Paola Cimbolli, Daniela Marchione, Amelia Conte, Emiliana Meleo, Giulia Bisogni, Daniela Bernardo, Agata Katia Patanella and Mario Sabatelli
The aim of this study was to evaluate if the changes in the behavioral and emotional aspects of the patients with ALS are secondary to a cognitive deficit or correspond to an increased/adaptive activation of the mental functioning of the patients. The study was carried on 17 Italian patients with ALS in the initial phase of the disease being treated at the Nemo Clinical Center department in Rome. We evaluated the presence of FTDbv or Cognitive Impairment, the presence of psychopathology and finally the psychological profile, according to Cognitive Systemic Post-rationalist approach, in terms of “Personal Meaning Organization” or PMO. The absence of cognitive impairment in half of the patients leads us to reflect on the need to integrate psychological evaluation with tools that, in addition to behavior, allow us to grasp the personal meaning dimension of the patient and his relational reciprocity. We conclude by saying that the psychological characteristics observed in these patients do not seem to be caused by the onset of the disease but represent configurations of Personal Meaning Organization stable over time.