Feasibility and Acceptability of Group Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy for Recurrent Mood Disorders: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) was developed to empower patients with mood disorders by stabilizing underlying disturbances in circadian rhythms and by using strategies from interpersonal psychotherapy. Group IPSRT has not been studied with a transdiagnostic sample of patients across the life span with either major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.

Methods: Thirty-eight outpatients, ages 26-80, with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in any mood state were recruited from clinics in the Netherlands and were treated with 20 sessions (two per week) of group IPSRT.

Loneliness, social network size and mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Loneliness and social network size have been found to be predictors of mortality in older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate whether loneliness and small social network size are associated with an increased mortality risk and to review the evidence for either network size, or loneliness that constitutes the higher mortality risk. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE and PsychInfo in January/February 2018 and March/April 2021.

Cognitive functioning in late life affective disorders: Comparing older adults with bipolar disorder, late life depression and healthy controls.

Introduction: Both older age bipolar disorder (OABD) and late life depression (LLD) have been associated with cognitive dysfunction. It is unclear how cognitive functioning differs between these disorders and what the influence of current depressive symptoms is.

Methods: We compared OABD (n = 148), LLD (n = 378) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 132) on cognitive functioning.

Rivastigmine for ECT-induced cognitive adverse effects in late life depression (RECALL study): A multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial in patients with depression aged 55 years or older: Rationale, objectives and methods.

Background: Cognitive side-effects are an important reason for the limited use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Cognitive side-effects are heterogeneous and occur frequently in older persons. To date, insight into these side-effects is hampered due to inconsistencies in study designs and small sample sizes.

The 5-year outcome of subjective quality of life in older schizophrenia patients.

Purpose: Subjective quality of life (SQOL) is increasingly valued as an important outcome in schizophrenia treatment. The current study aims to gain insight into changes in SQOL during 5-year follow-up in older persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

Methods: The sample consisted of a catchment area-based group of 75 older Dutch patients (mean age 66.

Known in the nursing home: development and evaluation of a digital person-centered artistic photo-activity intervention to promote social interaction between residents with dementia, and their formal and informal carers.

Background: To address the lack of social interaction and meaningful activities for persons with dementia (PWD) in nursing homes an artistic Photo-Activity was designed. The present study aims to develop a digital version of the Photo-Activity and to investigate its implementation and impact on nursing home residents with advanced dementia, and their (in)formal carers.

Methods: First, within a user-participatory design, a digital-app version of the Photo-Activity will be developed and pilot-tested, in co-creation with (in)formal carers and PWD.

The Association Between Loneliness and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Older Psychiatric Outpatients.

Purpose: Loneliness in adults increases with age. Although loneliness has been found to be associated with psychiatric disorders and dementia, no information is available on prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric patients. The aims of this study were to examine prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric outpatients, including gender differences and associations with psychiatric disorders and social isolation.

Impact of Inflammation on Cognitive Functioning After Electroconvulsive Therapy in Older Patients with Depression with and Without White Matter Hyperintensities.

Objective: Should we treat older, patients with depression with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? WMH, inflammation, depression and cognitive functioning are suggested to be intertwined. Hence, this study investigates whether the association between inflammation and cognition is different in patients with depression with or without WMH.

Methods: Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination during and after a course of ECT in 77 older patients with depression.

Five-year outcome of clinical recovery and subjective well-being in older Dutch patients with schizophrenia.

Outcome of schizophrenia in later life can be evaluated from different perspectives. The recovery concept has moved forward this evaluation, discerning clinical-based and patient-based definitions. Longitudinal data on measures of recovery in older individuals with schizophrenia are scant.

Inflammation and Cognitive Functioning in Depressed Older Adults Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Despite the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), patients and practitioners are often reluctant to start it due to the risk of transient cognitive side effects, particularly in older patients. Inflammatory processes may be associated with the occurrence of these effects. This study assessed whether inflammatory markers prior to ECT are associated with cognitive functioning in depressed patients treated with ECT.

