Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 32
Clinically significant effects of group cognitive behavioral therapy on spouse caregivers' mental health and cognitive functioning: a pilot study
- Authors:
- MACKENZIE Corey S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 56(8), 2013, pp.675-692.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The objective of this pilot study was to investigate whether group cognitive behavioural therapy resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in mood, burden, and cognition of carergivers of older adults with dementia. Ninety seven caregivers in Toronto, Canada, of whom 25 with DSM-IV disorders began the 13-week cognitive behavioural therapy intervention, and 12 completed therapy and the 3-month follow-up. Each caregiver experienced clinically significant improvement on at least 2 of the following outcomes: diagnostic criteria, mood, attention, memory, and caregiver burden. Despite effectiveness, the challenges of recruiting distressed caregivers for therapy suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy might be most useful as part of a stepped care model of treatment. (Edited publisher abstract)
A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity
- Authors:
- LAVRETSKY H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(1), 2013, pp.57-65.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined the effects of brief daily yogic meditation, Kirtan Kriya, on mental health, cognitive functioning, and immune cell telomerase activity in family dementia caregivers with mild depressive symptoms. Participants performed Kirtan Kriya or passively relaxed to music for 12 minutes each day for eight weeks. Of 49 recruited subjects, 45 were randomised and 39 completed the intervention: 23 subjects in the meditation group and 16 subjects in the relaxation group. The severity of depressive symptoms, mental and cognitive functioning were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Telomerase activity was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC). The meditation group showed significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater improvement in mental health and cognitive functioning compared with the relaxation group. In the meditation group, 65.2% showed 50% improvement on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale and 52% of the participants showed 50% improvement on the Mental Health Composite Summary score of the Short Form-36 scale compared with 31.2% and 19%, respectively, in the relaxation group. The meditation group showed 43% improvement in telomerase activity compared with 3.7% in the relaxation group. Brief daily meditation by family dementia caregivers may improve mental and cognitive functioning and lower depressive symptoms. This improvement is accompanied by an increase in telomerase activity suggesting improvement in stress-induced cellular aging.
Burden associated with the presence of anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease
- Authors:
- TURRÓ-GARRIGA Oriol, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(3), 2013, pp.291-297.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Anosognosia, a lack of deficit awareness, can appear in patients in the early stages of dementia, significantly disrupting their environment and increasing care giver burden. The object of this cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between anosognosia and caregiver burden, both overall and in relation to specific dimensions of their burden. Anosognosia was evaluated using the Experimenter Rating Scale, and caregiver burden evaluated using the Burden Interview (BI). Using the BI's comprehensive scoring and each of its five factors as dependent variables, six linear regression models were adjusted to determine the effect of anosognosia on caregiver burden. The sample consisted of 124 Spanish patients and 124 caregivers. The mean patient age was 78.9 years; the mean caregiver age was 59.7 years; 66.6% of the caregivers were women. The prevalence of anosognosia was 24.2%. The degree of caregiver burden was associated with the degree of anosognosia, which explained 14.7% of the variance. For the BI factors, the Experimenter Rating Scale was associated with physical and social burden, relationship of dependence and emotional stress. It is concluded that the presence of anosognosia in patients with AD is an independent factor that increases caregiver burden by increasing physical wear, social isolation, dependence and tension related to patient care.
Personality features, caring burden and mental health of cohabitants of partners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or dementia
- Authors:
- NORDTUG Bente, KROKSTAD Steinar, HOLEN Are
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(3), April 2011, pp.318-326.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this study was to investigate the interplay between personality, mental health and type of disease in explaining caring burden of caregivers of partners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or dementia. A cross-sectional study included 206 participants, 105 cohabitants of partners with COPD and 101 cohabitants of partners with dementia. Neuroticism was assessed by Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and externality by Locus of Control of Behaviour. The Relative Stress Scale evaluated caring burden. Mental health was determined by the General Health Quality (GHQ-28) questionnaire. The results found that neuroticism and type of illness played a major role in explaining caring burden and mental health. Many of the carers were above the cut-off point for psychiatric caseness on the GHQ; 30.5% for the COPD group, and 58.4% for the dementia group. Both groups had low scores for depression and high scores for social dysfunction, anxiety, insomnia and somatisation. Compared to the dementia group, the COPD group had lower scores and fairly stable levels on all subscales of the GHQ. Females had higher scores on somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia; they also reported higher scores on neuroticism and externality. The article concludes that differences in personality and illness explained both caring burden and mental health among caregivers.
