Predictors of Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Northern Taiwan.
Predictors of sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults in northern taiwan.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
J Nurs Res. 2012 Dec; 20(4): 249-60
Yang CY, Chiou AF
: Poor sleep quality may have a significant and negative impact on physical and mental health. Poor sleep quality also increases the risk of all-cause mortality. Few studies have explored the sleep quality of community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan.: This study examined the prevalence of sleep disturbance and potential factors of influence in community-dwelling older people in Taiwan.: We used a cross-sectional design to recruit a total of 160 individuals 60 years of age or older from an urban area in northern Taiwan. All subjects completed a structured questionnaire that included demographic data, physical health status, a social activity/habit survey, as well as the Chinese versions of Barthel’s index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale, the SF-36 Health-Related Quality of Life Survey, and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly.: Participants reported a rate of sleep disturbance of 41.9%. Sleep disturbance was associated with nocturia and dizziness, hypertension, increased use of medications such as antihypertensives and gastric medicines, poor self-reported functional status, depression, and sedentary lifestyle. Logistic regression showed nocturia, sedentary lifestyle, and mental component summary score as significant predictors of sleep disturbance.: Sleep disturbance should be examined within the context of an individual’s physical, mental, and social status. Symptom management education and an active lifestyle are necessary to promote sleep quality in older people.
HubMed – depression
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: Factor Analysis and Relationship with Cognitive Impairment.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Eur Neurol. 2012 Nov 14; 69(2): 76-82
Poletti M, Nuti A, Cipriani G, Bonuccelli U
Background/Aims: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) affect almost all people with dementia at some stage during the progression of disease. The current study aimed at replicating previous findings on BPSD clustering in behavioral sub-syndromes. Methods: One hundred and sixty-six consecutive outpatients with dementia attending a dementia outpatient clinic were enrolled and evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Mini Mental State Examination. Results: BPSD were reported in 157 patients included in the final sample: 140 patients (89.17%) had Alzheimer’s disease (AD), while 17 patients had frontotemporal dementia or vascular dementia. The most frequent BPSD were depression in the whole sample and irritability in the AD subgroup. The severity of cognitive impairment was predicted by two BPSD in the whole sample (apathy and motor disturbance) and only by nighttime behavior in the AD subgroup. Factor analyses identified 4 factors, accounting for about 60% of variance in the whole group and in the AD subgroup of patients. Conclusions: The current study confirmed findings of previous studies on BPSD clustering, regarding the number of BPSD clusters and the total variance explained. This study has some limitations, including the small number of non-ADs and its monocentric character.
HubMed – depression
Managing adverse effects and complications in completing treatment for hepatitis C virus infection.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Top Antivir Med. 2012 Oct; 20(4): 125-8
Sherman KE
The addition of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment regimens has made treatment more effective and patient management more complex. Shepherding patients through a full course of HCV therapy requires motivation and involvement on the part of the patient and the physician. Indeed, physician inexperience and lack of confidence in guiding patients through the challenges of treatment appears to be a primary reason for early discontinuation of therapy. Among the many complications of HCV treatment that must be managed efficiently and effectively are depression and other psychiatric disorders; hematologic abnormalities including DAA- and ribavirin-associated anemia and peginterferon alfa-associated neutropenia and thrombocytopenia; rash and drug eruptions, including telaprevir-associated rash; and weight loss. Practical considerations in management of these common complications are offered. This article summarizes a presentation by Kenneth E. Sherman, MD, PhD, at the IAS-USA live continuing medical education course held in New York in June 2012.
HubMed – depression
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