Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 24
Positive psychology interventions in people aged 50–79 years: long-term effects of placebo-controlled online interventions on well-being and depression
- Authors:
- PROYER Rene T., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 18(8), 2014, pp.997-1005.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Various positive psychology interventions have been experimentally tested, but only few studies addressed the effects of such activities in participants aged 50 and above. Method: We tested the impact of four self-administered positive psychology interventions in an online setting (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, three funny things, and using signature strengths in a new way) on happiness and depressive symptoms in comparison with a placebo control exercise (i.e., early memories). A total of 163 females aged 50–79 tried the assigned interventions or the placebo control exercise for one week and completed measures on happiness and depressive symptoms at five times (pre- and post-test, 1, 3, and 6 months). Results: Three out of the four interventions (i.e., gratitude visit, three good things, and using signature strengths in a new way) increased happiness, whereas two interventions (three funny things and using signature strengths in a new way) led to a reduction of depressive symptoms on at one post-measure. Conclusion: Positive psychology interventions yield similar results for people aged 50 and above as for younger people. The dissemination of such interventions via the Internet offers a valuable opportunity for older age groups as well.
Psychological outreach programmes for the depressed elderly: a meta-analysis of effects and dropout
- Author:
- CUIJPERS Pim
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(1), January 1998, pp.41-48.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Utilisation of psychiatric services in the Netherlands by depressed elderly is low compared to younger adults. Outreach programmes in which treatment is actively offered to depressed elderly in the community can be used to improve access of these elderly to mental health care. Reports on a meta-analysis which was carried out to study the effectiveness of these outreach programmes.
Effects of reminiscing about nostalgic smells on the physiological and psychological responses of older people in long-term care facilities
- Authors:
- FU Sin Rou, LEE Mei Fen, OU Sheng Jung
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 40(3), 2020, pp.501-511.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study adopted mixed-methods research to explore the effects of reminiscing about nostalgic smells on the physiological and psychological responses of older people in long-term care facilities. A total of 60 participants were randomly divided into two groups and each participant was either interviewed regarding their reminiscence about nostalgic smells (experimental group) or were engaged in daily conversation (control group). The results indicated that anxiety and depression symptoms were more effectively relieved in the experimental group than in the control group. Moreover, most of the nostalgic smells recalled by the experimental group were associated with naturally occurring smells. Regarding heart rate variability, the normalised low-frequency of the experimental group decreased significantly. The results verified the utility of using reminiscence about olfactory memories in reminiscence therapy as this can calm anxiety and lessen depression, which can be very important for older adults living in long-term care facilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
The specificity of neuropsychological impairment in predicting antidepressant non-response in the very old depressed
- Authors:
- SNEED Joel R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(3), March 2008, pp.319-323.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In an earlier report, response inhibition predict antidepressant non-response in late-life depression (Sneed et al., [2007]). The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether this effect is specific to response inhibition or whether impairment in other cognitive domains also predicts non-response. Older depressed patients (n = 84) enrolled in an 8-week trial of citalopram were classified as impaired or non-impaired relative to the sample on mental status, psychomotor speed, reaction time, spatial judgment, and memory, and contrasted with regard to antidepressant response. Patients who were impaired relative to the sample on digit symbol performance did not respond as quickly to citalopram as those who were unimpaired. By the end of the 8-week trial, however, both groups reached the same level of response. Impairment in other domains had no impact on antidepressant response. Non-response was not attributable to impairment on any of the neuropsychological tests suggesting that antidepressant non-response is specific to impaired response inhibition.
Psychological treatment of late-life depression: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Authors:
- CUIJPERS Pim, VAN STRATEN Annemieke, SMIT Filip
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(12), December 2006, pp.1139-1149.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Older meta-analyses of the effects of psychological treatments for depression in older adults have found that these treatments have large effects. However, these earlier meta-analyses also included non-randomized studies, and did not include newer high-quality randomized controlled trials. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of randomized studies on psychological treatments for depression in older adults. Twenty-five studies were included, of which 17 compared a psychological intervention to a control condition (mainly waiting list and care-as-usual control groups). The quality of the included studies varied. Psychological treatments have moderate to large effects on depression in older adults (standardized mean effect size d = 0.72). Heterogeneity was very low. No differences were found between individual, group or bibliotherapy format, or between cognitive behavioural therapy and other types of psychological treatment. The effects were comparable in studies where depression was defined according to diagnostic criteria, and those in which depression was measured with self rating questionnaires. Although the quality of many studies was not optimal, the results of this meta-analysis support.
