Development of loneliness and social isolation after spousal loss: A systematic review of longitudinal studies on widowhood.

Background: Spousal loss is a stressful life event that is associated with loneliness and social isolation, both of which affect mental and physical health. The primary objective of this paper was to synthesize longitudinal studies that investigated loneliness and social isolation in widowhood.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted using three electronic databases.

Longitudinal associations in dementia family caregivers of ambivalent feelings and disruptive behaviors with C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and D-dimer.

Objective: Caregivers' ambivalent feelings toward the care recipient have been found to be associated with depression and anxiety. There is no research linking caregivers' ambivalent feelings and cardiovascular risk. This study was aimed to analyze longitudinally the effect of ambivalence on caregivers' cardiovascular risk, defined by circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and D-dimer.

Longitudinal effects of ambivalent and guilt feelings on dementia family caregivers' depressive symptoms.

Background: The world prevalence of people with dementia is increasing. Most of the care received by people with dementia is provided by family caregivers, and this prolonged activity has a significant impact on caregivers' levels of depression. Stressors and frequency of leisure are known predictors of caregivers' depressive levels.

An integrated model of psychosocial correlates of insomnia severity in family caregivers of people with dementia.

Objectives: Research has shown the relevance of stress and coping factors in explaining caregivers' insomnia symptoms. However, few attempts have been made to empirically test an integrative model for insomnia severity in family caregivers of people with dementia. The aim of this study was to test such a model, in which insomnia severity is proposed to be influenced by predisposing factors, precipitated by stressors, and perpetuated by behaviors to cope with these stressors.

Remotely-administered resilience and self-compassion intervention targeting loneliness and stress in older adults: a single-case experimental design.

Objectives: Loneliness and chronic stress are prevalent issues for older adults that have been linked to adverse health outcomes. We conducted a remote resilience and self-compassion intervention targeting loneliness and chronic stress.

Methods: This study utilized a multiple-phase-change single-case experimental design with three consecutive 6-week phases: control, intervention, follow-up.

Associations Between Dysfunctional Thoughts, Leisure Activities, and IL-6 in Caregivers of Family Members With Dementia.

Objective: Dementia caregiving is associated with negative physical health consequences, including inflammation processes. The objective of this study was to analyze the associations between dysfunctional thoughts, frequency of leisure activities, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in a sample of dementia family caregivers.

Methods: One hundred forty dementia caregivers participated in this cross-sectional study.

Remotely Administered Resilience- and Wisdom-Focused Intervention to Reduce Perceived Stress and Loneliness: Pilot Controlled Clinical Trial in Older Adults.

Objective: Older adults are vulnerable to perceived stress and loneliness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We previously reported inverse relationships between loneliness/perceived stress and wisdom/resilience. There are few evidence-based tele-health interventions for older adults.

Discrepancy between self-reported and objective sleep duration among dementia caregivers and noncaregivers.

Study Objectives: Poor sleep, including short sleep duration, is common among caregivers of persons with dementia. However, it is unclear whether poor sleep is consistent across both self-reported and objective measures of sleep in caregivers. This study aimed to test the role of caregiving status (caregivers vs noncaregivers) on the discrepancy between self-reported and objective sleep duration.

Interventions to reduce loneliness in caregivers: An integrative review of the literature.

Older adults are at an increased risk of loneliness. Many also serve as informal caregivers for persons with dementia and other disabling conditions, further predisposing them to loneliness. The primary objective was to assess current loneliness interventions for caregivers to inform development of effective therapies to improve their quality of life.

Longitudinal Correlates of Depressive Symptoms and Positive and Negative Affects in Family Caregivers of People With Dementia.

Objective: Caring for a relative with dementia is considered a chronically stressful role associated with negative consequences for psychological health such as higher levels of depression. However, the subjective experience of depressive symptomatology is complex as it relates to two unique domains: positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). The objective of this study was to analyze, through a longitudinal design, the associations of caregivers' cognitive (avoidance coping, personal mastery, and coping self-efficacy) and behavioral (frequency of pleasant events) coping strategies with depressive symptoms, PA, and NA.

Associations between pleasant events, activity restriction, stressors, and blood pressure in caregivers of persons with dementia.

Objectives: Caring for a relative with dementia is associated with adverse consequences for cardiovascular health. Cognitive and behavioral factors, such as high perceived activity restriction and low frequency of pleasant events have been found to be associated with higher levels of blood pressure, but the role these variables play in the stress and coping process remains understudied. The objective of this study is to analyze the associations between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, activity restriction, frequency of pleasant events, and mean arterial pressure.

Healthcare use and costs in adult cancer patients with anxiety and depression.

