Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Physical and mental health correlates of perceived financial exploitation in older adults: preliminary findings from the Finance, Cognition, and Health in Elders Study (FINCHES)
- Authors:
- WEISSBERGER Gali H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 24(5), 2020, pp.740-746.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Financial exploitation (FE) in old age is poorly understood, particularly among those without significant cognitive impairment. The Finance, Cognition, and Health in Elders Study (FINCHES) aims to identify factors associated with FE among cognitively-healthy older adults. Preliminary findings regarding physical and mental health correlates in the pilot phase of FINCHES are reported. Method: Sixteen older adults who self-reported FE were demographically-matched on age, education, sex, and race/ethnicity to eighteen older adults who did not report past FE. Results: Those who believed they were exploited endorsed significantly greater symptoms of depression (p = 0.014) and marginally greater symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.062). Participants trended towards lower perceived successful aging (p = 0.094). Perceived FE participants also endorsed greater medical conditions (p = 0.047), but follow-up individual item analyses suggest that this was driven by problems with sleep (p = 0.030). Conclusions: These preliminary findings from the pilot phase of FINCHES highlight negative mental health factors associated with perceived FE among cognitively-intact older adults. (Publisher abstract)
Worry content reported by older adults with and without generalized anxiety disorder
- Authors:
- DIEFENBACH G.J., STANLEY M.A., BECK J.G.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 5(3), August 2001, pp.269-274.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study investigated worry content in older adults with and without generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). This is an important topic of research, where findings may promote improved recognition and treatment of this disorder in late-life, as well as provide information about the nature of worry across the lifespan. Worry content was compared for 44 older adults diagnosed with GAD and 44 normal control (NC) volunteers matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. Results indicated that older adults with GAD reported a wider variety of worry topics than did NC participants. However, there were no differences in worry content patterns between older adults with and without GAD. These results suggest that pathological worry in later life is not uniquely defined by content, and implications of these findings for assessment and treatment of GAD in older adults are discussed. Worry content reported by older adults also was compared with previously published younger adult worry content data. Age differences in worry content were found in both the clinical and non-clinical groups in patterns that were generally consistent with common age-related developmental changes. Directions for future research of worry across the lifespan are proposed.
The longitudinal relationship between mental health disorders and chronic disease for older adults: a population-based study
- Authors:
- CHEN Chun-Min, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(9), 2017, pp.1017-1026.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Although mental health disorders in older adults are common, their relationship with chronic disease and the influence of chronic disease on the development of mental health disorders over time is not well understood. This longitudinal study investigated the change in status of mental health disorders and chronic disease, as well as their interrelationships, over time. Methods: Participants included community-dwelling older adults living in Taiwan, aged 65 years or older, who completed six waves of survey interviews. Mental health disorders were scored using the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule, and chronic disease(s) status was recorded during consecutive biennial data collection waves. The autoregressive latent trajectory model and parallel latent growth curve model were used for data analysis. Results: The study findings suggest that in older people pre-existing mental health disorders and/or chronic disease(s) will predispose them to developing significantly more mental health disorders and/or chronic diseases respectively. The study findings also suggest that pre-existing mental health disorders can significantly contribute to the development of chronic disease over time, and that pre-existing chronic disease(s) significantly can contribute to the development of mental health disorders over time, indicating a reciprocal interrelationship. Conclusions: The authors' findings suggest that it in addition to monitoring and treating chronic disease(s) in older people, it is also important to monitor and treat their mental health disorders. Doing so will result in overall better health outcomes and will facilitate a better quality of life as they age. (Publisher abstract)
Best practice in learning disability and dementia
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON FAMILIES AND RELATIONSHIPS
- Publisher:
- Centre for Research on Families and Relationships
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Dementia is a particular concern for service providers supporting older people with learning disabilities. Until recently little forward planning had been built into services to prepare for residents to grow older, and cope with medical conditions of older age such as arthritis, osteoporosis or dementia. For people with Down’s syndrome, there is a high prevalence rate of dementia as medical advances mean they, as with the rest of the population, are living longer lives. Little is known about the views and experiences of people with a learning disability who have dementia or are living with someone with dementia in a residential setting (Wilkinson et al 2003, 2004; Lyngaard 2004). A three year research project funded by the Community Fund in collaboration with CARE1 has explored best practice for people with a learning disability who develop dementia - looking at what enables people to remain in their own homes and communities. A key element of this wider project was a service user advisory forum. One of the things this research wanted this group to tell us was what people with learning disabilities know about dementia and what it was like to live with someone who has dementia.
The day hospital in old age psychiatry: the case against
- Author:
- FASEY Christopher
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 9(7), July 1994, pp.519-523.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The day hospital in old age psychiatry has many supporters. Suggests there is an opposing view and that more hard data are required before the argument is resolved. Other models of care are mentioned which may be equally valid, comparison between different models is needed.