Effect of the Meeting Centres Support Program on informal carers of people with dementia: Results from a multi-centre study
- Authors:
- DROES R-M, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 10(2), March 2006, pp.112-124.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Because of the complex nature of the problems that carers of persons with dementia encounter, several comprehensive support programs for carers were developed in the past decade. One such program is the Meeting Centres Support Program (MCSP) that integrates different types of support for persons with dementia and their carers, which have proved to be effective in practice and/or research. Within the framework of a study into the national implementation of the MCSP, it was investigated whether the positive effects found in carers that participated in the first Amsterdam Meeting Centres, were also achieved in other regions of The Netherlands. A pre-test–post-test control group design with matched groups was applied. In total, 94 carers in the MCSP in eight meeting centres and 34 carers of dementia patients who frequented regular psychogeriatric day care (PDC) in three nursing homes were included in the study. During the study period 23 carers of the MCSP group and 21 carers of the PDC group dropped out. At baseline and after seven months indicators of burden (psychological and psychosomatic symptoms, feelings of burden and time between start of support and institutionalization of the persons with dementia) were measured, as well as potential determinants of burden (sense of competence, coping strategies, experienced support, loneliness and the emotional impact of behaviour problems). Though on a group level no effect was found, either in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms or in the determinants of burden, a subgroup of carers who felt lonely (n?=?22) at baseline benefited significantly more from the MCSP than from PDC in terms of psychological and psychosomatic symptoms. A majority of MCSP carers (82.1%) experienced less burden and more professional support. After seven months significantly fewer persons with dementia in the MCSP (4%) were institutionalized as compared to the patients in PDC (29%). Patients in the MCSP participated for a longer period of time before institutionalization. Although the effect on sense of competence of carers that was found in the Amsterdam study was not found in this multi-centre study, the effect on burden and delayed institutionalization of the person with dementia were confirmed. The integrated MCSP also proved more effective than PDC in decreasing psychological and psychosomatic symptoms in lonely carers. Further dissemination of the MCSP is therefore recommended.
The comparison of burden between caregiving spouses of depressive and demented patients
- Authors:
- LEINONEN Esa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(4), April 2001, pp.387-393.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Article compares the burden of the spouses of depressive and demented elderly patients admitted to a Psychogeriatric Clinic in Finland. Found that the spouses of demented patients as a group were psychologically more stressed than the spouses of depressive patients. However, when demented patients were divided into two groups, in those admitted mainly for noncognitive symptoms related to dementia and in those admitted for memory assessment and diagnostic purposes, the burden of the spouses in the former group was higher than that of the group of depressive patients' spouses. No difference was found between the latter group of demented patient spouses and depressive patients' spouses. A correlation was found within both groups between low functional capacity of the patient and the stress of the spouse. In both groups the spouses who felt their own mental health to be poor were more likely to have high levels of burden. Concludes that among the general psychogeriatric patient groups, the caregiving spouses of demented patients with noncognitive psychiatric symptoms are the most burdened group. However, spouses of depressive patients are as much burdened as those of demented patients with mild to moderate memory impairment. More support is needed for every spouse group caring for psychogeriatric patients.
