In this editorial, the author reviews the findings of seven studies on the topic of late life depression and compares these studies with the state of the field in terms of empirical research when he wrote his 1982 book.
(Original abstract)
In this editorial, the author reviews the findings of seven studies on the topic of late life depression and compares these studies with the state of the field in terms of empirical research when he wrote his 1982 book.
(Original abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, ageing, depression, mental health problems;
Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(2), 2014, pp.91-101.
Publisher:
Elsevier
Studies show that, in violent relationships, both partners suffer from higher levels of depression than in non-violent relationships. This article presents a preliminary, yet empirically grounded, foundation for explaining research findings on depression levels for males and females in three 'Dyadic Types' of intimate partner physical violence: Male-Only, Female-Only, and Both Violent.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Studies show that, in violent relationships, both partners suffer from higher levels of depression than in non-violent relationships. This article presents a preliminary, yet empirically grounded, foundation for explaining research findings on depression levels for males and females in three 'Dyadic Types' of intimate partner physical violence: Male-Only, Female-Only, and Both Violent. The theoretical framework involves identifying the relation of intimate partner physical violence to be of greater male than female concern with status enhancement and greater female than male concern with risk reduction, and how these play out in each of the Dyadic Types.
(Edited publisher abstract)
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(1), 2014, pp.1-21.
Publisher:
Wiley
In this review electronic databases were searched systematically for potentially relevant articles published from January 2000 to December 2012 to analyze the association of social relations and depression in older adults. Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Factors of social relations were categorized into 12 domains. Factors regarding the qualitative aspects of social relations seem to be more consistent among studies and therefore provide more explicit results. Thus, social support, quality of relations, and presence of confidants were identified as factors of social relations significantly associated with depression. The quantitative aspects of social relations seem to be more inconsistent. Cultural differences become most obvious in terms of the quantitative aspects of social relations. Despite the inconsistent results and the methodological limitations of the studies, this review identified a number of factors of social relations that are significantly associated with depression. The review indicates that it is needful to investigate social relations in all their complexity and not reduce them to one dimension. It is also important to conduct
(Edited publisher abstract)
In this review electronic databases were searched systematically for potentially relevant articles published from January 2000 to December 2012 to analyze the association of social relations and depression in older adults. Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Factors of social relations were categorized into 12 domains. Factors regarding the qualitative aspects of social relations seem to be more consistent among studies and therefore provide more explicit results. Thus, social support, quality of relations, and presence of confidants were identified as factors of social relations significantly associated with depression. The quantitative aspects of social relations seem to be more inconsistent. Cultural differences become most obvious in terms of the quantitative aspects of social relations. Despite the inconsistent results and the methodological limitations of the studies, this review identified a number of factors of social relations that are significantly associated with depression. The review indicates that it is needful to investigate social relations in all their complexity and not reduce them to one dimension. It is also important to conduct longitudinal studies and to consider cultural differences.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
depression, social networks, older people, relationships;
... aged 70.4 ± 5.5 years), each group equally including adults with and without acute depressive symptoms. Regression models were applied to explore the association between quality of life assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) and depression severity, education, social support, physical illness, as well as personality dimensions as defined by the Five-Factor dimensions.
Conclusion: Our data indicated that, in contrast to young cohorts, where acute depression is the main determinant of poor quality of life, physical illness and personality dimensions represent additional independent predictors of this variable in old age. This observation points to the need for concomitant consideration of physical and psychological determinants of quality of life in old age.
Objectives: Beyond its well-documented association with depressive symptoms across the lifespan, at an individual level, quality of life may be determined by multiple factors: psychosocial characteristics, current physical health and long-term personality traits.
Method: Quality of life was assessed in two distinct community-based age groups (89 young adults aged 36.2 ± 6.3 and 92 older adults aged 70.4 ± 5.5 years), each group equally including adults with and without acute depressive symptoms. Regression models were applied to explore the association between quality of life assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) and depression severity, education, social support, physical illness, as well as personality dimensions as defined by the Five-Factor Model.
Results: In young age, higher quality of life was uniquely associated with lower severity of depressive symptoms. In contrast, in old age, higher quality of life was related to both lower levels of depressive mood and of physical illness. In this age group, a positive association was also found between quality of life and higher levels of Openness to experience and Agreeableness personality dimensions.
Conclusion: Our data indicated that, in contrast to young cohorts, where acute depression is the main determinant of poor quality of life, physical illness and personality dimensions represent additional independent predictors of this variable in old age. This observation points to the need for concomitant consideration of physical and psychological determinants of quality of life in old age.
Subject terms:
older people, quality of life, depression, personality, wellbeing;
EJEM Deborah B., DENTATO Michael P., CLAY Olivio J.
