Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Spousal relationships in which one partner has early cognitive problems
- Author:
- PRAKKE Helena M.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(2), March 2012, pp.199-215.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This literature review was undertaken to provide an overview of research on the lived experiences of elderly spousal dyads, in which one partner has early cognitive problems. Nineteen core studies were identified. It appears that couples first experience forgetfulness as something normal for old age. However, if symptoms become too great, the dyad will go and search for meaning. Through medical assessment the affected spouse will be diagnosed as either non-demented or demented. Both situations are experienced as hard and worrisome. Even if diagnosed with non-dementia, the dyad remains confused about what is going on and how to anticipate the future. In spite of the enormous impact of early cognitive problems on the relationship, both partners still seem able to contribute to the quality of it and have few reciprocity issues. How couples differ and what this means for the experience of early cognitive problems remains largely unexplored. No prospective research was found about spousal couples living with cognitive problems before assessment and diagnosis. Studies that looked at this period generally did so retrospectively and paid little attention to the individuality of the relationship.
Peer support in mental health and learning disability
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 16p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report provides a short descriptive overview of peer support in mental health (including dementia) and learning disabilities, based on some of the recent literature, and highlights key messages from work being undertaken across the UK by the Mental Health Foundation. This work looks at how peer support can help people to recover, or get more control over their condition, and to live fulfilling lives in their communities. The report quotes the views of people who have both given and received peer support, and concludes with recommendations for the expansion of both informal and formal peer support. The key messages from the Foundation’s work confirm what the literature suggests - the benefits of peer support are widespread, for the individual receiving the support, the person giving it, and for services. They include better mental health, an increased sense of wellbeing, increased confidence and learning skills, greater social connectedness, improved recovery and coping skills and fewer hospital admissions.
Survival of patients with incident dementia who had a pre-existing psychiatric disorder: a population-based 7-year follow-up study
- Author:
- MENG Xiangfei
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(7), July 2012, pp.683-691.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Dementia is known to reduce life expectancy but there is limited information about the survival of patients with a psychiatric disorder who later develop dementia. The authors aim to provide survival data on this group of patients and to identify mortality risk factors. All residents of Saskatchewan diagnosed with psychiatric problems and/or dispensed a psychiatric drug in 2000 but without dementia at baseline were followed to the end of 2006; the development of incident dementia was noted. Median survival time (in months) and selected predictors of mortality were measured. By December 2006, 5,583 subjects with psychiatric disorders in 2000 had been diagnosed with dementia, and 60.65% of them had died. Dementia-incidence density in this population for 2000 was 0.01 per 1000 person years at risk among those aged 18–64 years and rapidly increased to 3.13 per 1000 person years at risk among those aged 75 to 84 years. The median survival time from dementia onset to death was 32.66 months. Being male, later age of onset of dementia, having a lower income, and a high chronic disease score predicted shorter survival. The authors note that the median survival time was shorter than that reported for patients with dementia only.
Going outside is essential for health and well-being
- Author:
- POLLOCK Annie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 20(3), May 2012, pp.34-37.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
There is strong evidence that people with dementia in care homes and hospital wards do not go outside and that, if there is outdoor space, it is not usually dementia friendly. This article reviews the evidence which shows that being outside is essential for mental and physical health and well-being. Vitamin D deficiency is due mainly to a lack of exposure to sunshine, and has been shown to be associated with falls and with a low mood and cognitive impairment. Physical exercise is also important for health and can reduce the risk of falls. Going outside and keeping active have been shown to: improve general health; reduce risk of depression; reduce cognitive decline; provide older people with a sense of freedom; improve sleeping patterns; improve appetite; reduce incontinence; and reduce aggressive behaviour. The article argues that the benefits of being outside, of being exposed to light, and taking part in exercise can lead to a reduction in the use of drugs. Savings in the cost of care can be used in the creation of therapeutic outdoor spaces. A second article will cover the key design features that can enable the use of outside space.
Instruments for comprehensive needs assessment in individuals with cognitive complaints, mild cognitive impairment or dementia: a systematic review
- Authors:
- SCHMID Roger, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(4), April 2012, pp.329-341.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The authors begin their paper by discussing the importance of appropriate and appropriately applied needs assessment in cognitive impairment from both the patient’s and practitioner’s perspectives. It has become more common to complement the objective assessment of symptoms with an assessment of individual needs patterns as created by the individual pattern of symptoms. However, relatively little is known about needs patterns in individuals with subjective cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Based on an analysis of the development of needs in the course of cognitive decline, the authors provide an overview of the existing needs assessment instruments with respect to their feasibility, validity and reliability. A literature search included publications to September 2009 in PsycINFO and PubMed. Seventeen needs assessment instruments for older individuals with mental disorders, cognitive impairment or dementia were identified. A wide range of needs indicators within different subgroups were discovered. Validity and reliability ranged between moderate and good. The authors conclude that even though a wide range of needs assessment instruments is available, most assess individual needs on a general rather than on a more concrete level that may serve better to inform interventions for this growing population. They suggest basing the development of instruments on an adequate theoretical framework and standardise procedural guidelines.
Personalised caregiver support: effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in subgroups of caregivers of people with dementia
- Authors:
- MIERLO Lisa D. Van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(1), January 2012, pp.1-14.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
To be able to provide carers of people with dementia with the appropriate care and tailored support, more detailed knowledge is needed on the effectiveness of interventions in the different subgroups of carers. The aim of this review was to gain insight into the relationship between caregiver subgroups and intervention outcomes. Specifically, this paper reviews the personal characteristics of caregivers of people with dementia for whom psychosocial interventions were found to be effective. A literature search was conducted for reviews on psychosocial interventions for caregivers studies published between January 1990 and February 2008. Based on these reviews, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria of having positive outcomes described in subgroups. The findings are presented in a table which provides an overview of the characteristics of carers of people with dementia that are related to positive intervention outcomes. Most positive effects were found in caregivers of people with a diagnosis of ‘dementia not otherwise specified’ and in the subgroup of female caregivers. Examples of outcomes were decreased depression and improved self-efficacy.
Why don't older adults with subjective memory complaints seek help?
- Authors:
- HURT Catherine S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(4), April 2012, pp.394-400.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are common among older adults, often causing significant distress. Although they show little relation to current cognitive abilities there appears to be a relationship to future cognitive decline. Low rates of help-seeking for memory complaints are well documented but the reasons for this remain unclear. The common-sense model of illness perception (CSM) proposes that the beliefs people hold about their health underlie help-seeking behaviour. This study investigated factors affecting the decision to seek help in people with SMCs within the framework of the CSM. Cognition, illness perceptions, coping styles, depression and anxiety were assessed in 98 adults with SMCs, aged 50 years and over, including 60 attending a memory clinic in Manchester and 38 non-help-seekers. Objective cognitive performance did not differ in relation to help seeking. Logistic regression revealed that illness perceptions including social comparison and causal attributions predict help-seeking behaviour. More general coping style did not predict help-seeking. Help seekers were more likely to have had a close relative with dementia. The results suggest that beliefs about memory, rather than objective cognitive impairment, are associated with the decision to seek help. Education regarding memory problems and challenging causal attributions may help to encourage help-seeking in people with SMCs and improve care in early stage dementia.