Neuropsychological diagnosis of a female patient with Arnold-Chiari malformation type I

• Authors: Natalia Nowaczyk , Jolanta Góral-Półrola

Abstracts

EN

Arnold–Chiari I malformation is a congenital malformation of the hindbrain characterized by displacement of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum, pressure on the fourth ventricle, and decreased fluid flow to the basal cisterns. It is a mild form of the neuro-cranio-vertebral syndrome (Arnold–Chiari syndrome) because in many cases it is asymptomatic or has few clinical signs and symptoms of mild severity. The case study presented in the article concerns a 16.5-year-old patient with Arnold–Chiari I malformation following surgery. Based on the neuropsychological diagnosis, clinical symptoms that might result from the course of structural and functional changes in the hindbrain in Arnold–Chiari I syndrome were described and explained. The following were observed: selective difficulties in planning and concentration (maintaining the direction of action) and a weakening of visual perception (described by the patient as a subjective state of derealization). The results of the neuropsychological diagnosis point to certain practical implications for the further therapeutic treatment of patients with a mild form of Arnold–Chiari I malformation, especially as there is a risk of clinical symptoms changing over time due to the posibility of progressive neurodegenerative changes in the hindbrain.

Keywords

EN

hindbrain dysfunction; derealization state; visual attention; microgenetic theory; symptom formation

• Publisher: Fundacja Edukacji Medycznej, Promocji Zdrowia, Sztuki i Kultury Ars Medica
• Journal: Acta Neuropsychologica
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 21(4)
• Pages: 467-488

Dates

published

2023

Contributors

author

Natalia Nowaczyk

• Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

author

Jolanta Góral-Półrola

• Old Polish Academy of Applied Sciences, Kielce, Poland

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0054.1734

Biblioteka Nauki

28762818