Day hospitals: the case in favour
- Author:
- HOWARD Robert
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 9(7), July 1994, pp.525-529.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Argues that the day hospital constitutes an integral and valued component of the old age psychiatry service provided by the majority of units in the United Kingdom.
The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on older adults' mental health: contributing factors, coping strategies, and opportunities for improvement
- Authors:
- WEBB Lauren M., CHEN Christina Y.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(1), 2022,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on older adults' mental health. Key points include: rates of anxiety and depression have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults; younger generations have reported higher rates of anxiety and depression during the pandemic compared to older adults; factors influencing the risk of mental illness in older adults during the pandemic include sex, age group, location, living situation, socioeconomic status, and medical and psychiatric comorbidities; and strategies for older adults, caregivers, and health-care providers may mitigate the effects of social isolation on the older adult population. (Edited publisher abstract)
Emotion-regulation strategies in older people: a systematic review
- Authors:
- RAMIREZ-RUIZ Blanca, QUINN Kathryn, FERREIRA Nuno
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 24(1), 2020, pp.1-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Emotion regulation (ER) has been identified as an important factor influencing psychological and health problems of adult populations. The purpose of this paper is to address a gap in the literature by examining available evidence relating to the use of ER strategies (avoidance, problem solving, reappraisal, rumination and suppression) on the well-being of older people (OP). Design/methodology/approach: A systematic search for peer-reviewed articles published from 1985 to 2015 was conducted in PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Collections and ASSIA and resulted in 1746 titles. In total, 20 studies met full inclusion criteria (the cross-sectional association between well-being and ER was reported, participants were 60 years or older, without cognitive impairment and the article was written in English, Portuguese or Spanish). Findings: Rumination was found to be the ER strategy most strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in OP populations, while mixed result were found for avoidance, problem solving, suppression and reappraisal. Research limitations/implications: Given the scarcity of research examining the association between ER and positive psychological concepts only a conclusion about ER and negative mood measures could be made. Questions for future research on ER and well-being in OP are proposed. Originality/value: This paper addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding the use of ER strategies in older adults. (Publisher abstract)
Mental health first aid for the elderly: a pilot study of a training program adapted for helping elderly people
- Authors:
- SVENSSON Bengt, HANSSON Lars
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(6), 2017, pp.595-601.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Epidemiological studies have shown a high prevalence of mental illness among the elderly. Clinical data however indicate both insufficient detection and treatment of illnesses. Suggested barriers to treatment include conceptions that mental health symptoms belong to normal ageing and lack of competence among staff in elderly care in detecting mental illness. A Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training programme for the elderly was developed and provided to staff in elderly care. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in knowledge in mental illness, confidence in helping a person, readiness to give help and attitudes towards persons with mental illness. Method: Single group pre-test–post-test design. Results: The study group included staff in elderly care from different places in Sweden (n = 139). Significant improvements in knowledge, confidence in helping an elderly person with mental illness and attitudes towards persons with mental illness are shown. Skills acquired during the course have been practiced during the follow-up. Conclusions: The adaption of MHFA training for staff working in elderly care gives promising results. Improvements in self-reported confidence in giving help, attitudes towards persons with mental illness and actual help given to persons with mental illness are shown. However, the study design allows no firm conclusions and a randomised controlled trail is needed to investigate the effectiveness of the programme. Outcomes should include if the detection and treatment of mental illness among the elderly actually improved. (Edited publisher abstract)
Effect of anxiety on memory for emotional information in older adults
- Authors:
- HERRERA Sara, MONTORIO Ignacio, CABRERA Isabel
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(4), 2017, pp.362-368.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Several studies have shown that anxiety is associated with a better memory of negative events. However, this anxiety-related memory bias has not been studied in the elderly, in which there is a preferential processing of positive information. Objectives: To study the effect of anxiety in a recognition task and an autobiographical memory task in 102 older adults with high and low levels of trait anxiety. Method: Negative, positive and neutral pictures were used in the recognition task. In the autobiographical memory task, memories of the participants’ lives were recorded, how they felt when thinking about them, and the personal relevance of these memories. Results: In the recognition task, no anxiety-related bias was found toward negative information. Individuals with high trait anxiety were found to remember less positive pictures than those with low trait anxiety. In the autobiographical memory task, both groups remembered negative and positive events equally. However, people with high trait anxiety remembered life experiences with more negative emotions, especially when remembering negative events. Individuals with low trait anxiety tended to feel more positive emotions when remembering their life experiences and most of these referred to feeling positive emotions when remembering negative events. Conclusions: Older adults with anxiety tend to recognise less positive information and to present more negative emotions when remembering life events; while individuals without anxiety have a more positive experience of negative memories. (Edited publisher abstract)