Personality assessment in nursing home residents with mental and physical multimorbidity: two informant perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: In older patients with mental and physical multimorbidity (MPM), personality assessment is highly complex. Our aim was to examine personality traits in this population using the Hetero-Anamnestic Personality questionnaire (HAP), and to compare the premorbid perspective of patients' relatives (HAP) with the present-time perspective of nursing staff (HAP-t). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Dutch gerontopsychiatric nursing home (GP-NH) units. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 142 GP-NH residents with MPM (excluding dementia). MEASUREMENTS: NH norm data of the HAP were used to identify clinically relevant premorbid traits. Linear mixed models estimated the differences between HAP and HAP-t trait scores (0-10). Agreement was quantified by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). All HAP-HAP-t analyses were corrected for response tendency (RT) scores (-10-10). RESULTS: 78.4% of the patients had at least one premorbid maladaptive trait, and 62.2% had two or more. Most prevalent were: "disorderly" (30.3%), "unpredictable/impulsive" (29.1%) and "vulnerable" (27.3%) behavior. The RT of relatives appeared significantly more positive than that of nursing staff (+1.8, 95% CI 0.6-2.9, p = 0.002). After RT correction, the traits "vulnerable", "perfectionist" and "unpredictable/impulsive" behavior scored higher on the HAP than HAP-t (respectively +1.2, 95% CI 0.6-1.7, p < 0.001; +2.1, 95% CI 1.3-2.8, p < 0.001; +0.6, 95% CI 0.1-1.1, p = 0.013), while "rigid" behavior scored lower (-0.7, 95% CI -1.3 to -0.03, p = 0.042). Adjusted ICCs ranged from 0.15 to 0.58. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows high percentages of premorbid maladaptive personality traits, which calls for attention on personality assessment in MPM NH residents. Results also indicate that the HAP and HAP-t questionnaires should not be used interchangeably for this patient group in clinical practice.

Group schema therapy combined with psychomotor therapy for older adults with a personality disorder: an open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although several types of psychotherapy effectively reduce psychological distress associated with personality disorders, randomised controlled trials (RCT) have systematically excluded older patients. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of group schema therapy combined with psychomotor therapy (GST + PMT) in later life compared with treatment as usual (TAU). METHODS: We did an open-label, multicentre, RCT in eight outpatient clinics for geriatric psychiatry in the Netherlands. Adults aged 60 years or older with a full or subthreshold cluster B or C personality disorder according to DSM criteria were included and randomly assigned 1:1 to GST + PMT or TAU by an independent researcher applying a computer-generated sequence per study site when 8 to 16 patients had given informed consent; investigators and interviewers were kept blinded until end of follow-up. Included individuals received 20 weekly sessions of GST + PMT or TAU with 1 year of follow-up. The primary outcome was psychological distress, measured with the 53-item Brief Symptom Inventory. The trial was registered with International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, NTR6621. FINDINGS: Of the 145 study participants recruited between Feb 21, 2018, and Jan 21, 2020, 102 patients (median age of 69 years [IQR 63-71], 62 [61%] female) who concluded therapy before the COVID-19 pandemic (cutoff March 20, 2020) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (51 in each study group), because COVID-19 measures substantially disrupted delivery of group therapy. GST + PMT significantly improved psychological distress compared with TAU over the 6-month treatment period (Cohen's d 0·42, 95% CI 0·16 to 0·68; p=0·0016). The pre-post effect of GST + PMT remained stable during follow-up, whereas patients receiving TAU further improved, resulting in a non-significant difference between groups at 1 year (Cohen's d 0·21, 95% CI -0·07 to 0·48; p=0·14). No patients reported adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Psychotherapy focused on personality disorders is effective in later life, resulting in a faster improvement in psychopathology than TAU. Future studies should focus on increasing effectiveness by intensifying or prolonging treatment. FUNDING: Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. TRANSLATION: For the Dutch translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Relationship between chronic pain, depressive symptoms, and functional disability in community-dwelling older adults: mediating role of frailty.

