International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(7), July 2010, pp.704-711.
Publisher:
Wiley
Co-morbid depressive symptoms are common in all forms of dementia. This study investigated the occurrence of depression in early onset dementia patients and which characteristics were associated with depressive symptoms. The participants were 221 patients from the memory clinic at Ullevaal university hospital in Oslo, Norway who were diagnosed with dementia before the age of 65. The mean age of the participants was 58.6 years and 50.6% were women. Depression in these patients was measured by the Montgomery Asberg depression scale (MADRS). History of depression, current psychiatric co-morbidity and usage of antidepressants were recorded. The results showed that 123 patients (55.6%) had a mild degree of depression, 21 patients (9.5%) had a moderate degree of depression and 1 patient had a severe degree of depression. A factor analysis produced 2 factors. The first factor described dysphoria: lack of concentration, pessimistic thoughts, inner tension, suicidal thoughts, lassitude and lack of sleep. The second factor denoted sadness: observed sadness, reported sadness, lack of appetite and inability to feel. In an adjusted linear regression analysis, history of depression was the only significant variable associated with the MADRS total score and both factors 1 and 2. The article concludes that a high occurrence of depressive symptoms in early onset dementia patients was found; 65.7% of all the patients had some degree of depression. A history of depression was the most important correlate of depression in these patients.
Co-morbid depressive symptoms are common in all forms of dementia. This study investigated the occurrence of depression in early onset dementia patients and which characteristics were associated with depressive symptoms. The participants were 221 patients from the memory clinic at Ullevaal university hospital in Oslo, Norway who were diagnosed with dementia before the age of 65. The mean age of the participants was 58.6 years and 50.6% were women. Depression in these patients was measured by the Montgomery Asberg depression scale (MADRS). History of depression, current psychiatric co-morbidity and usage of antidepressants were recorded. The results showed that 123 patients (55.6%) had a mild degree of depression, 21 patients (9.5%) had a moderate degree of depression and 1 patient had a severe degree of depression. A factor analysis produced 2 factors. The first factor described dysphoria: lack of concentration, pessimistic thoughts, inner tension, suicidal thoughts, lassitude and lack of sleep. The second factor denoted sadness: observed sadness, reported sadness, lack of appetite and inability to feel. In an adjusted linear regression analysis, history of depression was the only significant variable associated with the MADRS total score and both factors 1 and 2. The article concludes that a high occurrence of depressive symptoms in early onset dementia patients was found; 65.7% of all the patients had some degree of depression. A history of depression was the most important correlate of depression in these patients.
Subject terms:
adults, depression, young onset dementia, comorbidity;
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(8), August 2008, pp.877-879.
Publisher:
Wiley
The aim of this pilot study was to examine cognition, Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and depression after withdrawal of antipsychotic or antidepressant medication in patients with dementia and BPSD. A 24-week open antidepressant and antipsychotic withdrawal study with 23 patients in Norway. Although the findings are not statistically significant and the number
The aim of this pilot study was to examine cognition, Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and depression after withdrawal of antipsychotic or antidepressant medication in patients with dementia and BPSD. A 24-week open antidepressant and antipsychotic withdrawal study with 23 patients in Norway. Although the findings are not statistically significant and the number of patients is small, the results did show a trend towards decreased depressive and BPSD symptoms after the withdrawal of antidepressants.
Aging and Mental Health, 15(3), April 2011, pp.299-306.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This study aimed to investigate the quality of life and depression in carers living with early onset dementia patients. The participants were 49 carers, either married to or cohabiting with early onset dementia patients, 38 with Alzheimer's disease and 11 with other types of dementia. During interviews, the quality of life and depression of the carer was assessed using the Norwegian version of the Quality of Life-Alzheimer Disease scale (QoL-AD) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 items (GDS-15). The mean QoL score for the carers was 37.9. The mean GDS-15 score was 5.1, and 26 of the carers scored 5 or above, indicating significant depressive symptomatology. Linear regression analyses with QoL and GDS-15 score as dependent variables were performed. The QoL for carers of early onset dementia patients corresponded positively with the increased age of carers and with patients' insight into their condition. Increased depressive symptomatology in carers was associated with being married, having offspring and caring for a patient with dementia and a co-morbid cardiovascular disease. A reduction in depression was seen in carers when the patients received domiciliary nursing care.
This study aimed to investigate the quality of life and depression in carers living with early onset dementia patients. The participants were 49 carers, either married to or cohabiting with early onset dementia patients, 38 with Alzheimer's disease and 11 with other types of dementia. During interviews, the quality of life and depression of the carer was assessed using the Norwegian version of the Quality of Life-Alzheimer Disease scale (QoL-AD) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 items (GDS-15). The mean QoL score for the carers was 37.9. The mean GDS-15 score was 5.1, and 26 of the carers scored 5 or above, indicating significant depressive symptomatology. Linear regression analyses with QoL and GDS-15 score as dependent variables were performed. The QoL for carers of early onset dementia patients corresponded positively with the increased age of carers and with patients' insight into their condition. Increased depressive symptomatology in carers was associated with being married, having offspring and caring for a patient with dementia and a co-morbid cardiovascular disease. A reduction in depression was seen in carers when the patients received domiciliary nursing care.
Subject terms:
quality of life, carers, depression, young onset dementia, comorbidity;
Aging and Mental Health, 20(11), 2016, pp.131-1138.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
... to a standardised protocol. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) was used to measure anxiety during the first week after admission. Diagnoses were made at discharge.
