ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors report on development and validation of their Index of Affective Suffering (IAS), an explicit measure of subjective symptom severity, constructed as a typological system, rather than a multifactorial scoring system, with combinations of “intensity” (degrees of distress per given time) and “extensity” (duration and frequency of episodes, and number and variety of life events and activities that are pervaded by distress) item rankings. Seven levels of severity appeared to have both face value and empirical justification. Further conceptual and methodological advances would enhance the development and evaluation of treatments for geriatric mental disorders and chronic diseases in general.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

There has been no systematic study of the clinical features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in elderly patients. This study describes the symptoms and characteristics of OCD among 32 outpatients age 60 or older and 601 younger patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria and given the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), NIMH scale, and a 41-item symptom questionnaire. Elderly patients had a later age at onset compared with younger patients. No differences were found in severity of symptoms on the YBOCS. Elderly patients had fewer concerns about symmetry, need to know, and counting rituals. Handwashing and fear of having sinned were more common. There were few differences in clinical features of OCD among the elderly patients compared with younger OCD patients.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors compared the sensitivity and specificity of a somatic eye symptoms question with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to detect depression in older patients with low vision. The sample was 70 patients (65+ years) attending a low-vision clinic. A geriatric nurse-practitioner examined all patients, diagnosed major depression by DSM-III-R criteria, and completed the GDS and an eye symptoms (ES) questionnaire. Twenty-seven patients (38.6%) met criteria for major depression. Although the sensitivity of the ES and GDS were identical (63%), the GDS was more specific (77% vs. 54%) and had higher positive predictive value (63% vs. 46%). Both measures identified patients who were more functionally disabled than patients without ES or depression, but with similar vision. Depression frequently accompanies visual impairment in this population. Inquiring about ES appears to be less specific than the GDS, although neither method is highly sensitive. However these screening tools identify distressed persons whose disability is high relative to the severity of their vision loss.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Alcohol-related disorders, estimated to be more prevalent in the South, are associated with serious comorbid disorders, such as depression and suicide. In a rural outreach program, the authors examined patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism and compared them with nonalcoholic patients on various demographic and descriptive variables. Of 166 patients referred to the program, 35 (21.1%) had an alcohol-related disorder: Alcoholism was significantly associated with male gender and younger age, but nearly half of the alcoholic subjects were women. Alcoholism is associated with inappropriate health care utilization; alcohol-related disorders produced significantly more emergency room visits and somewhat more hospital admission; these patients were less likely to have a primary care physician. No patient was receiving treatment for alcoholism.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors examined the course of anxiety up to 2 years after stroke in relation to depressive symptoms, impairment in activities of daily living (ADLs), and social functioning. One hundred forty-two patients were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after stroke. Anxiety was associated with greater depression severity at all follow-up visits. Depression severity was associated with impairment in ADLs at follow-up; association of anxiety and impairment in ADLs was present only at the intake visit, with independent effects only for women. Women reported more symptoms of both anxiety and depression during the 2-year period. Younger patients reported more anxiety symptoms, but there was no difference between age-groups in depressive symptoms. Severity of anxiety was also related to higher depression scores at initial hospitalization, but not in the remainder of the 2-year period. In summary, anxiety is associated with increased severity of depressive symptoms and greater impairment in function primarily during the acute hospitalization period. Women and younger patients also may be more vulnerable to anxiety after stroke.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

In July 1995, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) sponsored the first annual week-long Summer Research Institute (SRI) in Geriatric Psychiatry, at the University of California, San Diego. The NIMH-funded SRI was intended for promising postresidency and postdoctoral fellows, as well as junior faculty persons interested in research careers in geriatric psychiatry. The SRI focused on the tools needed to begin, maintain, and succeed on that career path and has been followed by continued communication between trainees and faculty. The SRI was highly successful, judging from the participants' evaluations, as well as the trainees' accomplishments in terms of publications and research funding during 1 year of follow-up. The SRI provides a useful model for an approach to bridging and shortening the transition period from fellowship to first research funding and of ensuring a continued flow of new investigators in geriatric psychiatry. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 1997; 5:238–246)

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors assessed the effect of a control-relevant psychosocial intervention in 31 nursing home residents with either major depressive episode or minor depression. An initial group of 22 residents were randomized to either active treatment or waiting list. Four of 11 residents randomized to active treatment were deemed Responders, compared with 0 of 11 on the waiting list (P < 0.05). Of the total of 31 residents who participated in the intervention, 14 (45%) were deemed Responders during the intervention period. For these Responders, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D) and Geriatric Depression Scale scores improved significantly during the intervention. The improvement in the Ham-D was not sustained 2 months after intervention was terminated. These findings suggest that a psychosocial intervention enhancing socialization according to each resident's choice had a positive therapeutic impact on almost half of the nursing home residents with major or minor depression. However this effect could not be sustained by the residents without the support of the structured program. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 1997; 5:247–257)

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The author analyzed and compared Mini-Mental State Exam and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) scores for 48 patients with Alzheimer's disease to determine whether improvements could be made in the ADAS. Results suggest that cognitive ability could be more accurately evaluated by shortening the number of words on the ADAS word recall task and reducing the number of trials on the word recognition task. These modifications would increase the likelihood of identifying medication effects. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 1997; 5:258–260)

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID