Sex Differences Among Older Adults With Bipolar Disorder: Results From the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) Project.

Objective: Sex-specific research in adult bipolar disorder (BD) is sparse and even more so among those with older age bipolar disorder (OABD). Knowledge about sex differences across the bipolar lifespan is urgently needed to target and improve treatment. To address this gap, the current study examined sex differences in the domains of clinical presentation, general functioning, and mood symptoms among individuals with OABD.

Feasibility of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Older Adults With the Moodbuster Platform: Protocol for 2 Pilot Feasibility Studies.

Background: Internet-based interventions can be effective in the treatment of depression. However, internet-based interventions for older adults with depression are scarce, and little is known about their feasibility and effectiveness.

Objective: To present the design of 2 studies aiming to assess the feasibility of internet-based cognitive behavioral treatment for older adults with depression.

Physical comorbidity in Older-Age Bipolar Disorder (OABD) compared to the general population - a 3-year longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the accumulation of chronic physical diseases in Older-Age Bipolar Disorder (OABD) as well as in individuals from the general aging population over a 3-year period.

Methods: This prospective longitudinal study compared 101 patients with OABD receiving outpatient care (DOBi cohort) with 2545 individuals from the general aging population (LASA cohort). The presence of eight major chronic diseases was asked at baseline and 3-year follow-up.

Psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak in older adults with bipolar disorder.

Objectives: Older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) are vulnerable for a COVID-19 infection via multiple pathways. It is essential for OABD to adhere to the COVID-19 measures, with potential consequences for the psychiatric symptoms. This situation offers the unique opportunity to investigate factors of vulnerability and resilience that are associated with psychiatric symptoms in OABD.

The influence of social, psychological, and cognitive factors on the clinical course in older patients with bipolar disorder.

Objectives: Research on factors that contribute to recurrence in older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) is sparse. Previous research showed that clinical factors (e.g.

Metabolic syndrome rates in older patients with severe mental illness after five years of follow-up and the association with mortality.

Objectives: To establish the course of metabolic syndrome (MS) rates in older patients with severe mental illness (SMI) after 5-year follow-up and evaluate whether MS at baseline is associated with mortality or diabetes at follow-up.

Methods: Patients (>60 years of age) with SMI (N = 100) were included at a specialized mental health outpatient clinic. Metabolic parameters were collected from patients' medical files at baseline and after 5-year follow-up.

Burden on caregivers of older patients with bipolar disorder.

Objectives: Available data suggest high burden on caregivers of patientswith bipolar disorder (BD), yet the well-being of patients with BD increasingly depends on family members, partners and close friends. Aspatients with BD get older, the need for informal care may shift. We aimed to describe the caregivers of older adults with BD (OABD) and explore what patients' and caregivers' characteristics are associated with caregiver burden.

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in a catchment-area based cohort of older community-living schizophrenia patients.

Background: Depressive symptoms frequently accompany schizophrenia. Older patients constitute the fastest growing segment of the schizophrenia population. With regard to the risk factors associated with depression, it is uncertain to which extent older schizophrenia patients differ from their age peers in the community.

The elimination half-life of benzodiazepines and fall risk: two prospective observational studies.

Background: the STOPP criteria advise against the use of long-acting benzodiazepines (LBs).

Objective: to study whether LBs are associated with a higher fall risk than short-acting benzodiazepines (SBs) (elimination half-life ≤ 10 h).

Methods: we used base-line data and prospective fall follow-up from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, a longitudinal cohort study including 1,509 community-dwelling older persons (Study 1) and from a separate fall prevention study with 564 older persons after a fall (Study 2).

Efficacy and safety of continuation and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in depressed elderly patients: a systematic review.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most efficacious treatment in severely depressed elderly patients. Relapse and recurrence of geriatric depression after recovery is an important clinical issue, which requires vigorous and safe treatment in the long term. Continuation or maintenance ECT (M-ECT) may play an important role in this respect.

Ten-year trends in benzodiazepine use in the Dutch population.

Background: In the past decades knowledge on adequate treatment of affective disorders and awareness of the negative consequences of long-term benzodiazepine use increased. Therefore, a decrease in benzodiazepine use is expected, particularly in prolonged use. The aim of this study was to assess time trends in benzodiazepine use.

Stability and change of emotional functioning in late life: modelling of vulnerability profiles.

Background And Aims: The present study investigated stability and change in emotional well-being in a prospective study of a large sample of community-dwelling older adults (> or = 55 years). Emotional functioning was conceptualized according to the tripartite model distinguishing three aspects: general negative affect (NA), depression, and anxiety. The study tested models for the decline of mental health in late life based on the diathesis-stress model.

Drug treatment in depressed elderly in the Dutch community.

Objectives: In older people, a diagnosis of depression is frequently missed, and proper treatment is subsequently hampered. We investigated antidepressant and benzodiazepine use in an older community sample, and assessed possible risk factors associated with non-treatment in depressed elderly.

Methods: Data were used from the baseline measurements of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).