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Psychosocial benefits of solitary reminiscence writing: an exploratory study
- Authors:
- ELFORD H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 9(4), July 2005, pp.305-314.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Claims have been made that reminiscence has benefits for older people's psychological well-being, and that writing memories may be a therapeutic process. This paper describes an exploratory study in which five nursing home residents engaged in a process of writing their memories by themselves, in a series of booklets containing memory prompts and photographs, over a period of four weeks. Each completed booklet was typed up by researchers and returned to participants the following week, with a bound copy provided to participants at the end of the study period. Analysis focuses on two sets of data: an in-depth case study of one participant, and a thematic analysis of field notes, researcher reflections, and the written material produced by the other study participants. The case study revealed three main themes: views on the past; sharing the past; and confidence in writing about the past. The field note analysis indicated the presence of four themes: proof and maintenance of skills; psychological or internal processes; social contact; and pleasure in reminiscence. The writing was seen as cathartic and provided a meaningful purpose, an opportunity to exercise writing skills and memory, and a focus for participants to share key stories with others. This exploratory study suggests that there is potential in using solitary writing within a reminiscence framework to improve psychological well-being in older people. However, caution should be exercised when encouraging older people to write their stories. Issues of confidentiality, audience, support, and appropriateness of the activity for the individual need consideration.
Functions of reminiscence and mental health in later life
- Authors:
- CAPPALIEZ P., O'ROURKE N., CHAUDHURY H.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 9(4), July 2005, pp.295-301.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examines the extent to which various forms of reminiscence predict life satisfaction and psychiatric distress with and without control for the contribution of personality traits (n?=?420). Among older adults, reminiscences to revive old problems and to fill a void of stimulation were associated with lower life satisfaction and greater psychiatric distress. Reminiscence to maintain connection with a departed person also predicted psychiatric distress. In contrast, reminiscences for death preparation and to foster conversation were linked with higher life satisfaction. Based on our proposed model of the functions of reminiscence, discussion focuses on adaptive and non-adaptive uses of reminiscence in later life.
Bringing the bedside to the bench, and then to the community: a prospectus for intervention research in late-life anxiety disorders
- Author:
- LUNT Neil
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(1), January 2009, pp.1-14.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in elderly persons, and they are associated with functional impairment, poorer quality of life, and adverse long-term consequences such as cognitive decline. Intervention research in late-life anxiety disorders (LLAD) lags behind where it ought to be. Research in cognitive neuroscience, ageing, and stress intersects in LLAD and provides the opportunity to develop innovative interventions to prevent chronic anxiety and its consequences in this age group. This paper evaluates gaps in the evidence base for treatment of LLAD and synthesizes recent research in cognitive neuroscience, basic behavioural science, stress, and aging. The authors examine three intervention issues in LLAD: (1) prevention; (2) acute treatment; and (3) pre-empting adverse consequences. They propose combining randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with mechanistic biobehavioral methodologies as an optimal approach for developing novel, optimized, and personalized treatments. Additionally, they examine three barriers in the field of LLAD research: (1) How do we measure anxiety?; (2) How do we raise awareness?; (3) How will we ensure our research is applicable to underserved populations (particularly minority groups)?
The effects of light therapy on depressed elders
- Authors:
- TSAI Yun-Fang, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(6), June 2004, pp.516-522.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Elderly depression has gradually become a severe issue in the health care system. No studies have focused on evaluating the effects of light therapy on the elderly with depression in a subtropical climate area. Experimental design was used. For the experimental group, patients sat in front of a light box, receiving 5000 lux in the morning. The light therapy course was administered for 50 minutes per day and lasted for 5 days. The control group did not receive any treatment. Depressive symptoms were significantly reduced in the experimental group at post-test but no significant decline was found in the control group. Based upon the results of this study, light therapy could be used to decrease depressive symptoms in the elderly.
