Changes in and factors related to loneliness in older men. The Zutphen Elderly Study. (1/132)

AIM: To investigate (i) whether loneliness increases in old age, and if so, whether it relates to ageing itself, to time trends or to cohort effects and (ii) the relationship between changes in institutionalization, partner status and health and loneliness. METHODS: 939 men born between 1900 and 1920 completed the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about their partner status, health and institutionalization in 1985, 1990 and 1995. RESULTS: For the oldest group (born between 1900 and 1910) loneliness scores increased, but not for the younger groups. The increase in loneliness was attributable to ageing. No birth cohort or time effects were found. Loneliness was related to changes in institutionalization, partner status and subjective health but not to limitations in activities of daily living or cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: the increased loneliness experienced by very old men is influenced by loss of a partner, moving into a care home or not feeling healthy.  (+info)

Someone to talk to? The role of loneliness as a factor in the frequency of GP consultations. (2/132)

BACKGROUND: There are many reasons why people frequently consult their general practitioner (GP). Although loneliness is increasingly recognized as a problem affecting well-being for elderly people, it has rarely been addressed as a predictor of frequency of consultation. AIM: To examine whether loneliness is associated with rates of GP consultations (home and surgery visits). METHOD: Analysis of data collected in face-to-face interviews at the second wave of a longitudinal health survey of two adult age cohorts living in four socially contrasting urban localities in Glasgow City. There were a total of 691 subjects: 142 males and 176 females aged 40 years at interview; and 167 males and 206 females aged 60 years at interview. Frequency of reported GP consultations in the past 12 months at home or in the surgery was examined. RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables and health, loneliness was significantly associated with frequency of consultation at the surgery but not with the frequency of home visits. CONCLUSION: Loneliness may still be underestimated as a factor related independently to frequency of consultations with a GP at the surgery.  (+info)

Predictors of outcome in a primary care depression trial. (3/132)

OBJECTIVE: Previous treatment trials have found that approximately one third of depressed patients have persistent symptoms. We examined whether depression severity, comorbid psychiatric illness, and personality factors might play a role in this lack of response. DESIGN: Randomized trial of a stepped collaborative care intervention versus usual care. SETTING: HMO in Seattle, Wash. PATIENTS: Patients with major depression were stratified into severe (N = 149) and mild to moderate depression (N = 79) groups prior to randomization. INTERVENTIONS: A multifaceted intervention targeting patient, physician, and process of care, using collaborative management by a psychiatrist and primary care physician. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients with more severe depression had a higher risk for panic disorder (odds ratio [OR], 5.8), loneliness (OR, 2.6), and childhood emotional abuse (OR, 2.1). Among those with less severe depression, intervention patients showed significantly improved depression outcomes over time compared with those in usual care (z = -3.06, P<.002); however, this difference was not present in the more severely depressed groups (z = 0.61, NS). Although the group with severe depression showed differences between the intervention and control groups from baseline to 3 months that were similar to the group with less severe depression (during the acute phase of the intervention), these differences disappeared by 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Initial depression severity, comorbid panic disorder, and other psychosocial vulnerabilities were associated with a decreased response to the collaborative care intervention. Although the intervention was appropriate for patients with moderate depression, individuals with higher levels of depression may require a longer continuation phase of therapy in order to achieve optimal depression outcomes.  (+info)

Effects of a coping intervention on patients with rheumatic diseases: results of a randomized controlled trial. (4/132)

OBJECTIVE: To test the effects (on coping, social interactions, loneliness, functional health status, and life satisfaction) of an intervention aimed at teaching people with rheumatic diseases to cope actively with their problems. METHODS: A total of 168 patients with chronic rheumatic disorders affecting the joints were randomly assigned to a coping intervention group, a mutual support control group, or a waiting list control group. Measurements were by self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Post-intervention measurements showed that the coping intervention increased action-directed coping and functional health status, but these effects did not persist up to 6-months followup. In patients who attended at least half of the 10 sessions, the coping intervention contributed to decreased loneliness at post-intervention and to improvements in social interactions and life satisfaction at 6-months followup. CONCLUSION: Teaching patients with rheumatic diseases to cope actively with their problems had positive impacts. Consequently it is recommended that the coping intervention be incorporated into regular care. Maintenance sessions are advisable.  (+info)