Results: Using a cutoff on the GAI of 8/9, the prevalence of anxiety for the following diagnostic groups was depression 65.3%, psychosis 28%, dementia 38.8% and mania 33.3%. Of 24 patients with a primary diagnosis of anxiety, 66.7% scored above 8 on the GAI. Of 236 patients with a GAI score above 8, only 22 (9.3%) were reported to have a comorbid anxiety disorder by the treating psychiatrist. In a multiple regression analysis, we found that the severity of depression (beta 0.585, p < 0.001), being female (beta 0.096, p 0.028) and the use of antipsychotic drugs (beta 0.129, p 0.006) and anxiolytic drugs (beta 0.129, p 0.005) were associated with a higher GAI score.
Conclusion: Anxiety is common in geriatric psychiatric patients, regardless of the primary diagnosis. The findings suggest that anxiety is often a hidden comorbidity in various psychiatric disorders. A high score on the GAI was associated with the severity of depression, female gender and the use of antipsychotic and anxiolytic drugs.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objectives: The authors' aims were to explore prevalence of anxiety among patients admitted to departments of geriatric psychiatry for treatment of various diagnoses and to examine how often anxiety was registered as a previous or ongoing diagnosis.
Method: In all, 473 patients admitted to one of five departments of geriatric psychiatry were included in a quality register and examined according to a standardised protocol. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) was used to measure anxiety during the first week after admission. Diagnoses were made at discharge.
Results: Using a cutoff on the GAI of 8/9, the prevalence of anxiety for the following diagnostic groups was depression 65.3%, psychosis 28%, dementia 38.8% and mania 33.3%. Of 24 patients with a primary diagnosis of anxiety, 66.7% scored above 8 on the GAI. Of 236 patients with a GAI score above 8, only 22 (9.3%) were reported to have a comorbid anxiety disorder by the treating psychiatrist. In a multiple regression analysis, we found that the severity of depression (beta 0.585, p < 0.001), being female (beta 0.096, p 0.028) and the use of antipsychotic drugs (beta 0.129, p 0.006) and anxiolytic drugs (beta 0.129, p 0.005) were associated with a higher GAI score.
Conclusion: Anxiety is common in geriatric psychiatric patients, regardless of the primary diagnosis. The findings suggest that anxiety is often a hidden comorbidity in various psychiatric disorders. A high score on the GAI was associated with the severity of depression, female gender and the use of antipsychotic and anxiolytic drugs.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
anxiety, older people, psychiatry, mental health problems, comorbidity, depression;
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(9), September 2011, pp.944-951.
Publisher:
Wiley
It is not clear whether symptoms of depression in Alzheimer's disease patients differ from those seen in other elderly depressed patients. This study aimed to examine the usefulness of the specific criteria for depression in Alzheimer's disease which have been developed, the Provisional Diagnostic Criteria for Depression in Alzheimer's Disease (PDC-dAD), compared to other existing depression criteria. The study used 112 patients with Alzheimer's disease recruited from 2 hospitals of geriatric psychiatry in Norway. The patients were interviewed by a psychiatrist who diagnosed depression according to a range of scales, and were assessed by trained nurses who also interviewed their caregivers. The researchers found that the most prominent and significant symptoms of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease are the same symptoms that are considered the core symptoms of depression in older people who do not suffer from dementia. They report that using the PDC-dAD, more patients received a diagnosis of depression than when using other existing depression criteria, and discuss the results and their implications.
It is not clear whether symptoms of depression in Alzheimer's disease patients differ from those seen in other elderly depressed patients. This study aimed to examine the usefulness of the specific criteria for depression in Alzheimer's disease which have been developed, the Provisional Diagnostic Criteria for Depression in Alzheimer's Disease (PDC-dAD), compared to other existing depression criteria. The study used 112 patients with Alzheimer's disease recruited from 2 hospitals of geriatric psychiatry in Norway. The patients were interviewed by a psychiatrist who diagnosed depression according to a range of scales, and were assessed by trained nurses who also interviewed their caregivers. The researchers found that the most prominent and significant symptoms of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease are the same symptoms that are considered the core symptoms of depression in older people who do not suffer from dementia. They report that using the PDC-dAD, more patients received a diagnosis of depression than when using other existing depression criteria, and discuss the results and their implications.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(3), March 2007, pp.195-202.
Publisher:
Wiley
Compares the scores on the Relative Stress Scale (RSS) with those on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and to establish a cut-off score for RSS in order to distinguish carers with symptoms of psychiatric disorders from those without. One hundred and ninety-four carers of 194 patients suffering from dementia according to ICD-10 were included
Compares the scores on the Relative Stress Scale (RSS) with those on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and to establish a cut-off score for RSS in order to distinguish carers with symptoms of psychiatric disorders from those without. One hundred and ninety-four carers of 194 patients suffering from dementia according to ICD-10 were included in the study. Burden of care was assessed by the 15-items RSS, and psychiatric symptoms by means of the GHQ-30 and the 30-items GDS. A case score above 5 on GHQ and above 13 on GDS were used to define carers with probable psychiatric morbidity. Sensitivity (SS), specificity (SP), accuracy and likelihood ratio for a positive test (LR+) were calculated for different cut-points of the RSS. Fifty-six percent of the carers had a GHQ score above 5, and 22% had a GDS score above 13. A two-step cluster analysis using 192 of the 194 carers, identified three groups of carers; a low risk group for psychiatric morbidity (LRG), 82 carers with GHQ 5 and GDS 13; a medium risk group (MRG), 69 carers with GHQ > 5 and GDS 13; and a high-risk group (HRG), 40 carers with GHQ > 5 and GDS > 13. The optimal RSS cut-off to distinguish between the LRG and the others was > 23, whereas the optimal cut-off to separate the HRG from the others was >30. The RSS is a useful instrument to stratify carers according to their risk of psychiatric morbidity.
Subject terms:
older people, questionnaires, stress, carers, dementia, depression, health needs;