitive and psychomotor performance tests together with some experiment designs that could be considered for use to assess fitness of MCS sufferers for work or the efficacy of diagnostic,...

We assessed the suitability of six applied tests of cognitive functioning to provide a single marker for dose-related alcohol intoxication. Numerous studies have demonstrated that alcohol has a deleterious effect on specific areas of cognitive processing but few have compared the effects of alcohol across a wide range of different cognitive processes. Adult participants (N = 56, 32 males, 24 fe...

Though the depressed physical and nutritional status of the deprived groups in our society is historically well documented from both the imaginative (Dickens, 1854) and journalistic (Chadwick 1842) points of view, very few investigations of a scientific nature have been conducted in this area which include objective motor performance measures in their design; the bulk of the available research ...

Abstract: The psychomotor skills required in dental laboratory technology and dentistry are similar. Dental educators have recognized the problems in selecting from among dental school applicants those with potential psychomotor skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of admissions data and measurements of psychological constructs of dental technology students with th...

BACKGROUND Increasing prevalence of recreational cannabis use among the young population has stimulated debate on the possible effects of acute and longterm use. AIMS To highlight recent knowledge of mechanisms of action, effects on psychomotor and cognitive performance, and health risks associated with cannabis consumption. METHOD A brief review of recent literature on the prevalence of re...

A double-blind test battery was administered to 24 human subjects (8 control, 16 drug) to assess the effects of 0.125 mg triazolam (oral) on memory encoding and retention across delay intervals ranging from seconds to 1 week after presentation. Although the drug reduced immediate psychomotor performance, it did not impair recall of previously learned information, nor did it significantly impair...

BACKGROUND Late onset disorders are often associated with cerebral disfunctioning and cognitive impairment in elderly patients. It is unknown whether the age of onset affects cognition in patients with bipolar disorder. The authors compare cognition and clinical characteristics of early- and late-onset bipolar patients in a stable and euthymic condition. METHOD One hundred and nineteen older ...

It is critical in operational environments to identify individuals who are at higher risk of psychomotor performance impairments. This study assesses the utility of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for predicting degraded psychomotor vigilance performance in an operational environment. Active duty crewmembers of a USA Navy destroyer (N = 69, age 21-54 years) completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale a...