Journal article citation:
Aging and Mental Health, 19(1), 2014, pp.55-62.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Previous research widely neglects caregiver emotional stress as a probable contributing factor of depression in older people. Using the life stress paradigm as the theoretical foundation, this study investigates caregiver emotional stress as a chronic life stressor of an elderly care recipient.
Methods: The relationships between caregiver emotional stress and care receiver depressive
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objectives: Previous research widely neglects caregiver emotional stress as a probable contributing factor of depression in older people. Using the life stress paradigm as the theoretical foundation, this study investigates caregiver emotional stress as a chronic life stressor of an elderly care recipient.
Methods: The relationships between caregiver emotional stress and care receiver depressive symptoms, as well as other social and psychological mediation factors, were investigated using the 2004 wave of the National Long-Term Care Study (NLTCS). The NLTCS is a nationally representative longitudinal study used to identify frail and disabled elderly Medicare recipients living in the United States. The analytic sample of this study included 1340 caregiver–care receiver dyads who were asked a series of questions concerning their mental health (i.e. emotional stress and depressive symptoms), as well as the availability of social and psychological resources.
Results: Overall, the results showed that high levels of emotional stress reported by the caregiver were associated with a higher likelihood of the disabled care receiver reporting depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: The findings of this investigation point to the importance of studying caregivers and care receivers as dyads as the stress associated with the caregiving role affects each member.
(Edited publisher abstract)
GIEBEL Clarissa M., SUTCLIFFE Caroline, CHALLIS David
Journal article citation:
Aging and Mental Health, 19(1), 2014, pp.63-71.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
... depression, ADLs and QoL were recorded. Using frequency, correlation and multiple regression analysis, data were analysed for the number of ADL impairments across mild, moderate and severe dementia and for the factors impacting on QoL.
Results: ADL performance deteriorates differently for individual activities, with some ADLs showing impairment in mild dementia, including dressing, whereas others only
(Edited publisher abstract)
Methods: Using a sample of 122 people living with dementia (PwD) and their carers, this study investigates which activities of daily living (ADL) are impaired at each stage of dementia and to what extent they are associated with variations in quality of life (QoL) across the different stages. Measures of cognition and QoL were completed by the PwD and proxy measures of psychopathology, depression, ADLs and QoL were recorded. Using frequency, correlation and multiple regression analysis, data were analysed for the number of ADL impairments across mild, moderate and severe dementia and for the factors impacting on QoL.
Results: ADL performance deteriorates differently for individual activities, with some ADLs showing impairment in mild dementia, including dressing, whereas others only deteriorate later on, including feeding. This decline may be seen in the degree to which carers perceive ADLs to explain the QoL of the PwD, with more ADLs associated with QoL in severe dementia. Results of the regression analysis showed that total ADL performance however was only impacting on QoL in moderate dementia.
Conclusion: Knowledge about performance deterioration in different ADLs has implications for designing interventions to address specific activities at different stages of the disease. Furthermore, findings suggest that different factors are important to consider when trying to improve or maintain QoL at different stages.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
dementia, quality of life, activities of daily living, carers, depression;
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(12), 2014, pp.1262-1270.
Publisher:
Wiley
Objective: Using a random sample of 2393 individuals aged 65 years or older, this study aims to identify subjective sleep characteristics specific to anxiety and depression among older adults.
Methods: Anxiety and depression were categorised using DSM-V criteria for phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, major depressive episode, and depressive episode with insufficient symptoms. Subjective sleep characteristics were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Logistic regression models predicting anxiety or depression were used to determine the independent sleep characteristics associated with each syndrome adjusting for age, sex, education level, cognitive functioning, anxiolytic/sedative/hypnotic use, antidepressants use, subjective health, chronic diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and anxiety or depression (as appropriate).
Results: Nearly all Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subscales were significantly associated with anxiety, but these subscales shared variance and only sleep duration in hours, sleep disturbance score, and daytime functioning score were independently related to anxiety. Within these significant subscales, the main specific sleep complaints associated with anxiety were daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances related to coughing/snoring, feeling cold, and bad dreams. The use of sleeping medication was the only specific sleep characteristic associated with depression.
Conclusions: The results suggest that in older adults, symptoms of short sleep duration, daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances are independently related to anxiety while the use of sleep medication is independently associated to depression.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Objective: Using a random sample of 2393 individuals aged 65 years or older, this study aims to identify subjective sleep characteristics specific to anxiety and depression among older adults.
Methods: Anxiety and depression were categorised using DSM-V criteria for phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, major depressive episode, and depressive episode with insufficient symptoms. Subjective sleep characteristics were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Logistic regression models predicting anxiety or depression were used to determine the independent sleep characteristics associated with each syndrome adjusting for age, sex, education level, cognitive functioning, anxiolytic/sedative/hypnotic use, antidepressants use, subjective health, chronic diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and anxiety or depression (as appropriate).
