Primary mental health care for adults with mild intellectual disabilities: a focus group study of care professionals' perspectives.

Background: GPs and mental health nurse practitioners (MHNPs) often feel ill equipped to provide mental health (MH) care to people with mild intellectual disabilities (MID). This is worrying, as insufficient primary MH care may lead to more severe or chronic problems. To improve primary MH care for this patient group, account must be taken of the experiences and needs of GPs and MHNPs providing the care.

Key Factors in Helpfulness and Use of the SAFE Intervention for Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse: Qualitative Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial and Process Evaluation.

Background: Many women experience at least one type of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA), and although various support options are available, we still know relatively little about web-based interventions for IPVA survivors. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the SAFE eHealth intervention for women experiencing IPVA in the Netherlands, complementing the quantitative evaluation of self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and multiple feasibility aspects.

Objective: This study assessed users' experiences and what, according to them, were useful and helpful aspects of the intervention.

Effectiveness of the SAFE eHealth Intervention for Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse: Randomized Controlled Trial, Quantitative Process Evaluation, and Open Feasibility Study.

Background: Intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) is a pervasive societal issue that impacts many women globally. Web-based help options are becoming increasingly available and have the ability to eliminate certain barriers in help seeking for IPVA, especially in improving accessibility.

Objective: This study focused on the quantitative evaluation of the SAFE eHealth intervention for women IPVA survivors.

Optimization of eHealth interventions for intimate partner violence and abuse: A qualitative study amongst Arabic-speaking migrant women.

Aims: This interview study focuses on the needs and wishes of Arabic-speaking migrant women in the Netherlands to culturally adapt and optimize the digital support platform SAFE (safewomen.nl) for intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) for their use.

Design: This is a qualitative interview-based study.

[Rational prescription of antidepressants for depression].

Antidepressants are the subject of lively public debate. Over one million Dutch people are prescribed an antidepressant each year for a variety of reasons. The number of long-term antidepressant users is smaller, estimated to be around 150,000 patients for over a year for depression.

[Why do patients find it difficult to discontinue their medication?].

Tapering medication is difficult for many patients using chronic medication. Physicians must be aware of why patients experience difficulties in discontinuation. Important are the cognitions of patients about why the medication is necessary, for example because of the deficit of a certain substance that is supplemented by the medication.

Professionals' views on working in the field of domestic violence and abuse during the first wave of COVID-19: a qualitative study in the Netherlands.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown evoked great worries among professionals in the field of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) as they expected a rise of the phenomenon. While many countries reported increased DVA, the Netherlands did not. To understand this discrepancy and the overall impact of the lockdown on DVA support services, we interviewed DVA professionals about their experiences with DVA during the rise of COVID-19, the impact of the lockdown on clients and working conditions, and views on eHealth and online tools.

Development of a research agenda for general practice based on knowledge gaps identified in Dutch guidelines and input from 48 stakeholders.

Background: Several funding organizations using different agendas support research in general practice. Topic selection and prioritization are often not coordinated, which may lead to duplication and research waste.

Objectives: To develop systematically a national research agenda for general practice involving general practitioners, researchers, patients and other relevant stakeholders in healthcare.

Improving Prediction of Dementia in Primary Care.

Purpose: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most widely used instruments to screen for cognitive deficits; however, this instrument alone is not sensitive enough to detect early symptoms of dementia. We aimed to investigate whether additionally using the Visual Association Test (VAT) improves the predictive value of the MMSE score for development of dementia.

Methods: Analyses were based on data from 2,690 primary care patients aged 70 to 78 years who participated in the Prevention of Dementia by Intensive Vascular Care (preDIVA) trial.

Lower dementia risk with different classes of antihypertensive medication in older patients.

Objective: Use of antihypertensive medication (AHM) is potentially associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Both calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are suggested to have a more pronounced protective effect. We aimed to study the association between different classes of AHM and dementia in older people.

The mediating role of cardiovascular risk factors in the relationship between symptoms of apathy and incident cardiovascular disease in community-dwelling older individuals.

Background: In old age, both apathy and depression have been associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study evaluated the mediating role of cardiovascular risk factors in the relationship of apathy and mood symptoms with incident CVD.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 1,790 community-dwelling older individuals (70-78 years) without a history of CVD or stroke.

Perspectives of older people engaging in nurse-led cardiovascular prevention programmes: a qualitative study in primary care in the Netherlands.

Background: Cardiovascular prevention programmes are increasingly being offered to older people. To achieve the proposed benefits, adherence is crucial. Understanding the reasons for adherence and non-adherence can improve preventive care.

Apathy is an independent risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease in the older individual: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: Although depression is considered to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), specifically symptoms of apathy have been strongly associated with a history of CVD in recent studies. In this study, we prospectively assess whether symptoms of apathy and depression are independent risk factors for incident CVD and stroke.

Methods: We carried out a prospective cohort study of 1810 community-dwelling older individuals (70-78 years) without a history of CVD or stroke.

Association of vascular factors with apathy in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Context: Apathy in community-dwelling elderly individuals has been associated with a history of stroke and other cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To assess the relationship between symptoms of apathy and cardiovascular risk factors or disease (stroke or other) in a large sample of elderly people aged 70 to 78 years without depression or dementia.

Design: Cross-sectional data analysis within an ongoing cluster-randomized, open, multicenter trial.

Cardiovascular risk management in community-dwelling elderly: opportunities for prevention.

Background: There is little information on the prevalence of hypertension and other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in community-dwelling elderly in the Netherlands and the potential impact of improving antihypertensive treatment on major cardiovascular events.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of Dutch community-dwelling subjects aged 70-78 years without dementia who were included in the cluster randomized preDIVA trial (Prevention of Dementia by Intensive Vascular care).

Methods: The prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors are described for participants with and without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Treatment of cardiovascular risk factors to prevent cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review.

Background: Over the last decade, evidence has accumulated that vascular risk factors increase the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD). So far, few randomized controlled trials have focused on lowering the vascular risk profile to prevent or postpone cognitive decline or dementia.

Objective: To systematically perform a review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating drug treatment effects for cardiovascular risk factors on the incidence of dementia or cognitive decline.

Integrated dementia care in The Netherlands: a multiple case study of case management programmes.

The number of dementia patients is growing, and they require a variety of services, making integrated care essential for the ability to continue living in the community. Many healthcare systems in developed countries are exploring new approaches for delivering health and social care. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse a new approach in extensive case management programmes concerned with long-term dementia care in The Netherlands.