International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Aug 2005
Multicenter StudyThe need for a consensus in the use of assessment tools for Alzheimer's disease: the Feasibility Study (assessment tools for dementia in Alzheimer Centres across Europe), a European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium's (EADC) survey.
To ensure that all Alzheimer centres across Europe are capable of using a similar method of data collection. Information about the patient assessment tools used by each participating centre was obtained and normal clinical practice in each EADC centre was documented by collecting data from routine new patient consultation. ⋯ The most common type of cognitive decline was Alzheimer's disease followed by mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. CDR, GDS Reisberg, and ADL/IADL were used widely (40-50%). The NPI, geriatric depression scale and ADL (Katz, 1963) were only used in 20% of the centres. We verified large differences in the tools use in the EADC centres to evaluate patients with dementia across Europe. There is a need for a consensus in the use of assessment tools for dementia in Alzheimer's centres in Europe.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Aug 2005
Multicenter StudyAre nursing home patients with dementia diagnosis at increased risk for inadequate pain treatment?
Mentally impaired and demented nursing home patients are at increased risk of undertreatment for pain. We wanted to examine pain assessment and complaints and pain treatment of nursing home patients according to mental state, and with special regard to treatment of patients with dementia diagnosis and cognitively impaired patients who did not have a dementia diagnosis. ⋯ A label of dementia may bias the interpretation of pain cues of demented patients, while complaints from cognitively impaired patients may be taken for granted. This may contribute to lower use of PRN medication in demented patients compared to cognitively impaired patients.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jul 2005
ReviewDon't seize the day hospital! Recent research on the effectiveness of day hospitals for older people with mental health problems.
Day hospital (DH) care remains a core component of mental health services for older people. However, there has been an ongoing debate about the effectiveness and value for money of DHs in comparison to day centres (DC). ⋯ Recent research supports the effectiveness of day hospitals, but further studies are needed in order to provide a more robust evidence base.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jul 2005
The clinical utility of structural neuroimaging with MRI for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of dementia: a memory clinic study.
The individual contribution to the final comprehensive clinical diagnosis of neuropsychology (NP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively, was quantified in a specialized tertiary care setting to investigate the added clinical value of routine MRI. ⋯ MRI as well as neuropsychological testing improves early detection and differential diagnosis of dementia and additionally supplies clinically relevant findings. MRI carries added clinical value in the investigation of dementias.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jul 2005
The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): the state scale in detecting mental disorders in geriatric patients.
In geriatric psychiatry assessment scales are often used in clinical praxis in the diagnostic work-up of mental disorders. ⋯ The STAI state scale is a useful instrument for detecting a variety of mental disorders in older people. Further studies should be carried out in different populations.