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The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): the state scale in detecting mental disorders in geriatric patients
- Authors:
- KVAAL Kari, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(7), July 2005, pp.629-634.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In geriatric psychiatry assessment scales are often used in clinical praxis in the diagnostic work-up of mental disorders. This study aimed to assess whether the state part of the STAI is useful as a case-finding instrument of mental disorders. Data came from 70 non demented geriatric in-patients in stable clinical condition. Mean age was 83.3 years (range 64-96), and 74.3% were women. The 20-item STAI state instrument was used to measure current anxiety symptoms. Without knowledge of the score on STAI state a psychiatrist examined all patients and set diagnosis according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, but hierarchical rules were not used. Sensitivity, specificity, Likelihood ratio and accuracy were calculated for different cut-points of the mean sumscore on the STAI state. The mean STAI sumscore in this group was 56.3 compared with 39.2 in the 59 patients without any psychiatric diagnosis. The authors concluded that the STAI state scale is a useful instrument for detecting a variety of mental disorders in older people and recommend that further studies should be carried out in different populations.
The prediction of hallucinatory predisposition in non-clinical individuals: examining the contribution of emotion and reasoning
- Authors:
- ALLEN Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(1), March 2005, pp.127-132.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Emotion, especially anxiety, has been implicated in triggering hallucinations. Reasoning processes are also likely to influence the judgments that lead to hallucinatory experiences. We report an investigation of the prediction of hallucinatory predisposition by emotion and associated processes (anxiety, depression, stress, self-focused attention) and reasoning (need for closure, extreme responding). Data were analysed from a questionnaire survey in a student population (N = 327). Higher levels of anxiety, self-focus, and extreme responding were associated with hallucinatory predisposition. Interactions between these three variables did not strengthen the predictive effect of each. Depression, stress, and need for closure were not found to be predictors of hallucinatory experience in the regression analysis. Emotional and reasoning processes may both need to be considered in the understanding of hallucinatory experience.
Willingness to forgive: relationships with mood, anxiety and severity of symptoms
- Authors:
- RYAN Rita B., KUMAR V. K.
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 8(1), March 2005, pp.13-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The Willingness to Forgive Scale (WFS) was correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Participants were 45 male and 55 female outpatients being treated for affective and anxiety disorders. No gender differences (a = 0.05) were found on the aforementioned instruments. In the females, the WFS was not correlated with any of the three scales. In the males, the WFS was significantly correlated ( r = -0.38, p = 0.009) with the BAI scores, marginally correlated ( r = -0.29, p = 0.052) with the GSI, but not correlated with the BDI-II scores. That anxiety and symptom severity were related to willingness to forgive in males, but not in females, is a finding difficult to explain but worth exploring in future research.
The origins and course of common mental disorders
- Authors:
- GOLDBERG David, GOODYER Ian
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 230p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This book describes the nature, characteristics and causes of common emotional and behavioural disorders across the lifespan, providing an account or recent advances in our knowledge of the origins and history of anxious, depressive and behavioural disorders. Combining a lifespan approach with developments in neurobiology, this book describes the epidemiology of emotional and behavioural disorders in childhood, adolescence and adult life. Goldberg and Goodyer demonstrate how both genes and environments exert different but key effects on the development of these disorders and suggest a developmental model as the most appropriate for determining vulnerabilities for psychopathology.
Concepts of mental health and mental illness in older Hispanics
- Authors:
- BERKMAN Cathy S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Services, 3(1/2), 2005, pp.59-85.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The effect of cultural context in symptom expression and interpretation among older Hispanics, and how they experience psychological distress are not well-understood. The authors use the illness representation model to learn about older Puerto Ricans' and Dominicans' conceptions and causes of positive mental health, the causes of emotional problems, the conceptions and causes of depression and anxiety, the distinction between depression and anxiety, and the relationship between age and depression. They conclude that greater understanding of the meaning of symptoms and syndromes of depression and anxiety might help to define more culturally-sensitive mental health treatments and service delivery systems. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Caregiving burden and psychiatric morbidity in spouses of persons with mild cognitive impairment
- Authors:
- GARAND Lina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(6), June 2005, pp.512-522.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In this American study interview assessments were completed on a cohort of 27 spouses of persons with a recent diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Patient medical records were reviewed to collect information regarding the MCI patient's medical history. The results found respondents endorsed elevated levels of both task-related responsibilities and subjective caregiver burden. Depression and anxiety symptom levels also showed some elevations. Measures of caregiver burden were significantly associated with depression and anxiety levels. In particular, even after controlling for demographic risk factors for distress, nursing task burden was correlated with elevated depressive symptoms, and greater lifestyle constraints were correlated with higher anxiety levels. The findings suggest that MCI caregivers have already begun to experience distress in association with elevated caregiving burden. These individuals may be ideal targets for selective preventive interventions to maximize their psychological well-being as caregiving burdens related to their spouses' cognitive impairment increase.
