International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jul 2007
Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in a large sample of Dutch nursing home patients with dementia.
To estimate the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia patients in Dutch nursing homes. ⋯ Prevalence rates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Dutch nursing home patients with dementia residing in SCUs are high, especially agitation and apathy. Insight into the prevalence rates of individual symptoms in patients with dementia has important practical consequences for the accurate planning of staff allotment and stresses the need for patient oriented care.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2007
Review Comparative StudyEvaluating the outcome of interventions on quality of life in dementia: selection of the appropriate scale.
A literature study was conducted to contribute to an adequate use of quality of life (QoL) instruments for the evaluation of interventions in dementia care by providing an overview of properties of QoL measures that acknowledge domains important to dementia patients. ⋯ QoL assessment provides a format for patients and (in)formal caregivers to express whether an intervention has made an important difference to the patient's life. Improvement of QoL in dementia should have high priority in care, treatment and research. This study shows that severity of dementia, care type, setting, and the specific QoL domains an intervention focuses on, determine which QoL instrument is most appropriate in a specific situation.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2007
Yield of a new method to detect cognitive impairment in general practice.
To examine whether a new screening method that identified patients with cognitive impairment who needed further examination on the presence of dementia yielded patients who were not detected by their general practitioner (GP), and to identify factors associated with GPs' awareness of patients identified by the screening. ⋯ A two-stage screening method and increased alertness for cognitive impairment and dementia among patients with depressive symptoms may improve detection rate of dementia in general practice.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Apr 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) for reducing the incidence of postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement.
This was a pilot, phase 2a study to assess methodological feasibility and the safety and efficacy of donepezil in preventing postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement surgery in older people without pre-existing dementia. The hypothesis was that donepezil would reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium. ⋯ The experimental paradigm was feasible and acceptable. Donepezil did not significantly reduce the incidence of delirium or length of hospital stay, however for both outcomes there was a consistent trend suggesting possible benefit. The sample size required for a definitive trial (99% power, alpha 0.05) would be 95 subjects per arm.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Apr 2007
Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRisperidone and rivastigmine and agitated behaviour in severe Alzheimer's disease: a randomised double blind placebo controlled study.