ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors assessed the relationship of negative symptoms to demographic, other clinical, and neuropsychological variables to investigate and, to an extent, validate the assessment of individual negative symptoms in older schizophrenic patients. Sixty-four subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia, including 39 with onset before age 45 (early-onset schizophrenia, or EOS) and 25 diagnosed with late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) were recruited, along with 35 normal comparison (NC) subjects. All the subjects were assessed, using Scales for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, other psychiatric rating scales, and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. The prevalence of alogia and anhedonia/asociality was comparable in EOS and LOS groups. The prevalence of affective blunting and avolition/apathy was greater in EOS than in LOS. The authors propose a three-factor model of negative symptoms in older, ambulatory, neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients. Limitations of the study, as well as possible implications of findings are discussed.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors studied 34 subjects with probable dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 28 healthy, age-matched control subjects, using a 1.5-tesla GE MRI scanner. Absolute volumes of ventricular and sulcal cerebrospinal fluid spaces and volumes, corrected for total intracranial volume, were significantly higher (P< 0.01) in the DAT group, compared to the control group. Right-left measures of hemispheric structural asymmetry were greater in the DAT group, whereas aging alone influenced brain structure in the control group. Also, in the DAT group, certain volumetric measures were significantly correlated with specific clinical indicators of severity of illness and some neuropsychological indices. These data demonstrate widespread structural abnormalities in relatively early DAT and a relationship between brain structure and some measures of cognitive dysfunction.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The authors analyze aspects of caregiving for Hispanic Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A review of the literature on caregiving and ethnicity and data concerning caregiving for AD patients in different Hispanic groups are presented. The presence of ethnicity-related differences in caregiving for Hispanic AD patients is confirmed. These differences, however, appear to be present largely in certain areas, such as household composition, distribution of caregiving roles, help-seeking behavior, and site of caregiving. The authors consider areas that need to be addressed in future research and specific modifications to current caregiving models for the study of AD patients in the Hispanic community.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Forty-one patients with major depressive disorder were treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Sleep polysomnography studies (SPSs) were performed after the course of ECT. The hypotheses tested were that age is a significant factor in post-ECT SPS results and that some SPS parameters are correlates of outcome of ECT. An interaction between age and response to ECT could not be identified; however, older patients demon strated significantly disrupted sleep post-ECT. Response to ECT was associated with lower REM activity and lower REM density. Sleep-onset REM periods post-ECT were observed in almost 50% of the patients regardless of age. The SPS monitoring of recovery after a course of ECT may identify sleep correlates of response to ECT and variables associated with poorer longitudinal outcome.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

There are many rating instruments designed to assess symptoms of agitation in patients with dementia. Most scales require that raters assess multiple specific behaviors over several days, limiting the use of such scales to clinical staff who have direct contact with patients but do not have the time to complete a comprehensive assessment following each period of observation. Also, scales that assess behavior over several days must rely on “secondhand” information describing behaviors not directly observed by the rater. The Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) is an easy-to-use instrument, based on direct observations of the patient, that was developed to monitor the severity of agitation associated with dementia. Interrater reliability and measures of validity have been established with clinical staff on a busy psychogeriatric inpatient unit and with research personnel in a nursing home setting.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The Dementia Signs and Symptoms (DSS) Scale documents non-cognitive signs and symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, mania, and behavioral disturbances) in dementia. Patients, informants, and a clinical examiner rated signs and symptoms over the preceding month. Fifty-six Alzheimer's disease patients were administered the DSS, the BEHAVE-AD, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, the Young Mania Rating Scales, the Hamilton Depression Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale. DSS subscale scores correlated with corresponding scale scores, confirming construct validity. The DSS subscales were internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha, 0.3 7–0.75) and interrater reliability was high (ICC, 0.92–0.99).

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Seventeen female subjects (ages 55–73) participating in a clinical trial for older panic disorder patients were administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Seven subjects reported histories of sexual abuse. Physical abuse was reported by 10 subjects, including six of the seven who also reported sexual abuse. The data raise questions regarding the possible contributory role of childhood trauma in some panic disorder patients.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Altered serotonin transmission has been associated with behavioral complications of degenerative dementia. This study examined whether trazodone, a serotonergic antidepressant, may be useful in treating behavioral syndromes associated with dementia. Twenty-two dementia patients with behavioral problems were treated with trazodone (mean daily dose 172 ± 107 mg; mean duration 20 days). Seventy of cognitive impairment and behavioral symptoms were rated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Global Assessment Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. A global assessment of improvement was made by chart review. Mean scores, with the exception of the MMSE, improved modestly but significantly between admission and discharge. Chart review of target symptoms revealed that 82% of the patients showed moderate-to-marked improvement on discharge, with most able to return to their preadmission residence. Trazodone was generally well tolerated except for occasional mild sedation effects. Results suggest that trazodone may be a useful alternative to neuroleptics or benzodiazepines in treating behavior problems in some demented patients.

ISSN:1064-7481    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID