Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Interests among older people in relation to gender, function and health-related quality of life
- Authors:
- KÄLLDALEN Anette, MARCUSSON Jan, WRESSLE Ewa
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), 2013, pp.87-93.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The WHO has stated that older people should have opportunities to be active participants in an age-integrated society because of the positive impact this can have on active ageing. However it is important that the activity should be meaningful and that the individual is doing what they choose, for example pursing interests. This study explores the interests pursued by 85-year-old people living in ordinary housing in Sweden in relation to gender, cognition, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A sample of 240 participants completed a postal questionnaire, including the EuroQoL HRQoL measurement. Additional instruments used during a subsequent home visit were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Mini Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale. Women experienced poorer health than men, lived alone to a greater extent and used more mobility devices. Compared with men, women had a larger number of interests related to household management, but there were no gender differences in the leisure area. A lower number of interests in active recreation was associated with lower cognitive function, poorer HRQoL and a higher risk of depressive symptoms. The authors highlight the importance for older people of being active in meaningful occupations, Their ability to pursue interests should be taken into account by occupational therapists.
Symptoms of mental health and psychotropic drug use among old people in geriatric care, changes between 1982 and 2000
- Authors:
- LOVHEIM Hugo, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(3), March 2008, pp.289-294.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Some major changes have occurred in the care of older people in institutions providing geriatric care from a few decades ago to today. How these changes regarding organization, diagnosis and pharmacological treatment, have affected the mental health of the population in general remains unclear. The prevalence of symptoms of mental health in two comparable cross-sectional surveys from 1982 and 2000 were studied. The study population consisted of all the people aged 65 years or older living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, in northern Sweden. Multivariate regression was used to correct for the effect of change in demographic structure. Six out of 14 symptoms showed a significant decrease, correcting for demographical changes. These were, expressed as descriptions of behaviours, Sad, Crying, Fearful, Disturbed and restless, Lacking initiative and Does not cooperate. Two symptoms showed a significant increase, Overactive/manic and Hallucinates visually. The use of antidepressants had increased from 6.3% 1982 to 39.9% 2000. The use of minor tranquillizers had increased from 13.2% to 39.2% and the prevalence of antipsychotic use had decreased from 25.1% to 20.5%. This article clearly shows that the prevalence of several important symptoms and behaviours in a geriatric care population have decreased over the course of eighteen years, correcting for demographical changes. This might at least partly be accounted for by today's more widespread use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
Low-linking social capital as a predictor of mental disorders: a cohort study of 4.5 million Swedes
- Authors:
- LOFOS Jonas, SUNDQUIST Kristina
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 64(1), January 2007, pp.21-34.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Few previous studies have analyzed the association between different dimensions of social capital and mental disorders. This study examines whether there is an association between a relatively new theoretical concept describing the amount of trust between individuals and societal institutions, i.e. linking social capital, and hospitalization due to depression or psychosis. The entire Swedish population aged 25–64, a total of 4.5 million men and women, was followed from January 1, 1997, until the first hospital admission due to depression or psychosis during the study period, or the end of the study on December 31, 1999. Small area neighbourhood units were used to define neighbourhoods. The definition of linking social capital was based on mean voting participation in each neighbourhood unit, categorized in tertiles. Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and neighbourhood-level variance in four different models. The results showed strong associations between linking social capital and hospitalization due to depression or psychosis. These associations decreased considerably in both men and women, but still remained significant, after adjustment for age, housing tenure, education, employment status, marital status, and country of birth. However, the results for depression (both men and women) no longer remained significant after adjustment for neighbourhood deprivation. In contrast, the results for psychosis decreased considerably but remained significant after adjustment for neighbourhood deprivation. The association between low levels of voting participation and hospitalization due to depression or psychosis might reflect neighbourhood differences in linking social capital, which could affect vulnerable individuals negatively. Decision-makers should take into account the evidence of a neighbourhood effect on mental health in decisions regarding the sites of psychiatric clinics and other kinds of community support for psychiatric patients.
Service provision for elderly depressed persons and political and professional awareness for this subject: a comparison of six European countries
- Author:
- BRAMSFELD Anke
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(5), May 2003, pp.392-401.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Under-treatment of depression in late-life is a subject of rising public health concern throughout Europe. This study investigates and compares the availability of services for depressed elderly persons in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Additionally, it explores factors that might contribute to an adequate services supply for depressed elderly people. Review of the literature and guide supported expert interviews. Analysis of the practice of care provision for depressed elderly persons and of indicators for political and professional awareness, such as university chairs, certification processes and political programmes in gerontopsychiatry. Only Switzerland and the UK offer countrywide community-oriented services for depressed elderly persons. Clinical experience in treating depression in late-life is not regularly acquired in the vocational training of the concerned professionals. Indicators suggest that the medical society and health politics in Switzerland and the UK regard psychiatric disease in the elderly more importantly than it is the case in the other investigated countries. Service provision for depressed elderly persons seems to be more elaborated and better available in countries where gerontopsychiatry is institutionalised to a greater extend in the medical society and health politics.
Self-reported health, self-esteem and social support among young unemployed people: a population-based study
- Authors:
- AXELSSON Lars, EJLERTSSON Goran
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 11(2), April 2002, pp.111-119.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
A population-based study was performed in southern Sweden in the autumn of 1998. The aim was to study connections between self-reported health, self-esteem and social support among unemployed ( three months) young people. The sample consisted of 264 unemployed individuals aged 20–25 years, and 528 individuals of the same age, randomly selected from the population register and not registered as unemployed. The response rate was 72%. Defined by means of factor analysis, mental health consisted of the symptoms tearfulness, dysphoria, sleeping disturbance, restlessness, general fatigue and irritability. The unemployed had more mental health problems than young people who were working or studying. Restlessness and dysphoria were significantly over-represented in the unemployed among both sexes. However, good social support seemed to predict mental health. Support from parents was most important, particularly in males. Those with low self-esteem and poor parental support were especially vulnerable.
Suicide and mental health problems among Swedish youth the wake of the 1990s recession
- Authors:
- HAGQUIST Curt, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 9(3), July 2000, pp.211-219.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study brings together a variety of Swedish data sources with indicators of youth mental health and living conditions in order to illuminate trends during the last decades, elucidate possible determinants of mental ill health and develop hypotheses to explain the observed trend patterns. The analyses in the study reveal some surprising inconsistencies with respect to the mental health trends among young people during the 1990s. Most striking is the pattern of increasing youth unemployment coinciding with almost inverse trends in the rates of suicide. The secular trends in fatal suicides during this period do not show any increase but some actual decrease in sub-populations despite high sustained levels of unemployment. In contrast, survey data indicate that the general mental health of youth during this period appears to have deteriorated.
Mindfulness group therapy in primary care patients with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders: randomised controlled trial
- Authors:
- SUNDQUIS Jan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 206(2), 2015, pp.128-135.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Background: Individual-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is in short supply and expensive. Aims: The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to compare mindfulness-based group therapy with treatment as usual (primarily individual-based CBT) in primary care patients with depressive, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders. Method: This 8-week RCT (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01476371) was conducted during spring 2012 at 16 general practices in Southern Sweden. Eligible patients (aged 20-64 years) scored ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, ≥7 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale or 13-34 on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (self-rated version). The power calculations were based on non-inferiority. In total, 215 patients were randomised. Ordinal mixed models were used for the analysis. Results: For all scales and in both groups, the scores decreased significantly. There were no significant differences between the mindfulness and control groups. Conclusions: Mindfulness-based group therapy was non-inferior to treatment as usual for patients with depressive, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders. (Publisher abstract)