Living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: coping and support needs of community-dwelling people with dementia and their family carers. Research findings from the IDEAL COVID-19 Dementia Initiative (IDEAL-CDI)
- Authors:
- O'ROURKE Gareth, et al
- Publisher:
- University of York. Social Policy Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 49
- Place of publication:
- York
This report sets out findings from the IDEAL COVID-19 Dementia Initiative (IDEAL CDI), which was established to identify concerns and issues faced by people living with dementia and their carers as a result of the coronavirus epidemic and the strict social restrictions imposed in England between March and June 2020. The report is based on interviews with people with dementia and carers from the IDEAL cohort. Some people with dementia coped well, while others coped with difficulty or were only just coping. The additional stress of COVID-19 exacerbated pre-existing coping difficulties. For many, social isolation increased anxiety. Some felt that lack of activity or lack of social contact caused a decline in their abilities to manage everyday tasks. Confusion about COVID-19 rules or difficulty remembering what to do led to anxiety when leaving the house. People felt that members of the public might not understand their particular needs. While some carers felt they were coping well, others experienced stress when having to leave the home because the person with dementia might not be safe if left alone. Some experienced increased strain in the caring relationship compounded by an uncertainty about future availability of respite. Some were concerned about the complex health needs of the person with dementia alongside COVID-19 risk and lack of personalised information. Both people with dementia and carers talked about the importance of access to safe outdoor space. People were anxious about how others would react or behave towards them regarding keeping a distance if they went out. Being connected to friends, family and wider community or support groups was important to help combat the effects of isolation. People from BAME communities worried about their increased vulnerability to the virus. A lack of trust in Government guidance and in health care services added to their anxiety. However, some benefitted from strong community and faith group involvement. (Edited publisher abstract)
Dementia-related restlessness: relationship to characteristics of persons with dementia and family caregivers
- Authors:
- REGIER Natalie G., GITLIN Laura N.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(1), 2018, pp.185-192.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Dementia-related restlessness is commonly endorsed by caregivers but not well understood. This study examines differences in characteristics (demographics, cognitive status, physical function, pain, and mood) of persons with dementia whose caregivers endorse restlessness versus those who do not. The authors also examine the relationship of restlessness to caregiver well-being including burden, upset with behaviours, mastery, and depressive symptomatology. Methods: The authors combined baseline data from three caregiver intervention studies of community-dwelling persons with dementia who exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms (n = 569) as measured by the Agitated Behaviors in Dementia Scale. The authors conducted bivariate correlations and independent t-tests by using the Agitated Behaviors in Dementia Scale restlessness item. Results: Nearly 65% (n = 367) of dementia caregivers reported restlessness. There were no significant differences between those with and without (n = 202) reported restlessness concerning functional status (physical or cognitive). However, persons with restlessness had significantly higher pain scores (p < 0.01), were more likely to be on behavioural medications (p < 0.001), and had more neuropsychiatric symptoms as compared with persons without restlessness (M = 11.11, nonrestless; M = 6.61, restless) (p < 0.001). Caregivers of persons with dementia-related restlessness reported greater burden (p < 0.001), behavioural upset (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), and lower mastery providing care (p < 0.01) compared with caregivers of persons without dementia-related restlessness. Conclusions: Restlessness is a common neuropsychiatric symptom that appears to be associated with poorer functioning in persons with dementia and greater distress in their caregivers. Further research is needed to understand the unique contributions of restlessness to care burden and quality of life of persons with dementia, as well as ways to address this distressing symptom. (Edited publisher abstract)
Familial caregivers of older adults
- Authors:
- CASSIE Kimberly McClure, SANDERS Sara
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 50(S1), 2008, pp.293-320.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Carers of older people need to balance the demands of family, career and caring, and are at increased risk of burden, stress, depression and a variety of other mental and physical health problems. A significant number may be receiving some form of medication for one or more of these conditions, but psychosocial interventions may be as – or more – effective. This review covers individual psychosocial interventions, group interventions, multi-modal interventions and technology-based interventions. These have been associated with reduced mental health symptoms, reduced fatigue, improved knowledge and attitudes, better social support and more effective management of behaviour problems in family members with dementia. Recommendations are given to expand research in this area beyond White populations and those caring for dementia patients. The paper concludes with a ‘treatment resource appendix’ directed at American social workers. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Mental health and physical health of family caregivers for persons with dementia: a comparison of African American and white caregivers
- Authors:
- KNIGHT B. G., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(5), September 2007, pp.538-546.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This investigation analyzed the differences between African American and white caregivers in the effects of family caregiving for a person with dementia on mental health and physical health variables (including subjective health, reported diseases and cardiovascular measures). A population-based sample of 102 caregivers is compared with 102 non-caregivers matched on ethnicity, gender and age. There were no significant group differences for mental health effects. Most significant physical health effects were attributable to main effects of ethnicity rather than caregiving status. However, African American caregivers had higher diastolic blood pressure than all other groups, a finding consistent with group-specific risk for circulatory system disorders.