BACKGROUND: Borim et al. showed that older adults with chronic pain exhibited more depressive symptoms and frailty components. Depressive symptoms were associated with more frailty components, and those with more depressive symptoms and frailty faced greater limitations in IADL performance. Frailty appears to mediate the pathway from chronic pain to functional impairment Chronic pain is directly associated with depressive symptoms and frailty. Chronic pain is not directly associated with functional disability. Depression and frailty are both directly associated with functional disabilities. Frailty mediates the association between chronic pain and functional disability. Depression; Disability evaluation; Frailty; Frail elderly. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the direct and indirect effects of chronic pain, depressive symptoms, frailty components, and functional disability through a pathway analysis approach in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Data of 419 participants were cross-sectionally evaluated for the presence of depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale [15 items]), physical frailty components (phenotype criteria), chronic pain, and limitations in performing instrumental activities of daily living (functional disability scale by Lawton and Brody). Structural equation modeling via path analysis was used to explore the direct and indirect effects among these four variables. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Of the total participants, 69.8% were women and 59.3% had low education (1-4 years); the mean age was 80.3±4.6 years. Chronic pain and depressive symptoms were directly related and were associated to frailty. The number of frailty components and depressive symptoms were directly associated with functional disability. Frailty had an indirect effect on the association between chronic pain, depressive symptoms, and functional disabilities. CONCLUSION: The pathway from chronic pain and depressive symptoms to functional disability is potentially mediated by the number of frailty components.

Relationship between chronic pain, depressive symptoms, and functional disability in community-dwelling older adults: mediating role of frailty

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the direct and indirect effects of chronic pain, depressive symptoms, frailty components, and functional disability through a pathway analysis approach in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. Methods Data of 419 participants were cross-sectionally evaluated for the presence of depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale [15 items]), physical frailty components (phenotype criteria), chronic pain, and limitations in performing instrumental activities of daily living (functional disability scale by Lawton and Brody). Structural equation modeling via path analysis was used to explore the direct and indirect effects among these four variables. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results Of the total participants, 69.8% were women and 59.3% had low education (1-4 years); the mean age was 80.3±4.6 years. Chronic pain and depressive symptoms were directly related and were associated to frailty. The number of frailty components and depressive symptoms were directly associated with functional disability. Frailty had an indirect effect on the association between chronic pain, depressive symptoms, and functional disabilities. Conclusion The pathway from chronic pain and depressive symptoms to functional disability is potentially mediated by the number of frailty components.

Impact of personality functioning and pathological traits on mental wellbeing of older patients with personality disorders.

BACKGROUND: Although personality disorders are common and consequential, they are largely ignored in geriatric mental healthcare. We examined the relative contributions of different aspects of personality disorders and comorbid mental disorders to the impairment of mental wellbeing in older adults. METHODS: Baseline data were used of 138 patients who participated in a randomized controlled trial on schema therapy for geriatric mental health outpatients with a full or subthreshold cluster B or C personality disorder. Personality was assessed according to both the categorical and dimensional model of DSM-5. Aspects of mental wellbeing assessed were; psychological distress, positive mental health, subjective health, and life satisfaction. The current study uses baseline data of the RCT to examine the associations between different aspects of personality pathology and mental wellbeing by multivariate regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, level of education, and number of chronic somatic illnesses. RESULTS: The vast majority of patients (79.0%) had one or more mental disorders in addition to personality disorder. Personality pathology was responsible for the core of the mental health burden experienced by patients, and negated the influence of co-occurring mental disorders when entered subsequently in multivariate analysis. Personality dimensions proved to be highly predictive of mental wellbeing, and this contrasted with absence of influence of personality disorder diagnosis. Although the personality functioning dimensions - and in particular Identity integration (large effect size with partial eta-squared = 0.36) - were the primary predictors of mental wellbeing, personality trait dimensions added significant predictive value to that (Disinhibition 0.25 and Negative affect 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Personality disorders seriously affect the mental wellbeing of patients, and this overshadows the impact of comorbid mental disorders. In particular personality functioning and pathological traits of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) of DSM-5 contribute to this impact on mental wellbeing. Alertness for and treatment of personality disorders in geriatric mental healthcare seems warranted.

Frailty measures in immuno-metabolic subtypes of late-life depression; A two-year prospective study.

