The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Mar 2012
Negative caregiving effects among caregivers of veterans with dementia.
: This investigation was guided by the stress process model and had two objectives: first, to describe the extent of negative caregiving effects for family caregivers of veterans with dementia, and second, to identify salient predictors of negative caregiving effects. ⋯ : Family caregivers, the foundation of long-term care for veterans with dementia who live at home, experience a variety of negative caregiving effects. Negative effects are greater when veterans exhibit behavior problems, require extensive assistance with personal care, and have a greater number of coexisting chronic conditions. Negative caregiving effects are an important target for interventions that support family caregivers and promote continued care at home.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyComputerized neurocognitive test performance in schizophrenia: a lifespan analysis.
Computerized neurocognitive batteries based on advanced behavioral neuroscience methods are increasingly used in large-scale clinical and genomic studies. Favorable construct validity in younger schizophrenia patients has been reported, but not in older patients. New variables afforded by computerized assessments were used to clarify age-associated cognitive impairment across the lifespan. ⋯ Computerized assessments are feasible in large cohorts of schizophrenia patients. There is stable and generalized neurocognitive dysfunction across the lifespan in schizophrenia, albeit with fewer differences in some domains between older patients and HC after age 60. Speed-accuracy tradeoff strategies suggest deceleration of some frontal networks and improvements in speed of emotional processing.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Dec 2011
Comparative StudyThe overlap of delirium with neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with dementia.
To study the frequency of overlapping of delirium with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) among patients with dementia, and to investigate the prognostic value of delirium, multiple NPS without delirium, or neither during a 2-year follow-up. ⋯ Patient groups with symptoms of delirium and multiple NPS are highly overlapping. The presence of delirium indicates poor prognosis.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Nov 2011
Comparative StudySubtypes of mild cognitive impairment among the elderly with major depressive disorder in remission.
Cognitive impairment in remitted late-life depression varies and might be associated with greater risk of dementia in some individuals. This study aimed to classify the subtypes of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in late-life major depressive disorder in remission and to examine their clinical correlates and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. ⋯ The central cognitive impairments among the elderly with major depressive disorder in remission were memory and information-processing speed, and over half of the subjects met the MCI diagnostic criteria. Different risk factors existed for the subtypes of aMCI and naMCI. Later-age onset of first episode and ventricular atrophy were associated with aMCI, whereas vascular risk factor were associated with naMCI. We suggest there were different pathogeneses between aMCI and naMCI in late-life major depressive disorder.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Oct 2011
Predictors of family caregiver ratings of patient quality of life in Alzheimer disease: cross-sectional results from the Canadian Alzheimer's Disease Quality of Life Study.
To assess whether the core symptoms of Alzheimer disease (AD) and caregiver factors consistently predict family caregiver ratings of patient quality of life (QOL) as assessed by a variety of QOL measures in a large national sample. ⋯ Caregiver ratings of patient function and depression were consistent independent predictors of caregiver-rated QOL, using a spectrum of QOL measures, while measures of patient cognition and caregiver burden and depression were not. These findings support the continued use of caregiver ratings as an important source of information about patient QOL and endorse the inclusion in AD clinical trials of caregiver-rated measures of patient function, depression, and QOL.