The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Sep 2003
Comparative StudyCaring for mental illness in the United States: a focus on older adults.
The authors compared rates of common mental disorders and the use of primary care and specialty mental health services among younger and older adults. ⋯ Few older adults with mental disorders use mental health services, particularly specialty mental health services. The lack of perceived need for mental health care may contribute to low rates of mental health service use among older adults.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · May 2003
The Stressful Caregiving Adult Reactions to Experiences of Dying (SCARED) Scale: a measure for assessing caregiver exposure to distress in terminal care.
The authors evaluated the performance of the Stressful Caregiving Adult Reactions to Experiences of Dying (SCARED) scale, a new tool to assess caregiver exposure to patient distress, and the fear and helplessness evoked by these experiences. ⋯ The SCARED may be a clinically useful tool for identifying caregivers at risk for MDD and quality-of-life impairments, as well as potential aspects of caregiving to target for treatment.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · May 2003
Geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs in the United States: findings from the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs' longitudinal study of training and practice.
The authors document the development and growth of geriatric psychiatry fellowship training in the United States (U.S.) through 2002. ⋯ Recruiting high-quality USMGs into geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs remains a challenge. Furthermore, retaining first-year fellows for additional years of academic training has been difficult. Findings indicate that specific strategies need to be developed to stimulate undergraduate and graduate interest in careers in clinical and academic geriatric psychiatry.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Mar 2003
Agitation and depression in frail nursing home elderly patients with dementia: treatment characteristics and service use.
The authors describe characteristics, treatment, and acute service use associated with agitation and depression in dementia. ⋯ Dementia complicated by mixed agitation and depression accounts for over one-third of complicated dementia and is associated with multiple psychiatric and medical needs, intensive pharmacological treatment, and use of high-cost services. Research should target this complex, high-risk group to develop appropriate diagnostic criteria and effective treatment interventions.
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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jul 2002
Case ReportsValproate-induced hyperammonemia as a cause of altered mental status.
The authors describe valproate-induced hyperammonemia and mental status changes in an 88-year-old man, the first known reported case in an elderly patient. They discuss this underrecognized complication of valproate use and the implications for treating elderly patients, in whom valproate use is increasing.