Background/Objectives - Frailty is highly prevalent with increasing age. Based on the concept of depression as a disorder of accelerated aging and its association with inflammation and metabolic dysregulation, we examined whether frailty measures at baseline and over time differed between immuno-metabolic subtypes of late-life depression. Methods - Clinical cohort study in primary and secondary mental health care with two-year follow-up. In total 359 depressed older patients (≥ 60 years) classified in four immuno-metabolic subgroups by latent profile analysis. We compared frailty measures at baseline and two-year follow-up adjusted for confounders between immuno-metabolic based depressed subgroups. Frailty measures included the frailty index, physical frailty phenotype, and two proxies (handgrip strength, gait speed). Results - At baseline, the relatively healthy depressed subgroup (n = 181) performed best on all frailty markers. While frailty markers worsened over time, the two-year course did not differ between the subgroups for any of these markers. Conclusion - The more severe immuno-metabolic dysregulation present in late-life depression, the more frail. Nonetheless, as trajectories over time did not differ between subgroups, the difference probably emerged at midlife. Future studies should examine whether geriatric assessment might become relevant at earlier ages in specialized mental health care.

The concept of anorexia of aging in late life depression: A cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Anorexia of aging (AA) is classically associated with depression. However, robust evidence is lacking regarding general clinic populations. Our aim was to evaluate the association between AA and major depressive disorder (MDD) in geriatric outpatients from a middle-income country. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study. MDD diagnosis was assessed with a psychiatric interview (SCID-5-CV) according to DSM-5 criteria. Depressive symptomatology was assessed by a 15-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Appetite was measured with the Simple Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), whereas AA was defined as a SNAQ score ≤13 points). Linear and logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders were applied to assess the association between depressive symptomatology, MDD and AA. RESULTS: Of the total 339 participants, MDD was present in 65. AA was more frequent in patients with MDD compared to non-depressed patients (30.7 versus 7.7%; p<0.001). The SNAQ score was lower in depressed patients (14.5 vs. 16.6, p<0.001). Adjusted for confounding, linear and logistic regression showed a significant association between the GDS score, PHQ-9 score and MDD with the SNAQ score (p<0.001) and cut-off representing AA (p<0.001), respectively. Moreover, MDD and AA interacted significantly with their association with weight loss (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Depression scales (even without somatic complaints) and MDD were associated with AA in geriatric outpatients. AA is associated with weight loss in MDD. Prospective studies should expand these findings.

Blood Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Major Depression: Do We Have a Translational Perspective?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability. Several theories have been proposed to explain its pathological mechanisms, and the "neurotrophin hypothesis of depression" involves one of the most relevant pathways. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important neurotrophin, and it has been extensively investigated in both experimental models and clinical studies of MDD. Robust empirical findings have indicated an association between increased BDNF gene expression and peripheral concentration with improved neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis. Additionally, several studies have indicated the blunt expression of BDNF in carriers of the Val66Met gene polymorphism and lower blood BDNF (serum or plasma) levels in depressed individuals. Clinical trials have yielded mixed results with different treatment options, peripheral blood BDNF measurement techniques, and time of observation. Previous meta-analyses of MDD treatment have indicated that antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy showed higher levels of blood BDNF after treatment but not with physical exercise, psychotherapy, or direct current stimulation. Moreover, the rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine has presented an early increase in blood BDNF concentration. Although evidence has pointed to increased levels of BDNF after antidepressant therapy, several factors, such as heterogeneous results, low sample size, publication bias, and different BDNF measurements (serum or plasma), pose a challenge in the interpretation of the relation between peripheral blood BDNF and MDD. These potential gaps in the literature have not been properly addressed in previous narrative reviews. In this review, current evidence regarding BDNF function, genetics and epigenetics, expression, and results from clinical trials is summarized, putting the literature into a translational perspective on MDD. In general, blood BDNF cannot be recommended for use as a biomarker in clinical practice. Moreover, future studies should expand the evidence with larger samples, use the serum or serum: whole blood concentration of BDNF as a more accurate measure of peripheral BDNF, and compare its change upon different treatment modalities of MDD.