Objective: Anxiety and depression are common in individuals with cancer and may impact healthcare service use and costs in this population. This study examined the effects of anxiety alone, depression alone, and comorbid anxiety and depressive disorder on healthcare use and costs among patients with cancer.

Method: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of administrative data of patients aged 18 or older with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis of cancer.

Psychometric evaluation of the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale-Short Form in Alzheimer's caregivers.

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of scores from the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale Short Form (BADS-SF) in a sample of older age, spousal, Alzheimer's caregivers participating in an evaluation of Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy compared to an Information Support (IS) group. At baseline assessment, caregivers ( = 170) completed the BADS-SF, which is comprised of two subscales (Activation and Avoidance) that can be summed to produce a total score. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate structural validity.

Effects of Psychosocial Interventions and Caregiving Stress on Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Family Dementia Caregivers: The UCSD Pleasant Events Program (PEP) Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: This study examined whether biological mechanisms linking dementia caregiving with an increased risk of coronary heart disease can be modified by psychosocial interventions and which caregivers might benefit the most from an intervention.

Methods: Spousal dementia caregivers were randomized to 12-week treatment with either a behavioral activation intervention (ie, Pleasant Events Program [PEP]; n = 60), or an active control Information and Support (IS; n = 63) condition. Indicators of caregiving stress were assessed pretreatment and circulating cardiovascular biomarkers were measured pre- and posttreatment.

The Relationship Between Circulating Interleukin-6 Levels and Future Health Service Use in Dementia Caregivers.

Objective: Older adults are among the most frequent users of emergency departments (EDs). Nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue and widespread pain, are among the most common symptoms in patients admitted at the ED. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) are inflammation biomarkers associated with chronic stress (i.

Refining caregiver vulnerability for clinical practice: determinants of self-rated health in spousal dementia caregivers.

Background: Caregivers of a family member with a chronic disability or illness such as dementia are at increased risk for chronic disease. There are many factors that contribute to dementia caregiver vulnerability and these factors can be challenging to assess in clinical settings. Self-rated health (SRH) is an independent measure of survival and physical health in the elderly.

Development, implementation, and initial results of the UC San Diego Health Moores Cancer Center Wellbeing Screening Tool.

Objective: All accredited cancer institutions are required to screen patients for psychosocial distress. This paper describes the development, implementation, and preliminary outcomes of the University of California San Diego Health Moores Cancer Center Wellbeing Screening Program.

Method: Essential steps learned in a formal National Cancer Institute-funded training workshop entitled "Implementing Comprehensive Biopsychosocial Screening" were followed to ensure successful program implementation.

Stress and Blood Pressure in Dementia Caregivers: The Moderator Role of Mindfulness.

: Dementia caregiving has been described as a chronically stressful situation with adverse cardiovascular effects. Psychological resources such as mindfulness may reduce the impact of stress on caregivers' cardiovascular health. The objective of this study was to analyze the moderating effect of trait mindfulness on the relationship between frequency of disruptive behaviors of the care recipient and blood pressure (BP) in dementia caregivers.

Mental health treatment dose and annual healthcare costs in patients with cancer and major depressive disorder.

Objective: Depression in patients with cancer has been associated with increased annual health care use and costs relative to nondepressed patients. Little is known of the potential cost savings associated with receipt of mental health treatment. This study evaluated the association between number of mental health visits and annual health care costs in patients with cancer and comorbid major depression.

Cognitive and functional deficits in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia as a function of the presence and history of psychosis.

Objectives: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder overlap considerably. Schizophrenia is a primary psychotic disorder, whereas approximately half of people with bipolar disorder will experience psychosis. In this study, we examined the extent to which cognitive and functional impairments are related to the presence and history of psychosis across the two disorders.

Temporal Associations Between Social Activity and Mood, Fatigue, and Pain in Older Adults With HIV: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Background: Social isolation is associated with an increased risk for mental and physical health problems, especially among older persons living with HIV (PLWH). Thus, there is a need to better understand real-time temporal associations between social activity and mood- and health-related factors in this population to inform possible future interventions.

Objective: This study aims to examine real-time relationships between social activity and mood, fatigue, and pain in a sample of older PLWH.

Health care costs of depression in patients diagnosed with cancer.

Objective: Depression is common among patients diagnosed with cancer. Patients with cancer and depression use more health care services compared with nondepressed cancer patients. The current study seeks to estimate the added cost of depression in cancer patients in the first year after cancer diagnosis.

Long-term caregiving is associated with impaired cardiovagal baroreflex.

Objective: Caregiving stress is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Inability to adequately regulate blood pressure is a possible underlying mechanism explaining this risk. We examined the relationship between length of caregiving and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) to better understand the link between caregiving and CVD risk.