Milieu therapy for hospitalized patients with late-life anxiety and depression: a qualitative study.

Milieu therapy (MT) is an important interprofessional part of therapy for persons with late-life anxiety and depression in psychogeriatric inpatient units. Research on how this is conducted is scarce. To explore nurses' and nurse assistants' experience regarding MT interventions for persons with late-life anxiety and depression and how this is applied and conducted in the everyday life in a psychogeriatric inpatient unit.

Early detection of patients at risk for anxiety, depression and apathy after stroke.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors in the acute stage that can predict anxiety, depression and apathy at 4 months after stroke.

Methods: One hundred four consecutive stroke patients in a stroke unit were assessed within the first 2 weeks and after 4 months. Assessments included anxiety and depression symptoms on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [HADS Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) > or = 8 and HADS Depression subscale (HADS-D) > or = 8], physical impairment, functional disability, somatic comorbidity upon admission, assessment of apathy (score > or = 34 on the Apathy Evaluation Scale) and a psychiatric Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition diagnosis of anxiety disorder (anxiety) or depression (depression) on follow-up.

Are there common core features of apathy in different neuropsychiatric samples as assessed by the Apathy Evaluation Scale?

Background: Previous factor analyses of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) have indicated the presence of one main factor comprising core symptoms of apathy. However, the factor structure of the AES has not been determined in patient samples with cerebrovascular disorders. Aims of the study were to 1) examine the factor structure of the AES in two patient samples with cerebrovascular disorders (stroke and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)) and to compare these results with those from a study of young patients with first-episode psychosis, 2) identify common items loading on the main factors and 3) examine whether these items could be used as an abbreviated scale for stroke and SAH patients.

Screening for anxiety and depression after stroke: comparison of the hospital anxiety and depression scale and the Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale.

Objective: Anxiety and depression after stroke are frequent, but are often overlooked and not assessed. The aims of the study were to (1) assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and (2) compare the performance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as screening instruments for anxiety and depression disorders 4 months after stroke.

Methods: Stroke patients, consecutively admitted to a stroke unit, were assessed with HADS and MADRS 4 months after stroke (n=104).