Serotonin receptor inhibitor is associated with falls independent of frailty in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether fall risk in older adults is associated with the use of selective serotonin receptor inhibitor (SSRI) monotherapy among geriatric outpatients, and whether this association is moderated by the presence of depressive disorder and/or frailty. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with a 12-month follow-up and including 811 community-dwelling adults aged 60 or older from a university-based Geriatric Outpatient Unit. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria; subsyndromal depression as not meeting MDD criteria, but a Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item score ≥ 6 points. Frailty was evaluated with the FRAIL questionnaire. The association between SSRI use, depression, or both as well as the association between SSRI use, frailty, or both with falls were estimated through a generalized estimating equation (GEE) adjusted for relevant confounders. RESULTS: At baseline, 297 patients (36.6%) used a SSRI (82 without remitted depression) and 306 (37.7%) were classified as physically frail. Frailty was more prevalent among SSRI users (44.8% versus 33.7%, p =.004). After 12 months, 179 participants had at least one fall (22.1%). SSRI use, depression as well as frailty were all independently associated with falls during follow-up. Nonetheless, patients with concurrent of SSRI usage and non-remitted depression had no higher risk compared to either remitted SSRI users or depressed patients without SSRIs. In contrast, concurrence of SSRI use and frailty increases the risk of falling substantially above those by SSRI usage or frailty alone. CONCLUSION: SSRI usage was independently associated with falls. Especially in frail-depressed patients, treatment strategies for depression other than SSRIs should be considered.

Relationship between affective temperament and major depressive disorder in older adults: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice it is often challenging to determine whether mood disturbances should be considered a state or trait characteristics. This study is important to understand the influence of temperaments in the diagnosis of depression. The objective of the present study was to compare the frequency of three types of affective temperament (dysthymia, hyperthymia and cyclothymia) among older adults with major depression compared to non-psychiatric control patients. METHODS: A case-control study comparing 50 patients with major depression aged 65 years or above with a comparison group of 100 non-psychiatric controls. Affective temperaments were assessed using the TEMPS-A questionnaire. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Young mania Rating Scale were used for the assessment of symptoms of depression and mania, respectively. RESULTS: In the sample 80% had an affective temperament, most commonly hyperthymia (67.3%). In depressive patients 48% had criteria for hyperthymic temperament against 77% of the controls (OR= 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-0.7). 38.8% of these patients presented cyclothymic temperament, whereas among controls, 12% fulfilled criteria (OR= 2.9, 95%CI 1.1-7.2). LIMITATIONS: The sample was relatively small, and their educational level was very low. CONCLUSION: A cyclothymic temperament may predict major depression unlike hyperthymia. Whether the effectiveness of mood stabilizers in unipolar disorder is moderated by a cyclothymic temperament and should be explored in future randomized controlled trials.

(Vi)-rushed Into Online Group Schema Therapy Based Day-Treatment for Older Adults by the COVID-19 Outbreak in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Societal measures in context of the COVID-19 outbreak forced us to transform our schema therapy based day-treatment for older adults with chronic affective disorders and personality problems into an online program. The objective of this paper is to present first impressions of this transformation. METHODS: Using over-the-phone instructions initially, all patients were able to participate with the online therapy program. To reduce screen-time for patients, the nonverbal therapies were shortened. Four patients, aged 64-70 years, started our online program. RESULTS: Therapists were positive about the online capabilities and resilience of patients to adapt to the new situation. Prejudices on limited effectiveness of online psychotherapy were counteracted. Sending homework by email and mail seems to facilitate therapy adherence. Nonverbal therapy could be important to stimulate the online group process. CONCLUSION: We were positively surprised by the online capabilities of our geriatric mental healthcare patients and encourage further formal effectiveness studies.

