Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Predict Faster Cognitive Decline in Dementia Collaborative Care Than Antipsychotic Use.

Background: To compare short-term cognitive outcomes among groups with and without neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) or antipsychotic prescription and to determine which disease status or treatment modality is associated with relatively faster cognitive decline.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. All participants were evaluated using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) during their initial clinical assessments and at the annual follow-up.

Prediction of Institutionalization for Patients With Dementia in Taiwan According to Condition at Entry to Dementia Collaborative Care.

This study aimed to examine the institutionalization rate in patients with dementia in Taiwan, identify the predictors of institutionalization, and conduct a mediation analysis of caregiver burden between neuropsychiatric symptoms and institutionalization. We analyzed data from a retrospective cohort registered in dementia collaborative care ( = 518). The analyses applied univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression with Firth's penalized likelihood to assess the relationship between each predictor at entry and institutionalization for survival analysis.

Using the Apriori Algorithm to Explore Caregivers' Depression by the Combination of the Patients with Dementia and Their Caregivers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the caring scenarios that result in severe depression in caregivers caring for dementia patients.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1111 dementia patients and their caregivers in Taiwan from October 2015 to January 2020 was conducted. Gender, age, type of dementia, clinical dementia rating, walking ability, mood symptoms, behavioral symptoms, and psychological symptoms were the variables from the dementia patients.

Association between caregiver depression and individual behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Taiwanese patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate caregiver depression associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in Taiwanese people.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. Two hundred seventy-six pairs of patients with dementia and their caregivers who visited the memory clinic of a general hospital from July 2001 to October 2008 were recruited.

Evaluation of a critical appraisal program for clinical nurses: a controlled before-and-after study.

Background: Evidence-based practice is important to.clinical health care professionals. Clinical nurses can make informed decisions by applying the best evidence to their care.

Closed-loop seizure control on epileptic rat models.

In this paper numerous alternative treatments in addition to pharmacological therapy are proposed for their use in epileptic patients. Epileptic animal models can play a crucial role in the performance evaluation of new therapeutic techniques. The objective of this research is to first develop various epileptic rat models; second, develop a portable wireless closed-loop seizure controller including on-line seizure detection and real-time electrical stimulation for seizure elimination; and third, apply the developed seizure controller to the animal models to perform on-line seizure elimination.

Caregiver burden associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Taiwanese elderly.

The purpose of this study was to investigate caregiver burden associated with BPSD in Taiwanese people. The study had a cross-sectional design. Eighty-eight patients with dementia and 88 caregivers who visited the memory clinic of a medical center from January 2007 to December 2007 were recruited.

High dosage of aripiprazole-induced dysphagia.

Background: Dysphagia as a main manifestation of extrapyramidal symptoms is an uncommon adverse effect of second-generation antipsychotics.

Method: We present a 54-year-old drug-naïve patient with schizophrenia, who developed dysphagia with aripiprazole 30 mg daily treatment.

Results: This is the first case report on aripiprazole-induced dysphagia.

A closed-loop brain computer interface for real-time seizure detection and control.

The worldwide prevalence of epilepsy is approximately 1%, and 25% of epilepsy patients cannot be treated sufficiently by available therapies. Brain stimulation with closed-loop seizure control has recently been proposed as an innovative and effective alternative. In this paper, a portable closed-loop brain computer interface for seizure control was developed and shown with several aspects of advantages, including high seizure detection rate (92-99% during wake-sleep states), low false detection rate (1.

Plasma homocysteine levels and major depressive disorders in Alzheimer disease.

Background: The main aim of this study was to examine the symptomatology of major depression in Alzheimer disease (AD) and its relationship with plasma homocysteine level.

Methods: Eighty-three patients with AD were enrolled for clinical assessments and examination of fasting plasma homocysteine. Diagnosis of major depression was made, and the severity of the depression was assessed.

The functionality and economic costs of outpatients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.

The aims of this study were to investigate the economic costs of outpatients with schizophrenia in Taiwan, and to survey factors that influence the costs. The direct costs were defined as the costs associated with psychiatric services and other medical treatment. The indirect costs were estimated using the Human Capital Method.

Effects of amisulpride on the cognitive function of patients with schizophrenia who switched from risperidone.

Objectives. The aims of this 13-week study were to examine the efficacy and safety of amisulpride, and effects on cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia after they switched from risperidone. Methods.

[An experience promoting evidence-based nursing at a medical center in central Taiwan].

In the 21st Century, evidence-based nursing (EBN) may provide a mechanism by which nurses can manage the explosion in published information in the literature, introduce new techniques, effectively control healthcare costs, and increase attention on nursing quality and health outcomes. The objective of this paper is to share the experience implementing evidence-based nursing. We had applied strategies to implement evidence-based nursing care in our hospital since 2002.

Combination antipsychotic therapy in psychiatric outpatient clinics in Taiwan.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to survey the use of combination antipsychotic therapy (CAT) in the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general hospital.

Methods: Patients who received at least 2 antipsychotics in the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general hospital in 1 month (August 1-31, 2003) were identified, and their retrospective chart review was performed. Using a questionnaire, we surveyed the clinicians on why 2 antipsychotics were prescribed, why long-term CAT was used, and whether the problems were solved by CAT.

The psychological well-being and associated factors of caregivers of outpatients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.

The purpose of this study attempted to understand the psychological well-being of caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia and factors affecting the caregivers' psychological well-being. More specifically, quality of life and psychiatric morbidity were used to represent the psychological well-being. Personal interviews using questionnaires were administrated to 57 caregivers.

Correlation between performance on the Continuous Performance Test and economic costs in patients with schizophrenia.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether a relationship existed between the performance on the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and the economic costs of schizophrenic patients in Taiwan. Forty-six schizophrenic patients and their caregivers were enrolled. The CPT is a vigilance task requiring the monitoring of rapid information processing and the detection of briefly presented target stimuli.