Predictors of response to treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. (5/132)

BACKGROUND: Controlled trials have shown that psychological interventions designed to encourage graded exercise can facilitate recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome. AIMS: To identify predictors of response to psychological treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. METHOD: Of 114 patients assigned to equally effective treatment conditions in a randomised, controlled trial, 95 completed follow-up assessments. Relationships between variables measured prior to randomisation and changes in physical functioning and subjective handicap at 1 year were evaluated by multiple regression. RESULTS: Poor outcome was predicted by membership of a self-help group, being in receipt of sickness benefit at the start of treatment, and dysphoria as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Severity of symptoms and duration of illness were not predictors of response. CONCLUSIONS: Poor outcome in the psychological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome is predicted by variables that indicate resistance to accepting the therapeutic rationale, poor motivation to treatment adherence or secondary gains from illness.  (+info)

Influence of social support on cognitive function in the elderly. (6/132)

BACKGROUND: Social support is important in daily activities of the elderly. This study tests the hypothesis that there is an association between social support and cognitive function among the elderly in a community setting. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted in a cross-sectional stratified random sample of 4,993 elderly (> or =65 years) city residents. Using multiple regression analysis, we investigated the influence of social support on cognitive function. RESULTS: 12% were over 80 years old. 53.28% were men. 67.14% were married. Higher Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) scores (higher score means better cognitive function) were associated with strong social support, as measured by marital status and perceived positive support from friends. Lower cognitive function was associated with older and with female respondents. Only instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were statistically and negatively related to SPMSQ. Lower functional status was associated with lower cognitive function. Elders with grade school educations had lower SPMSQ scores than did elders with high school educations. CONCLUSIONS: In Taiwan, higher cognitive function in community-living elderly was associated with increased social support. Life-style management should provide social activities for the elderly to promote a better quality of life.  (+info)

Suicides in ethnic minorities within 12 months of contact with mental health services. National clinical survey. (7/132)

BACKGROUND: Information on suicide by psychiatric patients from ethnic minority groups is scarce. AIMS: To establish the number of patients from ethnic minorities who kill themselves; to describe their suicide methods, and their social and clinical characteristics. METHOD: A national clinical survey was based on a 4-year sample of suicides in England and Wales. Detailed data were collected on those who had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death. RESULTS: In total 282 patients from ethnic minorities died by suicide--6% of all patient suicides. The most common method of suicide was hanging; violent methods were more common than in White patient suicides. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. Ethnic minority patients were more likely to have been unemployed than White patients and to have had a history of violence and recent non-compliance. In around half, this was the first episode of self-harm. Black Caribbean patients had the highest rates of schizophrenia (74%), unemployment, living alone, previous violence and drug misuse. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce the number of suicides by ethnic minority patients, services should address the complex health and social needs of people with severe mental illness.  (+info)

Influence of rural environment on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of colorectal cancer. (8/132)

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Several studies have shown that residential location (urban or rural) influences the incidence of colorectal cancer. The aim was to investigate the influence of rural environment on colorectal cancer history and survival in a well defined population. DESIGN: Patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed in the department of Calvados (France) were classified by place of residence (urban/rural) and information on clinical symptoms, tumour extension, treatment, and survival was collected. SETTING: The study was population based, in the department of Calvados in France. PATIENTS: During 1978-1984, 1445 colorectal cancers were collected by the Digestive Tract Cancer Registry of Calvados, 1047 with an urban place of residence (544 males and 503 females) and 284 with a rural place of residence (134 males and 150 females). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In both sexes, rural patients with colorectal cancers were treated less frequently in a specialised health care centre (40.0%) than patients from an urban population (53.4%). The difference was mainly but not entirely explained by distance from the specialised health care centre. In females in the rural population, cancers were diagnosed more frequently at the stage of severe clinical symptoms (22.1%) and metastases (18.8%) than they were in the urban population (15.5% and 12.3%). In addition among females a rural environment appeared to confer a worse prognosis (relative risk = 1.3). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an inequality between rural and urban populations, especially for women. The loneliness of rural women leads to a delay in diagnosis and worse survival. In health education campaigns on colorectal cancer, efforts must be made to provide medical information to rural women in order to reduce the delay in diagnosis and improve survival.  (+info)