Leah H Rubin

Publications (22) View all

• Source

  Available from: Michael Brook

  Article: Affective/Impulsive Versus Predatory/ Instrumental (Premeditated) Homicide Neuropsychological and Intellectual Differences Between Types of Murderers

  Robert E Hanlon, Michael Brook, John Stratton, Marie Jensen, Leah H Rubin
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  ABSTRACT: The notion that affective/impulsive violence and predatory/instrumental violence constitute distinct behavioral phenotypes has been supported in the forensic literature. Prior research suggests that offenders committing affective/impulsive homicide exhibit differing patterns of anomalous regional brain activation and decreased executive functions relative to predatory/instrumental homicide offenders. However, no prior research has examined the extent to which murderers who kill impulsively versus those who kill as the result of the execution of a premeditated strategic plan differ with regard to other neuropsychological functions and intelligence. Based on established criteria, we classified 77 murderers into affective/impulsive and predatory/instrumental groups, and compared their performance on standardized measures of intelligence and neuropsychological functioning. Results revealed significant differences between the affective/impulsive group (mean Full Scale IQ = 79) and the predatory/instrumental group (mean Full Scale IQ = 93) on indices of intelligence, memory, attention, and executive functioning. Most differences remained significant after controlling for relevant background factors.
  Criminal Justice and Behavior 05/2013; · 1.71 Impact Factor
• Article: Cognition in perimenopause: the effect of transition stage.

  Miriam T Weber, Leah H Rubin, Pauline M Maki
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  ABSTRACT: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to determine if cognitive function differs across stages of reproductive aging and to evaluate whether hormones or menopausal symptoms predict cognition in perimenopause. We hypothesized that women in late menopausal transition and early postmenopause would perform more poorly than those in the late reproductive stage on attention and verbal memory tasks, and that estradiol, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, hot flashes, and sleep disturbance would predict cognitive performance on those tasks. One hundred seventeen middle-aged women enrolled in the Rochester Investigation of Cognition Across Menopause were categorized into late reproductive stage (n = 34), early menopausal transition stage (n = 28), late menopausal transition stage (n = 41), or early postmenopause stage (n = 14) according to criteria from the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop +10. We administered a neuropsychological battery assessing six domains of cognition, assessed menopausal symptoms, and measured serum levels of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone. Multivariate regressions were conducted to determine the impact of menopausal stage and symptoms on cognition. Women in the first year of postmenopause performed significantly worse than women in the late reproductive and late menopausal transition stages on measures of verbal learning, verbal memory, and motor function. They also performed significantly worse than women in the late menopausal transition stage on attention/working memory tasks. Cognitive function does not change linearly across perimenopause. Decreases in attention/working memory, verbal learning, verbal memory, and fine motor speed may be most evident in the first year after the final menstrual period.
  Menopause (New York, N.Y.) 05/2013; 20(5):511-7. · 3.08 Impact Factor
• Article: Peripheral vasopressin but not oxytocin relates to severity of acute psychosis in women with acutely-ill untreated first-episode psychosis.

  Leah H Rubin, C Sue Carter, Jeffrey R Bishop, Hossein Pournajafi-Nazarloo, Margret S H Harris, Scot K Hill, James L Reilly, John A Sweeney
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In women with chronic schizophrenia, higher levels of peripheral oxytocin have been associated with lower levels of positive but not negative symptoms. Sex-specific associations between endogenous levels of oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) with clinical symptoms and cognition in untreated early course patients have not been examined. METHOD: Clinical ratings and neuropsychological testing were performed in thirty-eight acutely ill, unmedicated first-episode schizophrenia patients (14 women, 24 men). Serum hormone assays were obtained in patients and thirty-eight demographically similar healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients demonstrated increased AVP levels compared to controls (p=0.01). Higher AVP levels were associated with greater positive symptoms (r=0.58, p=0.03) and worse verbal learning (r=-0.63, p=0.02) in female, but not male, patients. OT levels did not statistically differ between patients and controls, and were unrelated to clinical symptoms or cognition in patients. CONCLUSION: Results suggest an association of endogenous AVP with increased positive symptom severity and worse cognition in untreated female, but not male, schizophrenia patients. Findings support the role of neuroendocrine alterations in acute psychosis and the importance of examining sex-specific neuroendocrine alterations early in the course of schizophrenia.
  Biological Psychiatry 02/2013; · 8.28 Impact Factor
• Article: HIV and Recent Illicit Drug Use Interact to Affect Verbal Memory in Women.

