International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · May 2014
Apathy is an independent risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease in the older individual: a population-based cohort study.
Although depression is considered to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), specifically symptoms of apathy have been strongly associated with a history of CVD in recent studies. In this study, we prospectively assess whether symptoms of apathy and depression are independent risk factors for incident CVD and stroke. ⋯ Apathy, but not depression, is a strong, independent risk factor for incident CVD. It may be a marker of underlying vascular disease. By its nature, apathy may cause non-adherence to a healthy lifestyle, diminished activities, and possibly even withdrawal from clinical care aimed at improving vascular risk profiles.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · May 2014
Prognosis of delirium in hospitalized elderly: worse than we thought.
Despite treatment of the associated condition, delirious persons do not always recover for unknown reasons. We sought to determine early prognostic indicators of poor recovery following an episode of delirium in older medical in-patients. ⋯ Poor recovery after delirium is common and associated with certain characteristics. However, even "lower risk" delirious individuals do poorly. More research is needed to understand prognostic factors in delirium.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialCost-effectiveness of a stepped care programme to prevent depression and anxiety in residents in homes for the older people: a randomised controlled trial.
Depression and anxiety are common in residents of elderly homes. Both disorders have negative effects on functioning, well-being and health-care utilisation. Besides treatment, prevention can be an option to reduce the burden of mental disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a stepped care programme to prevent the onset of depression and anxiety disorders in residents of elderly homes compared with usual care from a societal perspective. ⋯ A stepped care programme to prevent depression and anxiety in older people living in elderly homes was not considered cost-effective in comparison with usual care.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jan 2014
The diagnosis, prevalence and outcome of delirium in a cohort of older people with mental health problems on general hospital wards.
This paper aimed to measure the prevalence and outcomes of delirium for patients over 70 admitted to a general hospital for acute medical care and to assess the validity of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98) in this setting. ⋯ Delirium is common. Some, but not all, features are reversible. DRS-R-98 has reasonable validity in populations where co-morbid dementia is prevalent.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jan 2014
Relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behavior of people with dementia.
This study explored the relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behaviors of people with dementia (PWD). ⋯ Both positive and negative emotional expressions, along with cognitive status, should be considered when developing interventions to improve wandering behaviors of PWD.