Patient predictors of response to treatment of depression in Alzheimer's disease: the DIADS study
- Authors:
- STEINBERG Martin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(2), February 2004, pp.144-150.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim was to investigate patient predictors of response to treatment of Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Forty-four outpatients with AD and MDE were randomized to receive either sertraline or placebo in a 12-week placebo-controlled, flexible-dose clinical trial after a one week single-blind placebo phase. All participants were evaluated for depression at entry using the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). All subjects completed baseline neuropsychological testing. Caregiver burden and depression were also measured. The forty-two subjects who completed at least one post-enrollment follow-up visit were included in the analysis. No baseline demographic, mood, neuropsychiatric, neuropsychological, or caregiver variable was a statistically significant predictor of response to treatment. There were trends for African-American patients (p=0.07) and those with milder baseline agitation/aggression (p=0.08) to respond better. No baseline characteristic assessed clearly predicts response to treatment of MDE in AD. A diverse population of depressed AD patients may thus respond similarly to the same treatment.
Quality of life in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder
- Authors:
- BOURLAND S.L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 4(4), November 2000, pp.315-323.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Improving the quality of life is an important goal in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The current study described subjective quality of life, or life satisfaction, in a sample of older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Patients with GAD were compared to other anxious and nonpsychiatric samples on measures of life satisfaction. Older adults with GAD reported lower quality of life than did nonpsychiatric samples; levels of life satisfaction were comparable between older adults with GAD and younger adults with social phobia. The findings suggest that quality of life is diminished in older adults with GAD, and that additional factors also affect quality of life for these patients.
Light therapy for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Authors:
- SKJERVEArvid, BJORBATN Bjorn, HOLSTEN Fred
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19(6), June 2004, pp.516-522.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Reviews the literature concerning the efficacy, clinical practicability and safety of light treatment for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Data collection included computer literature searches (MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Cochrane) and checks of references, covering the period of January 1980-September 2003. Trials were searched for evidence for treatment efficacy and for their consideration of the treatment's clinical practicability and evidence of adverse effects. Results from randomised controlled trials (RCT) indicated some evidence of improvement in aspects of sleep disturbances and circadian activity rhythmicity. One RCT study indicated better response in patients with vascular dementia compared to Alzheimer's disease. By and large, non-RCT studies reported improvement in BPSD including sleep disturbances, agitation and activity rhythm disturbances. Few studies commented on the treatment's practicability and safety. Although there is some evidence for influence of light therapy on sleep and circadian activity rhythmicity, it is not possible to draw any conclusion about efficacy of light therapy for BPSD, or about practicability in clinical settings and safety. There are still too few well designed studies. Suggestions for further research are presented.
A cooperative communication intervention for nursing home staff and family members of residents
- Authors:
- PILLEMER Karl, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 43(Special Issue II), April 2003, pp.96-106.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article reports on a randomised, controlled study of Partners in Caregiving, an intervention designed to increase cooperation and effective communication between family members and nursing home staff. Participants included 932 relatives and 655 staff members recruited from 20 nursing homes, randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Parallel training sessions on communication and conflict resolution techniques were conducted with the family and staff in the treatment group, followed by a joint meeting with facility administrators. Positive outcomes were found for both family and staff members in the treatment group. Both groups showed improved attitudes toward each other, families of residents with dementia reported less conflict with staff, and staff reported a lower likelihood of quitting. Multiple studies report significant interpersonal stress between family members of nursing home residents and facility staff members. Partners in Caregiving appears to be an effective way to improve family-staff relationships in nursing homes.
The stress and psychological morbidity of the Alzheimer patient caregiver
- Authors:
- SALVADOR-GONZALEZ M. Teresa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14(9), September 1999, pp.701-710.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Alzheimer's family caregivers suffer from psychological and physical morbidity associated with the care of the Alzheimer's patient. This Spanish-American joint study compares stress and psychological morbidity between family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients and family caregivers of aged non-demented chronically ill patients and to explore the impact of cognitive and non-cognitive patient symptoms on caregivers. Results showed that caregiver stress may be reduced with special attention paid to the treatment and management of behavioural and functional symptoms in the Alzheimer's disease patient.
Physiotherapy in mental health: a practical approach
- Authors:
- EVERETT Tina, DENNIS Maureen, RICKETTS Eirian
- Publisher:
- Butterworth-Heinemann
- Publication year:
- 1995
- Pagination:
- 435p.,tables,diags.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
Challenges the artificial divide between mind and body and suggests that the physiotherapist has a role to play in promoting mental health. Looks at psychiatric illnesses and models of mental disorder and goes on to look at practical ways physiotherapy can help. Part 3 looks at physiotherapy in specific areas such as: child psychiatry; eating disorders; substance misuse; post traumatic stress disorder; forensic psychiatry; dementia; and mental illness in old age.