Introducing a family intervention to elderly with first episode psychosis.

Schizophrenia guidelines list family interventions as an efficient means in reducing relapses. Interventions aim to help families cope with their relative's problems more effectively, provide support and education, and reduce levels of distress and improve the family communication (see deHaan et al., 2002).

Brain atrophy is a frequent finding in elderly patients with first episode psychosis.

Background: To characterize the yearly incidence, diagnostic distribution, and neuro-radiologic findings in patients aged over 60 years, referred to psychiatric treatment with first episode psychosis (FEP).

Methods: A computerized search, including all patients referred to psychiatric treatment during 12 consecutive months with a de novo diagnosis of psychosis was performed in the Helsinki region catchment area with 1.2 million inhabitants.

[Personality disorders in the elderly].

The diagnostic assessment of old age personality disorders is challenging. Medical illnesses and cognitive impairment may influence the clinical symptoms. Common elements of effective approaches such as building a collaborative relationship and maintaining consistency as well as structured framework of treatment can be tailored to the problems of a patient.

Homicide, psychopathy, and aging--a nationwide register-based case-comparison study of homicide offenders aged 60 years or older.

With populations aging there have been some concerns on elderly offending. We compared elderly homicide offenders with a younger comparison group with special emphasis on psychopathy. We analyzed nationwide register-based material on all homicide offenders aged 60 or older who were in a forensic psychiatric examination in Finland 1995-2004 and their gender-matched comparison group of younger homicide offenders.

Comparing psychogeriatric units to ordinary long-term care units - are there differences in case-mix or clinical symptoms?

This study is a comparative analysis of long-term psychogeriatric and mixed-care unit patient characteristics in nursing homes and hospitals in Helsinki. The role of the so-called psychogeriatric nursing homes is still under question and not well developed. The aims of the study were to identify and survey psychogeriatric wards and analyze whether these units differ from the rest of the long-term units/wards in terms of patients' characteristics.

Reported differences in management strategies by primary care physicians and psychiatrists in older patients who are depressed.

Objective: To compare reported management suggestions by primary care physicians and psychiatry specialists for case vignette examples of old age depression, and to explore further training needs in geriatric depression for both professional groups.

Design: Qualitative study using case vignettes in focus groups. Single group training sessions were arranged for 25 primary care physicians and 11 psychiatrists.