Results: Nearly all Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subscales were significantly associated with anxiety, but these subscales shared variance and only sleep duration in hours, sleep disturbance score, and daytime functioning score were independently related to anxiety. Within these significant subscales, the main specific sleep complaints associated with anxiety were daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances related to coughing/snoring, feeling cold, and bad dreams. The use of sleeping medication was the only specific sleep characteristic associated with depression.
Conclusions: The results suggest that in older adults, symptoms of short sleep duration, daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances are independently related to anxiety while the use of sleep medication is independently associated to depression.
(Edited publisher abstract)
British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42(4), 2014, pp.328-335.
Publisher:
Wiley
A substantial body of literature exists concerning the adaptation of cognitive behavioural therapy for people with learning disabilities. However, it is possible that cognitive approaches have been prioritised at the expense of behavioural techniques that are simpler and more effective. This case conceptualisation considers a behaviourally focused approach to helping a woman with a mild learning disability who was experiencing low mood and anxiety, delivered by a trainee clinical psychologist working within a multidisciplinary team.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A substantial body of literature exists concerning the adaptation of cognitive behavioural therapy for people with learning disabilities. However, it is possible that cognitive approaches have been prioritised at the expense of behavioural techniques that are simpler and more effective. This case conceptualisation considers a behaviourally focused approach to helping a woman with a mild learning disability who was experiencing low mood and anxiety, delivered by a trainee clinical psychologist working within a multidisciplinary team.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, case studies, behaviour therapy;
Aging and Mental Health, 18(8), 2014, pp.997-1005.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Various positive psychology interventions have been experimentally tested, but only few studies addressed the effects of such activities in participants aged 50 and above.
Method: We tested the impact of four self-administered positive psychology interventions in an online setting (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, three funny things, and using signature strengths in a new way) on happiness and depressive symptoms in comparison with a placebo control exercise (i.e., early memories). A total of 163 females aged 50–79 tried the assigned interventions or the placebo control exercise for one week and completed measures on happiness and depressive symptoms at five times (pre- and post-test, 1, 3, and 6 months).
Results: Three out of the four interventions (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, and using signature strengths in a new way) increased happiness, whereas two interventions (three funny things and using signature strengths in a new way) led to a reduction of depressive symptoms on at one post-measure.
Conclusion: Positive psychology interventions yield similar results for people aged 50 and above as for younger people. The dissemination of such interventions via the Internet offers a valuable opportunity for older age groups as well.
Objectives: Various positive psychology interventions have been experimentally tested, but only few studies addressed the effects of such activities in participants aged 50 and above.
Method: We tested the impact of four self-administered positive psychology interventions in an online setting (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, three funny things, and using signature strengths in a new way) on happiness and depressive symptoms in comparison with a placebo control exercise (i.e., early memories). A total of 163 females aged 50–79 tried the assigned interventions or the placebo control exercise for one week and completed measures on happiness and depressive symptoms at five times (pre- and post-test, 1, 3, and 6 months).
Results: Three out of the four interventions (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, and using signature strengths in a new way) increased happiness, whereas two interventions (three funny things and using signature strengths in a new way) led to a reduction of depressive symptoms on at one post-measure.
Conclusion: Positive psychology interventions yield similar results for people aged 50 and above as for younger people. The dissemination of such interventions via the Internet offers a valuable opportunity for older age groups as well.
Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(5), 2014, pp.492-501.
Publisher:
Elsevier
... The studies identified seven categories of consequences of workplace violence: (1) physical, (2) psychological, (3) emotional, (4) work functioning, (5) relationship with patients/quality of care, (6) social/general, and (7) financial. Psychological (e.g., posttraumatic stress, depression) and emotional (e.g., anger, fear) consequences and impact on work functioning (e.g., sick leave, job satisfaction) were
(Original abstract)
Workplace violence is an important health and safety issue. Healthcare workers are particularly at risk of experiencing workplace violence. This article reviews the literature regarding the consequences of exposure to workplace violence in the healthcare sector. Sixty-eight studies were included in the review and they were evaluated according to 12 criteria recommended for systematic reviews. The studies identified seven categories of consequences of workplace violence: (1) physical, (2) psychological, (3) emotional, (4) work functioning, (5) relationship with patients/quality of care, (6) social/general, and (7) financial. Psychological (e.g., posttraumatic stress, depression) and emotional (e.g., anger, fear) consequences and impact on work functioning (e.g., sick leave, job satisfaction) were the most frequent and important effects of workplace violence. The paper recommends further research, particularly longitudinal studies, in order to better grasp the direct and indirect effects of workplace violence.
(Original abstract)
Subject terms:
health care, violence, health professionals, stress, depression;