The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jan 2009
Willingness to participate in Alzheimer disease research and attitudes towards proxy-informed consent: results from the Health and Retirement Study.
To evaluate public opinion about participation in Alzheimer disease (AD) research and willingness to have a proxy-informed consent. ⋯ Most participants view AD research favorably and are agreeable toward participating in such research as well as toward having a research proxy. Participants are able to distinguish between studies of different levels of benefit and risk. Nevertheless, over 50% agreed to a study of minimal benefit and severe risk. Researchers and clinicians should be aware that those less agreeable toward AD research are less interested in having a research proxy.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Oct 2008
Prevalent depressive symptoms as a risk factor for conversion to mild cognitive impairment in an elderly Italian cohort.
To examine the association between depressive symptoms and prevalent and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly individuals; to verify whether it is affected by MCI subtype. ⋯ Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among elderly MCI subjects and, in cognitively normal elderly individuals, are associated with an increased risk of developing MCI. The association is stronger for the MCI subtype without memory impairment.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Oct 2008
Pharmacotherapy for older veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder in Veterans Administration.
Despite increasing numbers of older veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans administration (VA), limited research has focused on pharmacotherapy of PTSD among the elderly. ⋯ Diverse psychotropic medication classes are used to treat veterans diagnosed with PTSD in VA with declining use among older veterans. Medication utilization is greater in mental health clinics but declined more steeply with age, perhaps reflecting the greater sensitivity of specialists to the risks of elderly veterans. Older veterans diagnosed with PTSD appear to receive conservative, cautious treatment although observed patterns of care may reflect some degree of undertreatment.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Aug 2008
Multicenter StudyHealth care proxy grief symptoms before the death of nursing home residents with advanced dementia.
The loss experienced by family members of dementia patients before their actual death is known as "predeath grief." This study's objectives were to identify and describe factors associated predeath grief symptoms among health care proxies (HCPs) of nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia, and distinguish grief symptoms from those of depression. ⋯ Family members of NH residents with advanced dementia experience predeath grief symptoms, particularly separation distress. Predeath grief symptoms are associated with, but distinct from, those of depression. Several factors identified HCPs at higher risk for predeath grief and who may benefit from early interventions to reduce suffering.