| Poster | Poster Session 03 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
09:30 am - 10:40 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma | Neurovascular
Final Abstract #46
The Effects of Chiari Malformation-I on Cognitive, Emotional/Behavioral, and Physical Functioning in a Pediatric Population
Sarah Mandelbaum, NYU Langone Health, New York, United States
Jessica Spat-Lemus, Montclair State University, Montclair, United States
Vance Zemon, Yeshiva University - Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Bronx, United States
Heidi Bender, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States
Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Child)
Keyword 1: cognitive functioning
Keyword 2: cerebellum
Objective:
Chiari malformation-I (CM-I) is a congenital malformation of the cranio-cervical junction, specifically, the herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. CM-I may be discovered incidentally or go undiagnosed; however, CM-I can often contribute to cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical symptomatology. Ours is among the first known studies to explore perceived cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical functioning via parent proxy measures in children with CM-I. Additionally, we will examine the differences between pediatric participants who qualify for surgical intervention an d patients who receive more conservative surveillance.
Participants and Methods:
Twenty-two participants (ages 5-17 years) with CM-I were recruited. The participants’ parent/guardian completed the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), rating their child’s perceived cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical functioning, including cognition, mobility, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and sleep. Univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and inferential statistics were conducted to examine the PROMIS parent proxy data. Clinical characteristics (i.e., herniation) were also reported.
Results:
The results revealed that participants with CM-I exhibited higher levels of physical impairments (fatigue, pain, and sleep difficulties) compared to the normative sample. Anxiety scores were also higher in the CM-I group, while depression scores were close to the mild impairment cut-off point. There were no significant differences in reported functioning between surgical and non-surgical candidates.
Conclusions:
Findings may inform clinical interventions by helping clinicians and researchers optimize patient outcomes regardless of the treatment received. Further research with a larger sample, a longitudinal design, and the utilization of pediatric self-report measure and/or the addition of formal neuropsychological testing, is warranted to better characterize the unique neurocognitive, behavioral and emotional profiles of this under-studied population.
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