Treatment outcomes in depression: comparison of remote treatment through telepsychiatry to in-person treatment.

Objective: Telepsychiatry is an increasingly common method of providing psychiatric care, but randomized trials of telepsychiatric treatment compared to in-person treatment have not been done. The primary objective of this study was to compare treatment outcomes of patients with depressive disorders treated remotely by means of telepsychiatry to outcomes of depressed patients treated in person. Secondary objectives were to determine if patients' rates of adherence to and satisfaction with treatment were as high with telepsychiatric as with in-person treatment and to compare costs of telepsychiatric treatment to costs of in-person treatment.

Some predictors of psychiatric consultation in nursing home residents.

Objective: Despite the high rate of psychiatric disorders in nursing homes, research indicates that psychiatric consultation is requested infrequently. The authors sought to determine the rate of psychiatric consultation in a nursing home population and to assess what factors were related to a consultation request.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from a stratified random sample of 59 nursing homes across Maryland.

Association of depression with agitation in elderly nursing home residents.

Agitation is a serious problem for elderly individuals with dementia. It is often the major reason for admission to a restrictive environment such as a nursing home or hospital. The objectives of the current study were to (1) identify the components of agitation embedded in the Psychogeriatric Dependency Rating Scale (PGDRS) and (2) find race, gender, depression, and cognitive deficits associated with the factors extracted from the PGDRS in demographic variables and clinical variables.

Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Oldest-Old Residents in Israel.

The authors examined the rate and correlates of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling oldest-old citizens in Israel with a sample of about 1,200 Jewish Israelis age 75-94. The estimated national rate of depressive symptoms was 43.5%.

Levodopa Dependence and Hypersexuality in an Older Parkinson's Disease Patient.

The authors discuss the relationship between dopaminergic medication abuse and hypersexuality. Tin's is the first reported case of levodopa dependence mediated and reinforced by hypersexuality. The medication abuse started in an attempt to control parkinsonian symptoms but eventually led to high-risk, uncontrollable sexual behavior.

Significant life Events and PTSD in Elderly World War II Veterans.

The authors reviewed clinic records of 20 WWII veterans referred for evaluation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Twelve patients qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD, and eight reported several symptoms of PTSD. The most frequent symptoms were insomnia (80%), nightmares (75%), and irritability (65%).

Continuous vs. Targeted Medication in Older Schizophrenic Outpatients.

The authors compared targeted as opposed to continuous neuroleptic medication for the treatment of older (over age 50) schizophrenic outpatients. Patients in the continuous medication group (n = 17) received maintenance neuroleptic medication throughout the 12-month study period. Those in the targeted group (n = 14) received medication only during periods of prodrome.