Functional outcomes of diets in multiple sclerosis (FOOD for MS): Protocol for a parallel arm randomized feeding trial for low glycemic load and calorie restriction.

Background: Pilot trials indicate that both a low glycemic load (GL) diet and calorie restriction (CR) can be implemented successfully in people with multiple sclerosis (pMS) and may improve MS symptoms and physical function, but large randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have not yet been conducted. The purpose of this study is to test these interventions alone and in combination to determine their efficacy for improving clinical and patient reported outcomes (PROs) in pMS.

Methods: This 32-week, two-arm, RCT at two centers will randomly assign 100 adults with relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS to a low GL diet (n = 50) or a standard GL diet (n = 50).

Clinician and caregiver agreement on neuropsychiatric symptom severity: a study using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Clinician rating scale (NPI-C).

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are highly prevalent in dementia. The recently developed Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Clinician rating scale (NPI-C) includes clinical judgment and new symptom domains. Our objective was to evaluate NPI-C reliability and to compare caregiver and clinician ratings across the range of mild to severe cognitive impairment.

Long-term cognitive outcome of delirium in elderly hip surgery patients. A prospective matched controlled study over two and a half years.

Objective: To study the outcome of delirium in elderly hip surgery patients.

Design: Prospective matched controlled cohort study. Hip surgery patients (n = 112) aged 70 years and older, who participated in a controlled clinical trial of haloperidol prophylaxis for delirium, were followed for an average of 30 months after discharge.

Reasons for psychiatric consultation referrals in Dutch nursing home patients with dementia: a comparison with normative data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Objective: To study psychiatric consultation referrals of nursing home patients with dementia and to compare referral reasons with normative data on prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Methods: This is part of a cross-sectional study of 787 patients residing in 14 nursing homes in the Netherlands. Nursing home physicians (NHP) noted the primary reasons for psychiatric consultation according to the Neuropsychiatric Inventory items and two extra domains.

Early symptoms in the prodromal phase of delirium: a prospective cohort study in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery.

Objectives: The authors investigated prodromal delirium symptoms in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in the setting of a large medical school-affiliated general hospital in Alkmaar, The Netherlands. Participants were patients undergoing hip surgery aged 70 and older at risk for delirium.

The emotional impact of psychiatric symptoms in dementia on partner caregivers: do caregiver, patient, and situation characteristics make a difference?

This study aims to investigate the emotional impact of psychiatric symptoms of patients with dementia on their caregiving partners, and to explore if caregiver, patient, and situation factors predict this emotional impact on caregivers. A cross-sectional design was used. Partners of patients with slight to moderately severe dementia who live in the community (n = 85) were interviewed.

Delirium-O-Meter: a nurses' rating scale for monitoring delirium severity in geriatric patients.

Background: Delirium is a common psychiatric disorder in general hospital elderly patients. Several delirium screening tests exist. Few nurse based delirium severity measures are available.

Negative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: a confirmatory factor analysis.

Objective: To examine different conceptual models of negative symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

Design: Confirmatory factor analysis of cross-sectional data.

Subjects: Alzheimer patients (n=281) admitted to a psychogeriatric observation ward.