Aging & mental health
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In many countries veterans from World War II are growing old. Research has shown that war experiences continue to impact those who have been involved in war for a long time. The present study targets old injured war veterans from World War II in Finland. The aim of this study was to produce knowledge of the impact of war experiences and injuries on the lifespan of Finnish war veterans. ⋯ The war overshadowed the whole lifespan of the veterans, but in old age they finally felt free. Since war experiences vary depending on historical context, a formal theory would require additional research.
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Aging & mental health · Sep 2014
Antipsychotic drug prescription rates among Dutch nursing homes: the influence of patient characteristics and the dementia special care unit.
To assess the differences in antipsychotic drug prescription rates in residents with dementia in dementia special care units (SCUs) of Dutch nursing homes, considering the differences in patient characteristics. ⋯ Antipsychotic drug use in nursing home residents with dementia is not only predicted by the type of dementia and patient behaviour, but it is independently associated with the dementia SCU at which the patient resides. This result indicates that antipsychotic drugs are not only prescribed for their clinical indications (agitation/aggression) but are associated with environmental factors that may reflect a specific nursing home prescribing culture.
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Aging & mental health · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect on anxiety and depression of a multifactorial risk factor intervention program after stroke and TIA: a randomized controlled trial.
Depression and anxiety related to stroke are caused by vascular lesions and psychological reactions. Treatment of vascular and modifiable behavioral risk factors reduces the risk of stroke and may also reduce the risk of emotional changes after stroke. We aimed to investigate whether a multifactorial risk factor intervention program in patients with first-ever stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) can influence post-stroke anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients one year post-stroke. ⋯ A structured, multidisciplinary, multifactorial risk factor program including vascular risk factor management may be associated with reduced HADS scores and a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms one year after stroke.
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Aging & mental health · Jul 2014
Physical frailty: vulnerability of patients suffering from late-life depression.
Frailty, a state of increased risk of negative health outcomes, is increasingly recognized as a relevant concept for identifying older persons in need of preventative geriatric interventions. Even though broader concepts of frailty include psychological characteristics, frailty is largely neglected in mental health care. The aim of the present study is to examine the prevalence of physical frailty in depressed older patients and its potential overlap with depression criteria. ⋯ A quarter of depressed older patients is physically frail, especially the most depressed group. This cannot be explained by overlap in criteria and should be examined in future studies, primarily on its presumed clinical relevance.
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Aging & mental health · May 2014
Quality palliative care for cancer and dementia in five European countries: some common challenges.
There is a growing consensus worldwide that palliative care needs to be both more inclusive of conditions other than cancer and to improve. This paper explores some common challenges currently faced by professionals providing palliative care for patients with either cancer or dementia across five countries. ⋯ These are not problems distinct to palliative care, but they may have different origins and explanations compared to other areas of health care. This paper explored deeper themes hidden behind a discourse about barriers and facilitators to improving care.