Psychological symptoms among persons 50 years of age and older living with HIV disease
- Authors:
- HECKMAN T.G., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 6(2), May 2002, pp.121-128.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study delineated patterns and predictors of psychological symptoms amongst late middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS in two large US cities. 83 HIV-infected individuals 50-plus years of age completed self-report surveys eliciting data on psychological symptomatology, HIV-related life-stressor burden, social support, barriers to health care and social services, and sociodemographic characteristics. One quarter of patients reported 'moderate' or 'severe' levels of depression. HIV-infected older adults who endorsed more psychological symptoms also reported more HIV-related life-stressor burden, less support from friends, and reduced access to health care and social services due to AIDS-related stigma. Concludes that as the impact of HIV on older communities continues to increase, geropractitioners must be prepared to provide care to greater number of HIV-infected older adults, a substantial minority of whom will present with complex comorbid physical and mental health conditions.
A psychometric analysis of a short device for assessing depression in elderly people
- Authors:
- RICHARDSON Carolyn A., HAMMOND Sean M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 35(4), November 1996, pp.543-551.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Schwab-Gilleard Depression Scale (SGOS) is a short self-report index for assessing depression in elderly people. The aim of this article is to investigate the psychometric properties of this device with particular reference to its reliability, criterion validity and ability to discriminate depression from dementia. The total sample comprised elderly people living in Part III residential homes in south-west London. For 111 of these, the Schwab-Gilleard Depression Scale (SGDS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Short-Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Evaluation (CARE), and the Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly (CAPE) were completed. The GDS and CAPE only were completed with the remaining 55 participants. Psychiatric diagnoses were available from the medical not on each resident. In addition, a subsample of 49 had been assessed using the SGDS and CARE 14 months previously. These data were available for test-retest analysis. Concludes that the self-rating SGDS was found to be a reliable and valid measure of depression and is recommended for use as a screening tool for depression in elderly people in residential homes.
Self-compassionate aging: a systematic review
- Authors:
- BROWN Lydia, HUFFMAN Jeff C., BRYANT Christina
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 59(4), 2019, pp.e311-e324.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: There is considerable heterogeneity in experiences of aging, with some experiencing greater well-being and adapting more successfully to the challenges of aging than others. Self-compassion is a modifiable psychological skill that might help explain individual differences in well-being and adjustment in later life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on self-compassion and well-being outcomes in studies of older adults aged 65 and older. Research Design and Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, using databases PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase. The search term self-compassion was paired with terms relating to well-being, psychological symptoms, and adjustment. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize results on the relationship between self-compassion and four outcomes including depression, anxiety, hedonic well-being, and eudaimonic well-being. Results: Eleven studies met inclusion criteria for this review. Meta-analysis revealed that self-compassion was associated with lower levels of depression (r = −.58, 95% CI [−.66, −.48]) and anxiety (r = −.36, 95% CI [−.60, −.07]), and higher levels of hedonic (r = .41, 95% CI [.15, .62]) and eudaimonic (r = .49, 95% CI [.41, .57]) well-being. Further, three studies found self-compassion weakened the impact of physical symptoms on well-being outcomes. Discussion and Implications: We found preliminary evidence that self-compassion is associated with well-being outcomes in older adults, and that self-compassion may buffer the psychological sequelae of health symptoms in later life. Higher quality studies with uniform outcome measures are needed to replicate and extend these results. (Edited publisher abstract)
Psychological distress in Brazilian caregivers of relatives with dementia
- Authors:
- BANDEIRA D. R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 11(1), January 2007, pp.14-19.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The authors evaluated stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness in caregivers of relatives with dementia. One hundred and twenty-nine caregivers and 145 non-caregivers who lived in metropolitan Porto Alegre, Brazil completed Lipp's Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults, (ISSL), and Beck's Anxiety (BAI), Depression (BDI), and Hopelessness (BHS) scales. Caregivers showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, hopelessness, resistance/pre-exhaustion stress than controls. This study indicates that constant caregiving may significantly increase the risk of physical and mental health problems for caregivers in Brazil.
Depression and suicide among community elderly
- Author:
- RON Pnina
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 38(2), 2002, pp.53-71.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article examined hopelessness, depression and, suicidality among an elderly community population. It aimed at providing a demographic profile of factors contributing to depression and suicidality among old people. At five senior citizencenters at the north of Israel, 316 old people living in the community were randomly selected. Subjects were administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS), and the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). The data suggest that demographic variables contributed to the explanation of suicidality, depression, and hopelessness among the elderly.