International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialBefriending carers of people with dementia: a cost utility analysis.
There is very little evidence on the cost-effectiveness of social care interventions for people with dementia or their carers. The BEfriending and Costs of CAring trial (BECCA, ISRCTN08130075) aimed to establish whether a structured befriending service improved the quality of life of carers of people with dementia, and at what cost. ⋯ Befriending leads to a non-significant trend towards improved carer quality of life, and there is a non-significant trend towards higher costs for all sectors. It is unlikely that befriending is a cost-effective intervention from the point of view of society.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2009
Is the geriatric depression scale a reliable screening tool for depressive symptoms in elderly patients with cognitive impairment?
To determine the reliability of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) for the screening of depressive symptoms in dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) as the 'gold standard'. ⋯ Using the CSDD as 'gold standard', we demonstrated that the GDS-30 is a reliable screening tool for depressive symptoms in MCI but not in AD patients.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2009
Use of medications with anticholinergic properties and cognitive function in a young-old community sample.
To examine whether anticholinergic medications have effects on the level of cognitive function or cognitive decline in persons in their early to mid 60s. ⋯ This study suggests that exposure to anticholinergic medication is associated with lower level of complex attention in the young-old, but not with greater cognitive decline over time. Although the clinical significance of this is not clear, caution should be taken when prescribing medications with anticholinergic effects to older persons.