The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Apr 2014
Dronabinol for the treatment of agitation and aggressive behavior in acutely hospitalized severely demented patients with noncognitive behavioral symptoms.
Behavioral disturbances occur frequently in demented individuals and greatly increase the burden of their care. The efficacy of pharmacotherapeutic treatment options is modest. This study was conducted to explore the efficacy and safety of dronabinol as an adjunctive treatment for agitation and aggressive behavior in severely demented patients. ⋯ This report represents the largest studied cohort of dementia patients treated with dronabinol to date and confirms earlier reports that dronabinol can serve as an adjunctive treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Further research, including prospective controlled trials, is needed to clarify dronabinol's role in treating noncognitive behavioral symptoms of demented individuals.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Apr 2014
Prevalence and gender differences in late-life depression: a population-based study.
The worldwide phenomenon of an aging population combined with the increasing prevalence of depression in late life are issues that need to be addressed. This study aims to estimate the frequency of depression and subthreshold depression occurring in a sample of cognitively well-functioning, community-dwelling, older Italian adults and to investigate sociodemographic and clinical correlates of depression, exploring gender differences. ⋯ Our data suggest a disparity between men and women regarding the impact of depression on everyday life. Specific gender differences need to be taken into account for the evaluation of the depression-related burden in late life.