Cognitive performance in older-age bipolar disorder: Investigating psychiatric characteristics, cardiovascular burden and psychotropic medication.

Objective: This study aimed to explore a large range of candidate determinants of cognitive performance in older-age bipolar disorder (OABD).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 172 BD patients aged ≥50 years. Demographics, psychiatric characteristics and psychotropic medication use were collected using self-report questionnaires and structured interviews.

Early life involvement in C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers.

Objectives: The chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 gene (C9orf72) hexanucleotide repeat expansion (C9orf72) is the most common genetic cause of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Since the onset of the C9orf72-associated disease is sometimes hard to define, we hypothesise that C9orf72 may cause a lifelong neuropsychiatric vulnerability. The first aim of our study was to explore lifelong behavioural and personality characteristics in C9orf72.

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.

The pattern of inflammatory markers during electroconvulsive therapy in older depressed patients.

Objectives: An association is found between changes in cytokine levels and antidepressant treatment outcome. Also, a proinflammatory profile is associated with a favourable electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) outcome. This paper investigates the pattern of inflammatory markers during a course of ECT in older depressed patients and whether this pattern is associated with ECT outcome.

A comparison of depressive symptom profiles between current major depressive disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Introduction: Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent and clinically relevant in schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) patients. So far, little is known about to what extent the depressive symptom profile in SSD is comparable to that seen in major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: Data were derived from the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis study (GROUP) and the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA).

Transient Cognitive Impairment and White Matter Hyperintensities in Severely Depressed Older Patients Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Background: Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe late life depression (LLD), transient cognitive impairment can be a reason to discontinue the treatment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between structural brain characteristics and general cognitive function during and after ECT.

Methods: A total of 80 patients with LLD from the prospective naturalistic follow-up Mood Disorders in Elderly treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy study were examined.

Neurocognitive functioning after electroconvulsive therapy in late-life depression: A 4-year prospective study.

Objective: Despite the proven efficacy and safety of ECT, there is still concern about the possible cognitive side effects of ECT in older patients. In this study, we aimed to characterize the long-term cognitive effects of ECT in patients with late-life depression (LLD) from before the start until 4 years after the index ECT course.

Methods: Fourty one patients aged 55 years and older with a unipolar depression, referred for ECT, were included.

Loneliness, social network size, and mortality in older adults and the role of cortisol.

Background: Loneliness and social isolation have both been found to be associated with increased mortality in previous studies. One potential underlying mechanism is via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between social network size and cortisol, to analyze the associations between both loneliness and social network size and mortality, and to examine to what extent the association between network size and/or loneliness and mortality is mediated by cortisol.

Reliability and validity of the functioning assessment short test for older adults with bipolar disorder (FAST-O).

Background: Many frequently used instruments fail to assess psychosocial functioning in patients with bipolar disorder. The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was developed in order to tackle this problem and to assess the main functioning problems experienced by patients with bipolar disorder. However, the original FAST is not fully applicable in older adults due to the domain of occupational functioning.

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.

Psychotic late-life depression less likely to relapse after electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: A substantial number of patients with late-life depression (LLD) that remitted after ECT experience relapse. Identifying risk factors for relapse may guide clinical management to devote attention to those at increased risk. Therefore the current study aims to evaluate which baseline clinical characteristics are related to relapse within six months after successful ECT in patients with severe LLD.

Does cognitive function in older bipolar patients depend on recurrent or current mood symptoms?

Background: Cognitive impairment in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is viewed as an integral part of the disorder that seems to be rather stable and even present in euthymic state. Current mood symptoms influence cognition negatively and multiple mood episodes could lead to more severe psychopathology and cognitive impairment, resulting in a hypothesized neuroprogressive course of BD. The influence of current mood symptoms and recurrent mood episodes on cognitive functioning warrants further exploration.