Quality of Life and Relationships in Caregivers of People With Dementia. A Gender Perspective.

Home-dwelling people with dementia rely on their family members to be able to stay at home. This affects the family caregivers' quality of life (QoL). However, less is known about how male and female caregivers differ in their QoL.

Associations of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism, 5-HTTLPR, and adverse life events with late life depression in the elderly Lithuanian population.

Late-life depression (LLD) is a multifactorial disorder, with susceptibility and vulnerability potentially influenced by gene-environment interaction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with LLD. The sample of 353 participants aged 65 years and over was randomly selected from the list of Kaunas city inhabitants by Residents' Register Service of Lithuania.

A training course on interpersonal relationships using role play in a Master of Mental Health Care programme - The students' experiences.

Objectives: To study how Master Students of Mental Health Care experienced role play as an educational method that strengthened their relational competence.

Design: The study was qualitative with an exploratory descriptive design.

Settings: Relational competence training course during the Master of Mental Health Care programme INFORMANTS: Master students in a Mental Health Care programme METHODS: Data from open-ended questions were analysed using qualitative content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman.

Behavioural disturbances in patients with frontotemporal lobe degeneration focusing on caregiver burden at home and in nursing homes.

Aim And Objective: To explore the challenges faced by family caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia and other forms of dementia affecting the frontal and temporal lobes causing behavioural disturbances through a qualitative approach with in-depth interviews.

Background: Studies of different forms of dementia involving degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes have mainly focused on the neurophysiology and physiology of the disease and on caregivers' health. Few studies have described the challenges and burdens connected with everyday life and in relation to suitable nursing home placement that are faced by family caregivers.

The effect of psychosocial support on caregivers' perceived criticism and emotional over-involvement of persons with dementia: an assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Many relatives of close family members suffering from dementia have taken on the caregiver role. While intervention studies have revealed promising results on caregiver burden, distress, and depression, there is a lack of knowledge about how caregivers' perceived relationship with their ill family member influences the burden of care. This study examined whether a psychosocial intervention influenced this perceived relationship from the caregivers' perspective.

Poor Quality in Systematic Reviews on PTSD and EMDR - An Examination of Search Methodology and Reporting.

Different user groups regard systematic reviews as reliable and valuable sources for answering research questions. For systematic reviews to fulfill their purpose, methodological quality in all stages are of importance. The studies identified in a systematic search form the basis of the review, thus the search process methodology is important for both performing and reporting the search.

Music Therapy and Physical Activity to Ease Anxiety, Restlessness, Irritability, and Aggression in Individuals With Dementia With Signs of Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether a combined intervention of physical activity and music therapy could reduce anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and aggression among individuals with severe dementia. An exploratory design was used to evaluate a combined intervention of physical activity, music therapy, and daily walking. Interventions were systematically implemented for 8 weeks.

Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study.

Background: It is important that mental health nursing students at Bachelor level obtain effective communication skills. Many students dread the fact that in the mental health field they will encounter patients and relatives with various backgrounds and personalities. Large classes and limited teaching resources in nursing education are challenging.

The coping experiences of spouses of persons with dementia.

Aims And Objectives: To explore how spouses who are caregivers to persons with dementia experience everyday life 6-12 months after participation in the intervention condition in the Norwegian Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Early Dementia (N-CORDIAL) study.

Background: There is no current medical curative treatment for cognitive impairment and dementia-associated conditions. These conditions will lead to an increased need for daily assistance and care, as well as greater stress for caregivers.

Dignity in people with frontotemporal dementia and similar disorders - a qualitative study of the perspective of family caregivers.

Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) constitutes on average 10-15% of dementia in younger persons (≤65 years old), but can also affect older people. These patients demonstrate a decline in social conduct, and/or language aphasias, apathy, and loss of insight that is gradual and progressive. Preservation of dignity seems to be highly relevant both before and after admission to different types of institutionalized care, but the research is scant.

Relationship Quality and Distress in Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between caregivers and care receivers, defined as home-dwelling family members with dementia. We used a self-rating questionnaire, the Felt Expressed Emotion Rating Scale (FEERS; 6 simple questions), to measure caregiver perceptions of the care receiver's criticisms (CCs) and emotional overinvolvement (EOI) toward the caregiver. We performed factor analyses to rank single items on the FEERS pertaining to CC and EOI.

Social provision and loneliness among older people suffering from chronic physical illness. A mixed-methods approach.

Aims: To describe and compare the perceived social provision for a group reporting never feeling lonely with that of a group reporting feeling lonely and to explore the meaning of loneliness.

Subjects: Participants (N = 101) were recruited from geriatric wards. Inclusion criteria were as follows: aged 65 years or more, the absence of dementia, one or more chronic physical disorders and plans to be discharged from the hospital to their home.

The validity of the Montgomery-Aasberg depression rating scale as a screening tool for depression in later life.

Background: The aims of the study were to examine the validity of the MADRS and to compare it with the validity of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD).

Methods: We included 140 patients without dementia, with mean age 81.5 (sd 7.

Co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive disorders in a community sample of older people: results from the MRC CFAS (Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study).

Background: Few population-based studies have examined the whole range of subthreshold syndromes and disorders of anxiety and depression in older people.

Aims: To investigate the co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive syndromes in older people. Associations between these conditions and personal and environmental factors are examined.

Prevalence of depression in older people in England and Wales: the MRC CFA Study.

Background: Depression in old age is an important public health problem. The aims of this study were to report the prevalence of depression in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS), a community-based, cohort.

Method: Following screening of 13 004 people aged 65 and over from a population base, a stratified random subsample of 2640 participants received the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) examination and were diagnosed using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer-Assisted Taxonomy (AGECAT) algorithm.

The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): the state scale in detecting mental disorders in geriatric patients.

Background: In geriatric psychiatry assessment scales are often used in clinical praxis in the diagnostic work-up of mental disorders.

Aim: To assess whether the state part of the STAI is useful as a case-finding instrument of mental disorders.

Materials And Method: Data came from 70 non demented geriatric in-patients in stable clinical condition.

Anxiety and well-being in older people after discharge from hospital.

Background: A previous study using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) has documented a very high prevalence of anxiety symptoms among older inpatients. The STAI produced two main concepts on factor analysis -'Nervousness' and 'Well-being'- and high scores on both caused the high overall score in these patients.

Aim: To investigate how the scorings on the STAI evolve after discharge in older patients in order to understand better the reasons for their high scorings while in hospital.