Anna Maria Barbarulo

Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, PhD of Neuroscience

Name Anna Maria
Surname Barbarulo
Institution Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
E-Mail annamaria.barbarulo@unicampania.it
Address II Division of Neurology & Center fo Rare Diseases Department of Medical Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic Sciences, and Aging, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Edificio 10 Via Sergio Pansini, 580131 Naples, Italy
Anna Maria Barbarulo

Member PUBLICATIONS

  • Autobiographical recall training in elderly adults with subjective memory complaint: a pilot study.

    Publication Date: 01/04/2007 on Perceptual and motor skills
    by Grossi D, Postiglione A, Schettini B, Trojano L, Barbarulo AM, Giugliano V, Ambron E, Aiello A
    DOI: 10.2466/pms.104.2.621-628

    Subjective memory complaint is a self-reported memory impairment which affects elderly people. This problem does not interfere with daily living activities but could decrease quality of life. This study's purpose was to verify whether a specific, newly developed, autobiographical recall training could modify self-perception of memory of subjects with subjective memory complaint. Seven elderly subjects (4 women and 3 men; mean age 65.5 yr., SD=11) with such complaint, evidenced through a specific questionnaire, attended the training course and were prospectively assessed on standard neuropsychological tests, depressive symptomatology, and self-perception of memory. Self-perception of memory, as assessed by scores on a formalized questionnaire, improved significantly after the training, while depressive symptoms did not change. Neuropsychological performances were normal before and after the training, but a statistically significant improvement was observed only on the phonological fluency test. Thus the present pilot study suggested that the training may be effective in improving self-perception of memory and metamnestic capacity in elderly people with subjective memory complaints but not in changing subjects' depressive symptoms. This requires replication of this work with a much larger sample so statistical power is adequate.