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Structural and cognitive social capital and depression among older adults in two Nordic regions
- Authors:
- FORSMAN A.K., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(6), August 2012, pp.771-779.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examined the association between structural and cognitive aspects of social capital and depression among older adults in Finland and Sweden. Data were retrieved from a postal survey targeting 6,838 older adults aged 65, 70, 75 and 80 years. The associations between structural and cognitive aspects of social capital and depression were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-4. Findings indicated that low structural and cognitive social capital as defined in the study showed statistically significant associations with depression in older adults. Only experienced trust in neighbours failed to show significant association with depression. In addition, being single and 80 suggested a higher risk of depression as defined by GDS-4. The findings highlighted the connection between adequate levels of both structural and cognitive individual social capital and mental health in later life. They also suggested that the connection differs depending on various network types; the cognitive aspect of relationships between friends was connected to depression, while the connection was not found for neighbours.
Pain perceptions of the oldest old: a longitudinal study
- Authors:
- ZARIT Steven H., GRIFFITHS Patricia C., BERG Stig
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 44(4), August 2004, pp.450-468.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study assessed self-reported pain in the oldest old and examined its changes over time and in relation to other measures of health and functioning. A population-based sample of the oldest old (86–92 years of age) residing in Sweden who were participating in a multiwave longitudinal investigation were interviewed about their experience of pain, as well as other dimensions of health and functioning. Prevalence of pain at baseline was 34% and rose to 40% at follow-up. Incidence of new pain cases during that period was 16 percent. Pain was significantly related to sleep difficulties, medication usage, global subjective health, depressive symptoms, and mobility, though the magnitude of the associations was relatively small. Our results extend previous cross-sectional findings by demonstrating there is both an increase in the proportion of people reporting pain over time after the age of 85 as well as the possibility of recovery. The modest strength of associations of pain with other areas of functioning suggests adaptation and selectivity among survivors in very late life.
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.
Telephone-based behavioral activation with mental imagery for depression: a pilot randomized clinical trial in isolated older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Authors:
- PELLAS Johnny, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(1), 2022,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: To shield vulnerable persons, particularly the elderly, during the Covid-19 pandemic governments around the world have advised to use social distancing and self-isolation. Social isolation might put older adults at an increased risk for mental health problems such as depression. There is a need for brief, easy-accessible psychological treatments for depressive symptoms that can be delivered remotely. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of telephone-delivered Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery (BA-MI) for the treatment of depressive symptoms in individuals 65 years and older living in isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: In this open-label pilot randomized clinical trial, N = 41 individuals aged 65 years or older with clinically significant symptoms of depression were randomly assigned to either a BA-MI treatment condition, or an Attention-Assessment control condition delivered over the telephone over a 4-week period. Results: Depressive symptoms decreased more in the treatment condition compared to the control condition. At post-treatment, 2 out of 16 participants in the treatment condition met diagnostic criteria for depression compared to 9 out of 13 in the control condition. Most participants in the treatment condition were satisfied with the treatment and few adverse effects were observed. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that behavioural activation with mental imagery delivered over the telephone is feasible, acceptable, and potentially efficacious for the treatment of depressive symptoms in older individuals living in isolation. Replication in larger samples is needed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Life weariness and suicidal thoughts in late life: a national study in Sweden
- Authors:
- TUVESSON Hanna, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(10), 2018, pp.1365-1371.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the point prevalence of life weariness and suicidal thoughts and their relationship with socio-demographic characteristics in a population of older adults in Sweden. Method: Data from 7913 individuals aged 60 years and older were drawn from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, a collaborative study in Sweden. Life weariness and suicidal thoughts were measured by one item derived from the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. A multinomial regression model was used to investigate the relationships of socio-demographic characteristics with life weariness and suicidal thoughts. Results: Living in urban and semi-urban areas, being of advanced age, being divorced and having lower educational levels were related to life weariness. Living in a residential care facility, being widowed or unmarried, being born in a non-Nordic European country and experiencing financial difficulties were related to both life weariness and suicidal thoughts. Sex was found to be unrelated to either life weariness or suicidal thoughts.Conclusion: This study found that several socio-demographic variables were associated with life weariness and suicidal thoughts among older adults. Specific attention to older individuals with these characteristics may be warranted as they might be more vulnerable to life weariness and suicidal thoughts. (Publisher abstract)
Follow-up two years after diagnosis of diabetes in patients with psychosocial problems receiving an intervention by a medical social worker
- Authors:
- GAFVELS Catharina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 53(6), 2014, pp.584-600.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study study investigates the situation of diabetes patients (n = 82) aged 18–65 years, two years after diagnosis, and to compare patients with social and emotional problems (PSP; n = 27) receiving an intervention with patients without such problems (NPSP; n = 55). The study used a social questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC), and the General Coping Questionnaire (GCQ). Interventions were: psychosocial support; psychotherapeutic interventions; crisis interventions; and social supportive interventions regarding work, economy, and dwelling. The sessions lasted for one hour, and the patients had a mean 10 sessions each during a three-month period. The PSP group had a more difficult situation with more strained economy, lower social support, more anxiety and depression, and lower SOC on both occasions. Being in the PSP group predicted experiencing a strong negative influence of the disease at follow-up. Regarding coping strategies, 'problem focusing' decreased in both PSP and NPSP over time. 'Social trust' and 'intrusion' decreased only in NPSP. Otherwise the coping pattern was unchanged, with PSP showing lower scores on 'self-trust' and 'minimization' and higher scores on 'protest,' 'isolation,' and 'intrusion.' The most influenced areas at follow-up in the PSP group were work, relationship to partner and economy, and in the NPSP leisure-time activities, sexual life and work. The findings underline the need to identify patients with psychosocial problems early. (Edited publisher abstract)
Effects of a high-intensity functional exercise programme on depressive symptoms and psychological well-being among older people living in residential care facilities: a cluster-randomized controlled trial
- Authors:
- CONRADSSON Mia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 14(5), July 2010, pp.565-576.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study evaluated the effects of a high-intensity functional exercise programme on depressive symptoms and psychological well-being among older people dependent on activities of daily living (ADL) and living in residential care facilities. Participants included 191 older people, aged 65 to 100 years, dependent on ADL and with Mini Mental State Examination scores between 10 and 30. Fifty two percent of the participants had a diagnosed dementia disorder. A high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise programme and a control activity were performed. Twenty nine sessions were held over three months. The outcome measures, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS) were assessed at baseline, three and six months. There were no significant differences in GDS or PGCMS between the exercise and the control group at the three and six month follow-ups in the total sample. Among people with dementia, there was a between-group difference at three months in PGCMS scores in favour of the exercise group. A high-intensity exercise programme seems not to influence depressive symptoms or psychological well-being among older people dependent in ADL and living in residential care facilities. In conclusion, the authors suggest an individualised and multifactorial intervention may be needed in this group.