Coping style and psychological health among adolescent prisoners: a study of young and juvenile offenders
- Authors:
- IRELAND Jane L., BOUSTEAD Rebecca, IRELAND Carol A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adolescence, 28(3), June 2005, pp.411-423.
- Publisher:
- Academic Press
Explores the role of coping styles as a predictor of poor psychological health among adolescent offenders. The study highlights differences between young and juvenile offenders regarding coping styles and how this relates to psychological distress. It underlines the complexities of trying to understand the coping-health relationship in a prison setting and asks if such settings are increasing the potential for adolescents to over-use coping styles that may not be the most effective.
Common mental health problems
- Authors:
- MICHAUD Pierre-Andre, FOMBONNE Eric
- Journal article citation:
- British Medical Journal, 9.04.05, 2005, pp.835-838.
- Publisher:
- British Medical Association
The World Health Organization defines mental health as a 'state of well-being whereby individuals recognize their abilities, are able to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to their communities'. Applying such adult-based definitions to adolescents and identifying mental health problems in young people can be difficult, given the substantial changes in behaviour, thinking capacities and identity that occur during teenage years. The impact of changing youth subcultures on behaviour and priorities can also make it difficult to define mental health and mental health problems in adolescents. Although mental disorders reflect psychiatric disturbance, adolescents may be affected more broadly by mental health problems. These include various difficulties and burdens that interfere with adolescent development and adversely affect quality of life emotionally, socially, and vocationally. This article in the ABC of adolescence series discusses normal behaviour versus mental problems, depression, school phobia, learning disabilities, conduct disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorders. Symptoms, definitions, prevalence, criteria, useful screening instruments, potential risk factors, and treatment and behavioural strategies are listed. Part of the ABC of adolescence series.
Training general practitioners in cognitive behavioural therapy for panic disorder: randomized-controlled trial
- Authors:
- HEATLEY Charles, RICKETTS Tom, FORREST Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 14(1), February 2005, pp.73-82.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for panic disorder and other common mental health problems, however its availability in British General Practice is limited. Work is needed to identify ways to improve access to patients in primary care. This research is a pilot study to measure the effectiveness of a training programme in CBT for GPs for the treatment of panic disorder. Randomized-controlled trial. GPs were randomized to early or late entry into a training programme in CBT, consisting of formal teaching and clinical supervision. Outcome measures were: knowledge of panic disorder using a multiple-choice questionnaire; evidence of ability to assess and plan management of patients with panic disorder using responses to role-played consultations; assessment of change in practice by analysis of patient records. GPs significantly increased their ability to assess and plan management of panic disorder. There was no significant increase in knowledge. There was evidence for an increased use of CBT techniques with recruited patients. Training and clinical supervision in CBT led to a change in GP behaviour in the management of panic disorder. Further development could lead to greater availability of effective psychological management of other mental health problems.
Utilization of emergency center services by older adults with a psychiatric diagnosis
- Authors:
- CULLY J. A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 9(2), March 2005, pp.172-176.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Information regarding older adult emergency center (EC) patient characteristics remains limited, despite its increasing importance in health care delivery systems. This retrospective study encompasses all EC visits over an eight-year period (n?=?825,682) to a large urban county hospital. Only participants with a primary psychiatric diagnosis were examined, and included a total of 53,894 adults, 18–64 years old and 1,478 adults, =65 years old. Despite an increasing aging population, EC visits for older adults with psychiatric disorders did not increase over time. Within the older adult sample, cognitive, psychotic, and bipolar disorders were associated with higher rates of admission to the hospital, while substance use, depressive, and anxiety disorders were associated with lower numbers of inpatient admissions. African-Americans were over-represented in the EC and admitted to the hospital at higher rates, compared to other ethnic groups. Caucasian patients were the group most frequently diagnosed with a substance use disorder. In conclusion, differences in race, and diagnosis support the idea that such variables directly relate to utilization rates, presentation, and disposition within the EC.