  Vanessa Grauzas, Leah H Rubin, Eileen Martin, Kathleen M Weber, Mardge H Cohen, Elizabeth T Golub, Victor Valcour, Mary A Young, Howard Crystal, Kathryn Anastos, Bradley E Aouizerat, Joel Milam, Pauline M Maki
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:: HIV infection and illicit drug use are each associated with diminished cognitive performance. This study examined the separate and interactive effects of HIV and recent illicit drug use on verbal memory, processing speed and executive function in the multicenter Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). METHODS:: Participants included 952 HIV-infected and 443 HIV-uninfected women (mean age=42.8, 64% African-American). Outcome measures included the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised (HVLT-R) and the Stroop test. Three drug use groups were compared: recent illicit drug users (cocaine or heroin use in past 6 months, n=140), former users (lifetime cocaine or heroin use but not in past 6 months, n=651), and non-users (no lifetime use of cocaine or heroin, n=604). RESULTS:: The typical pattern of recent drug use was daily or weekly smoking of crack cocaine. HIV infection and recent illicit drug use were each associated with worse verbal learning and memory (p's<.05). Importantly, there was an interaction between HIV serostatus and recent illicit drug use such that recent illicit drug use (compared to non-use) negatively impacted verbal learning and memory only in HIV-infected women (p's <0.01). There was no interaction between HIV serostatus and illicit drug use on processing speed or executive function on the Stroop test. CONCLUSION:: The interaction between HIV serostatus and recent illicit drug use on verbal learning and memory suggests a potential synergistic neurotoxicity that may affect the neural circuitry underlying performance on these tasks.
  JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 02/2013; · 4.43 Impact Factor
• Article: Now what? Effects of on-site assessment on treatment entry after perinatal depression screening.

  Laura J Miller, Andrea McGlynn, Katherine Suberlak, Leah H Rubin, Michelle Miller, Vesna Pirec
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract Background: Depression is a frequent accompaniment of the perinatal period. Although screening improves detection of perinatal depression, it does not in itself improve mental health treatment entry and, therefore, does not improve outcomes. This study addresses the feasibility of incorporating diagnostic assessment for depression directly into perinatal care visits and the influence of doing so on entry into mental health treatment. Methods: The Perinatal Depression Management Program was implemented in an urban community health center serving a predominantly Hispanic population. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was administered during perinatal visits. Positive screens (scores ≥10) were followed within the same visit by brief diagnostic assessment and engagement strategies. Chart review was conducted to compare rates of screening, assessment, and treatment entry during a 3-month baseline period before implementation of the intervention (n=141) with a 1-year period after implementation of the intervention (n=400). Results: Before the intervention, 65.2% of patients completed a PHQ-9, and 10% of patients with positive screens received on-site assessment. None of the patients with identified perinatal depression entered treatment. After model implementation, significantly more (93.5%) completed a PHQ-9, and of patients with positive screens, 84.8% received an on-site assessment. Among patients diagnosed with major depression and offered treatment, 90% entered treatment. Conclusions: It is feasible to implement diagnostic assessment for depression within perinatal clinic visits. Doing so may substantially increase entry into mental health treatment for women with perinatal major depression while reducing unnecessary mental health referral of patients with false positive screens.
  Journal of Women s Health 09/2012; 21(10):1046-52. · 1.57 Impact Factor