Functioning of autobiographical memory specificity and self-defining memories in people with cancer diagnosis.

Objectives: Cognitive and emotional disturbances have been associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Autobiographical memory is one of the specific cognitive processes affected during this disease. The current study had two main aims: (1) to compare the functioning of autobiographical memory specificity and its related variables (executive functioning, depression and perceived stress) in a group of persons with cancer and a control group; and (2) to analyze whether the experience of cancer evolved into a self-defining memory in the sample of participants diagnosed with this disease.

[Determining factors for the use of anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs in the elderly].

Introduction: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported anxiety/hypnotics use in adults 65 years and older and identify potential factors that determine the use of these drugs.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted on a study population of 1,161 non-institutionalised adults 65 years old and older with enough ability to conduct a personal interview. Participants were randomly selected from health care registers.

Understanding insomnia in older adults.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the true frequency of primary insomnia (PI), sleep disorder related to another mental disorder (SDMD) and sleep disorder due to a general medical condition (SDMC) in older adults and to establish their differentiating characteristics.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Participants were randomly selected samples of 951 subjects who are 65 years or older.

[Sleep disorders and environmental conditions in the elderly].

Objectives: To establish the prevalence and characteristics of insomnia and its relationship to other health problems, medication, socio-health status and sleep hygiene in the elderly over 65 years of age.

Design: Cross sectional study of prevalence.

Setting: Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha), 2004-2005.

The Hearing-Dependent Daily Activities Scale to evaluate impact of hearing loss in older people.

Purpose: We wanted to design and validate the Hearing-Dependent Daily Activities (HDDA) Scale as a means of identifying the impact of hearing loss in older persons by measuring capacity to carry out hearing-dependent activities.

Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional, observational study to validate a scale administered during a personal interview with 1,160 participants aged 65 years and older. When using the instrument to identify patients with hearing impairment, sensitivity and specificity were determined using an audiogram with Ventry and Weinstein criteria as the criterion standard.

Functional status of elderly people with hearing loss.

The objective is to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in people over 65 years of age, to describe the functional status of people with hearing loss and to identify the need for hearing aid use. In a cross-sectional study, a random sample of 1387 people aged 65 years and over was selected. The primary study variables were: hearing level by audiometric assessment, self-perceived hearing loss, screening for hypoacusia using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) and physical, cognitive and emotional functional status.

Functional status in the elderly with insomnia.

Background: Insomnia causes psychological distress in the elderly. Besides primary insomnia (PI), illness, medications and psychosocial factors contribute to development of sleep disorders. Although elderly insomniacs usually complain of poorer daytime functioning, it is unknown whether the disorder affects capacity to carry out activities.

[Design and validation of a questionnaire for the detection of major depression in elderly patients].

Background And Objective: The aim of this study was to design and validate a scale to detect major depressive disorders in elderly individuals in primary care (Detection of Depression in the Elderly Scale [DDES]).

Methods: We performed an observational and cross-sectional study for the validation of a scale, administered by means of a personal interview, in 259 patients aged 65 years old or older. Available instruments were reviewed and the questions were designed.