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The elder in African society: the view from folklore and literature
- Author:
- MBELE Joseph
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 2(3/4), 2004, pp.53-62.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
Conventional wisdom presents the elder in African society as a wise, dignified and powerful figure, who keeps the culture alive and guides the young. This paper tries to demonstrate that this image of the elders in Africa is simplistic, using evidence from folklore and literature. Folklore, though a rarely used source for studies of this nature, is the most authentic expression of a people's reality and experience. Since it springs from the remote past, folklore bears the evidence of where the Africans have come from. Together with folklore, there are some literary works which are also used, since they spring from and appropriate key aspects of the folklore heritage. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Effects of education and culture on the validity of the Geriatric Mental State and its AGECAT algorithm
- Authors:
- PRINCE Martin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 185(11), November 2004, pp.429-436.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The Geriatric Mental State (GMS) is the most widely used psychiatric research assessment for older persons. Evidence for validity comes from the developed world. The aims was to assess the validity of GMS/AGECAT organicity and depression diagnoses in 26 centres in India, China, Latin America and Africa. The authors studied 2941 persons aged 60 years and over: 742 people with dementia and three groups free of dementia (697 with depression, 719 with high and 783 with low levels of education). Local clinicians diagnosed dementia (DSM–IV) and depression (Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score 18). For dementia diagnosis GMS/AGECAT performed well in many centres but educational bias was evident. Specificity was poor in India and sensitivity sub-optimal in Latin America. A predictive algorithm excluding certain orientation items but including interviewer judgements improved upon the AGECAT algorithm. For depression, sensitivity was high. The EURO–D depression scale, derived from GMS items using European data, has a similar factor structure in Latin America, India and, to a lesser extent, China. Valid, comprehensive mental status assessment across cultures seems achievable in principle.