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Winter is coming: age and early psychological concomitants of the Covid-19 pandemic in England
- Authors:
- CARSON Jerome, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 19(3), 2020, pp.221-230.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate early psychological concomitants of the Covid-19 pandemic in England on a sample of younger and older people. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire (n = 1608) was conducted on the Prolific website. Participants completed the PERMA Scale (Flourishing), the four Office of National Statistics (ONS4) Well-being Questions, the Clinical Outcomes Measure in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) and the short University of California Los Angeles Brief Loneliness Scale. Findings: Data were gathered on March 18, 2020, near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study looks at the effects of the developing pandemic on younger participants (18 to 25 years, n = 391) and older participants (60 to 80 years, n = 104). Flourishing levels for older participants were significantly higher (M = 107.96) than for younger participants (M = 97.80). Younger participants scored significantly higher on the ONS4 for anxiety and lower than the older participants for happiness, life satisfaction and having a worthwhile life. Levels of psychological distress (CORE-10) were also significantly lower for older participants (M = 9.06) than for younger participants (M = 14.61). Finally, younger participants scored significantly higher on the Brief UCLA Loneliness Scale (M = 6.05) than older participants (M = 4.64). Research limitations/implications: From these findings, the Covid-19 pandemic was having a significantly greater effect on younger people in England, less than one week before the UK went into “lockdown”. Scores for both the Younger and Older groups on all the study measures were worse than normative comparisons. The study had no specific measure of Covid-19 anxiety, but nor was one available at the time of the survey. Practical implications: This study suggests that younger people (18 to 25) may be a more vulnerable group during the Covid-19 pandemic than many may have realized. Social implications: As a recent British Psychological Society report concluded, there is a lot of untapped wisdom amongst older groups in society. Originality/value: This is one of the earliest studies to look at psychological distress before England went into “lockdown.” (Edited publisher abstract)
A pilot randomized trial of two cognitive rehabilitation interventions for mild cognitive impairment: caregiver outcomes
- Authors:
- VUC Andrea V., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(12), 2017, pp.e180-e187.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aims to provide effect size estimates of the impact of two cognitive rehabilitation interventions provided to patients with mild cognitive impairment: computerised brain fitness exercise and memory support system on support partners' outcomes of depression, anxiety, quality of life, and partner burden. Methods: A randomised controlled pilot trial was performed. Results: At 6 months, the partners from both treatment groups showed stable to improved depression scores, while partners in an untreated control group showed worsening depression over 6 months. There were no statistically significant differences on anxiety, quality of life, or burden outcomes in this small pilot trial; however, effect sizes were moderate, suggesting that the sample sizes in this pilot study were not adequate to detect statistical significance. Conclusion: Either form of cognitive rehabilitation may help partners' mood, compared with providing no treatment. However, effect size estimates related to other partner outcomes (i.e., burden, quality of life, and anxiety) suggest that follow-up efficacy trials will need sample sizes of at least 30–100 people per group to accurately determine significance. (Publisher abstract)
Is exercise helpful for women aged 50 and over with mental health problems and what are the barriers to exercise?
- Authors:
- TINKER Anthea, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 18(2), 2017, pp.93-103.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of exercise on the mental health problems of older women. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on information from academic literature, government publications and publications from other relevant bodies. It is a scoping study and is not a systematic review because of the constraints of the resources. Findings: There is growing evidence about the value of exercise for the mental health of older women but few evaluated examples of how this can be achieved. Research limitations/implications: There is a gap in the literature about this topic with few evaluated examples of how more older women can be encouraged to take more exercise. Practical implications: Policy makers, practitioners and older people themselves would gain from a greater emphasis on exercise as a means of improving quality of life and for reducing healthcare budgets through fewer referrals to services. Social implications: Greater emphasis on exercise for older women would increase their quality of life through a reduction in mental health problems. Originality/value: There is limited research which links mental health, exercise and older women, especially regarding the barriers to exercise that older women with diagnosed mental health problems may face. (Publisher abstract)
Yoga, quality of life, anxiety, and trauma in low-income adults with mental illness: a mixed-methods study
- Authors:
- BROWN Jodi L. Constantine, EUBANKS Caitlin, KEATING Amber
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 15(3), 2017, pp.308-330.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The authors used a mixed-methods convergent parallel design to explore the effect of yoga on quality of life, trauma, and anxiety in low-income adults with mental illness. Participants included a convenience sample (N = 18) of parents at a community mental health agency who participated in a six-week yoga intervention. Participants completed standardised measures of quality of life, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) pre- and post-intervention. Focus groups were conducted to further explore barriers to and the effects of participation in the yoga intervention. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests indicated a statistically significant decrease in anxiety and PTSD after the yoga intervention, but no significant changes in quality of life or trait anxiety. Qualitative results reveal five themes related to participation in yoga classes, including barriers to participation and ways to improve the class. Qualitative results corroborate quantitative findings, suggesting improved relaxation and anger management for participants who strongly endorsed the benefits they experienced. (Edited publisher abstract)
A program of positive intervention in the elderly: memories, gratitude and forgiveness
- Authors:
- RAMIREZ Encarncion, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 18,(4) 2014, pp.463-470.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: The main goal of this study has been to increase the quality of life in people of over 60 years through a positive psychology intervention.Method: The employed a programme which consists of training based on autobiographical memory, forgiveness and gratitude. The sample consisted of 46 participants aged 60–93 years. State and trait anxiety, depression, general memory, specific memories, life satisfaction and subjective happiness were measured.Results: The results revealed that participants who followed the programme (experimental group) showed a significant decrease in state anxiety and depression as well as an increase in specific memories, life satisfaction and subjective happiness, compared with the placebo group.Conclusion: The programme offers promising results and provides new evidence for the effectiveness of positive interventions in the field of psychogerontology, helping increase subjective well-being and quality of life in older adults by focusing interventions on the enhancement of personal and social resources for being happy. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health of US Gulf War veterans 10 years after the war
- Authors:
- TOOMEY Rosemary, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 190(5), May 2007, pp.385-393.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Gulf War veterans reported multiple psychological symptoms immediately after the war; the temporal course of these symptoms remains unclear. The aim was to assess the prevalence of war-era onset mental disorders in US veterans deployed to the Gulf War and in non-deployed veterans 10 years after the war. Mental disorders were diagnosed using structured clinical interviews. Standard questionnaires assessed symptoms and quality of life. Gulf War-era onset mental disorders were more prevalent in deployed veterans (18.1%, n=1061) compared with non-deployed veterans (8.9%, n=1128). The prevalence of depression and anxiety declined 10 years later in both groups, but remained higher in the deployed group, who also reported more symptoms and a lower quality of life than the non-deployed group. Remission of depression may be related to the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and level of education. Remission of anxiety was related to treatment with medication. Gulf War deployment was associated with an increased prevalence of mental disorders, psychological symptoms and a lower quality of life beginning during the war and persisting at a lower rate 10 years later.
