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Social productivity and depressive symptoms in early old age-results from the GAZEL study
- Authors:
- WAHRENDORF M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), May 2008, pp.310-316.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The associations of frequency of performing three types of socially productive activities (voluntary work, informal help and caring for a person) were tested with depressive symptoms in older people. Data on social activities and frequency of performance were collected in the frame of the annual follow-up of the French GAZEL cohort study in 2005. Depressive symptoms were measured by the CES-D scale. Perceived control was assessed by two items of a quality of life measure (CASP-19). Total of 14,477 respondents aged 52-66 years completed a standardized questionnaire. Linear regression models were calculated adjusting for important confounders including self-rated health assessed during the previous year. In activities characterized by high autonomy (in particular voluntary work) a negative association of frequency with depressive symptoms was observed, whereas the reverse effect was found in the type of activity with low autonomy (care for a person). Perceived control mediated in part the association of frequency of activity with depressive symptoms. It is concluded that being often socially productive in early old age may contribute to well-being to the extent that autonomy and perceived control are given.
Factors associated with antidepressant use in depressed and non-depressed community-dwelling elderly: the three-city study
- Authors:
- SOUDRY Agnes, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(3), March 2008, pp.324-330.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with antidepressant use in non-depressed and depressed elderly persons, assuming that they varied according to clinical status. The authors studied 7,868 French community-dwelling subjects aged 65 years and over. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were used to define three groups: non-depressed, high depressive symptoms and current major depressive disorder. Separate analyses were performed to identify the factors which were associated with antidepressant use in each group. Antidepressant use (55% selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, 25% tricyclic antidepressants, 20% other types) increased from 4.9% in non-depressed subjects to 17.3% in subjects with high depressive symptoms (HDS) and 33.6% of in those with current major depressive disorder (MDD). The factors associated with antidepressant use varied according to depression status. In particular, men with current MDD were more often treated with antidepressants than women whereas, in both the HDS and the non-depressed groups, antidepressant use was, as has been observed elsewhere, more frequent in women. Gender also had a strong modifying effect on the relationship between antidepressant use and history of major depression. Finally, the direction of the association between antidepressant use and cognitive performance varied according to depression status. This study showed that the direction and strength of the association between antidepressant use and demographic and health-related factors varied according to the severity of depression symptoms. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between gender and cognition and antidepressant use.
Development and validation of the Cognitive Inventory of subjective distress
- Authors:
- ANTOINE Pascal, ANTONINE Christine, NANDRINO Jean-Louis
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(11), November 2008, pp.1175-1181.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study was aimed at exploring some of the facets of psychological distress during aging, and at validating an inventory, the Cognitive Inventory of Subjective Distress (CISD) for assessing this kind of distress. An inventory of thoughts representing distress schemas was administered to 298 elderly subjects living at home or in a centre in France. Factor analyses suggested retaining 29 items. They explained 62% of the total variance and corresponded to seven distinct facets: abandonment, dependency, disengagement, fear of losing control, loss of individuality, refusal of help, and vulnerability. These dimensions turned out to be relatively independent of each other and moderately correlated with measures of depression and anxiety. The internal consistency and temporal reliability of the seven scales are good. The CISD is an original tool for assessing psychological distress. It is geared to old and very old individuals living in a centre for the elderly, and its design takes the fatiguability and cognitive heterogeneity of this population into account. This inventory can also be used for psychopathological assessment and can serve as a baseline for following patients over time or in the course of therapy.
An international comparison of health, social care and welfare legislation and its effects on older British nationals' mobility within the European Union: final report
- Authors:
- COLDRON Keleigh, O'BRIEN Charlotte
- Publisher:
- Age Concern England; Royal British Legion
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 56p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The purpose of this study was to examine the rights to statutory health, social care and welfare provision that are lost on migrating from the UK. In order to do this the health, welfare and social care benefits and services available for older British nationals within the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany and Cyprus are defined and compared. The report also investigated whether retirement migrants are specifically disadvantaged or other migrants are equally disadvantaged. Section 2 outlines the 'losses' retirement migrants would face should they move to another state. Section 3 revealed gaps in the statutory services available to older British nationals should they move to one of the member states in the study. One of the conclusions in the report is that if individuals are heavily dependent on social care services to live their lives in the UK, it may not be a wise move to move to another Member State.