Impact of psychiatric disorders on health-related quality of life: general population survey
- Authors:
- SAARNI Samuli I., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 190(4), April 2007, pp.326-332.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with generic preference-based instruments enables comparisons of severity across different conditions and treatments. This is necessary for rational public health policy. The aim was to measure HRQoL decrement and loss of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) associated with pure and comorbid forms of depressive and anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence. A general population survey was conducted of Finns aged 30 years and over. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and HRQoL was measured with the 15D and EQ–5D questionnaires. Dysthymia, generalised anxiety disorder and social phobia were associated with the largest loss of HRQoL on the individual level before and after adjusting for somatic and psychiatric comorbidity. On the population level, depressive disorders accounted for 55%, anxiety disorders 30%, and alcohol dependence for 15% of QALY loss identified in this study. Chronic anxiety disorders and dysthymia are associated with poorer HRQoL than previously thought.
Quality of life in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder
- Authors:
- BOURLAND S.L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 4(4), November 2000, pp.315-323.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Improving the quality of life is an important goal in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The current study described subjective quality of life, or life satisfaction, in a sample of older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Patients with GAD were compared to other anxious and nonpsychiatric samples on measures of life satisfaction. Older adults with GAD reported lower quality of life than did nonpsychiatric samples; levels of life satisfaction were comparable between older adults with GAD and younger adults with social phobia. The findings suggest that quality of life is diminished in older adults with GAD, and that additional factors also affect quality of life for these patients.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, anxiety, and stress in caregivers of dementia patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Authors:
- HOPKINSON Michael D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 59(4), 2019, pp.e343-e362.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: There is limited evidence for the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in managing psychological morbidities in caregivers of dementia patients. To evaluate changes in dementia caregivers’ depression, anxiety, and stress following CBT. Also to assess quality of life, intervention adherence/satisfaction and therapy effectiveness using different formats, frequencies, and delivery methods. Research Design and Methods: Studies were identified through electronic bibliographic searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library) and from gray literature (Conference Proceedings Citation Index and clinicaltrials.gov). Data were pooled for meta-analysis. Results: Twenty-five studies were included. Depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.47 to −0.21; p < .001) and stress (SMD = −0.36; 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.20; p < .001) were significantly reduced after CBT, relative to comparator groups, while anxiety was not (SMD = 0.10; 95% CI: −0.18 to 0.39; p = .47). A subgroup analysis demonstrated that statistically significant reductions in depression and stress were limited to group, but not individual, formats. An additional subgroup analysis revealed that eight CBT sessions or fewer were equally effective as more than eight sessions at significantly reducing depression and stress, relative to comparator groups. Furthermore, analysis with independent samples t-tests demonstrated no statistically significant differences between mean changes in depression (MD = 0.79; 95% CI: −0.45 to 2.03; p = .21) and stress (MD = 0.21; 95% CI: −1.43 to 1.85; p = .80) when directly comparing CBT groups of ≤8 and >8 sessions. Discussion and Implications: Group CBT provides small but significant benefits to caregivers’ depression and stress. Therapy cost-effectiveness may be improved by limiting therapy to group formats and eight sessions. (Edited publisher abstract)
An adapted mindfulness intervention for people with dementia in care homes: feasibility pilot study
- Authors:
- CLARKE Churcher A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(12), 2017, pp.e123-e131.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Depression and anxiety are common in dementia. There is a need to develop effective psychosocial interventions. This study sought to develop a group-based adapted mindfulness programme for people with mild to moderate dementia in care homes and to determine its feasibility and potential benefits. Methods: A manual for a 10-session intervention was developed. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention plus treatment as usual (n = 20) or treatment as usual (n = 11). Measures of mood, anxiety, quality of life, cognitive function, stress and mindfulness were administered at baseline and 1 week post-intervention. Results: There was a significant improvement in quality of life in the intervention group compared to controls (p = 0.05). There were no significant changes in other outcomes. Conclusions: The intervention was feasible in terms of recruitment, retention, attrition and acceptability and was associated with significant positive changes in quality of life. A fully powered randomised controlled trial is required. (Publisher abstract)