Trajectories and determinants of functional limitations in late-life depression: A 2-year prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In mental health research, functional recovery is increasingly valued as an important outcome in addition to symptomatic remission. METHODS: Course types of functional limitations among depressed older patients and its relation with symptomatic remission were explored in a naturalistic cohort study (Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons). 378 depressed older patients (≥60 years) and 132 non-depressed persons were included. Depressive disorders were assessed with Composite International Diagnostic Interview at baseline and two-year follow-up. Functional limitations were assessed every 6 months with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment II. RESULTS: Depressed patients had more functional limitations compared to their non-depressed counterparts. Growth Mixture Modeling among depressed patients identified two trajectories of functional limitations, both starting at a high disability level. The largest subgroup (81.2%) was characterized by a course of high disability levels over time. The smaller subgroup (18.8%) had an improving course (functional recovery). After two years, the main predictor of functional recovery was the remission of depression. Among symptomatic remitted patients, female sex, higher level of education, higher gait speed, and less severe depression were associated with no functional recovery. Non-remitted patients without functional recovery were characterized by the presence of more chronic somatic diseases, a lower sense of mastery, and a higher level of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: 1 in 5 depressed older patients have a course with functional recovery. Combining functional and symptomatic recovery points to a subgroup of older patients that might profit from more rigorous psychiatric treatment targeted at psychiatric comorbidity and a group of frail depressed older patients that might profit from integrated geriatric rehabilitation.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Persons with Medically Unexplained Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Research on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older persons with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) is scarce, and, in contrast with younger patients, interactions with chronic somatic diseases are more complex. DESIGN: In the current study we compared HRQoL between older persons with MUS and older persons with medically explained symptoms (MES). Our study sample consisted of 118 older MUS-patients and 154 older MES-patients. SETTING/MEASUREMENTS: The diagnosis of MUS was ascertained by the general practitioner and confirmed by a geriatrician within a multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment. Additional characteristics, including the HRQoL (Short Form-36), were assessed during a home visit. MES-patients received two home visits to assess all measures. Multiple linear regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, education, cognitive functioning, and psychiatric diagnoses, were performed to assess the relationship between group (MUS/MES) and HRQoL. Analyses were repeated with additional adjustments for somatization and hypochondriacal cognitions. RESULTS: Older patients with MUS had a significantly lower level of HRQoL compared with older patients with MES. Even after adjustments, the presence of MUS was still associated with both a lower physical and mental HRQoL. These associations disappeared, however, after additional adjustments for somatization and hypochondriacal cognitions. Within the subgroup of MUS-patients, higher levels of hypochondriac anxiety and of somatization were significantly associated with both lower physical and mental HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between HRQoL and late-life MUS disappear when corrected for somatization and hypochondriacal cognitions, which is in line with the DSM-5 classification of somatic symptom disorder. Appropriate psychological treatment seems needed to improve HRQoL in older MUS-patients.

Prognostic association of cardiac anxiety with new cardiac events and mortality following myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: General anxiety and depressive symptoms following a myocardial infarction are associated with a worse cardiac prognosis. However, the contribution of specific aspects of anxiety within this context remains unclear. AIMS: To evaluate the independent prognostic association of cardiac anxiety with cardiac outcome after myocardial infarction. METHOD: We administered the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ) during hospital admission (baseline, n = 193) and 4 months (n = 147/193) after discharge. CAQ subscale scores reflect fear, attention, avoidance and safety-seeking behaviour. Study end-point was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE): readmission for ischemic cardiac disease or all-cause mortality. In Cox regression analysis, we adjusted for age, cardiac disease severity and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The CAQ sum score at baseline and at 4 months significantly predicted a MACE (HRbaseline = 1.59, 95% CI 1.04-2.43; HR4-months = 1.77, 95% CI 1.04-3.02) with a mean follow-up of 4.2 (s.d. = 2.0) years and 4.3 (s.d. = 1.7) years respectively. Analyses of subscale scores revealed that this effect was particularly driven by avoidance (HRbaseline = 1.23, 95% CI 0.99-1.53; HR4-months = 1.77, 95% CI 1.04-1.83). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac anxiety, particularly anxiety-related avoidance of exercise, is an important prognostic factor for a MACE in patients after myocardial infarction, independent of cardiac disease severity and depressive symptoms.

Clinical staging and profiling of late-life anxiety disorders; the need for collaboration and a life-span perspective.

Clinical staging and profiling is a diagnostic strategy that goes beyond the traditional dichotomy in medicine of merely focusing on the presence or absence of a disease. Disease staging extends this traditional dichotomy by defining where a patient lies along the continuum of the course of his or her particular illness. Successful examples include the general tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) classification in oncology, as well as the New York Heart Association (NYHA classes I-IV) functional classification system for patients with congestive heart failure. It enables clinicians to select treatments relevant to earlier stages because such interventions may be more effective and less harmful than treatments delivered later in the illness course. Profiling is a further refinement, as well as a necessary component of staging. Profiling refers to the characterization of a patient within a specific disease stage, which is relevant for its course and treatment choice. An example of profiling is estrogen receptor positivity in patients with breast cancer.

The two-year course of late-life depression; results from the Netherlands study of depression in older persons.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the course of depression during 2-year follow-up in a group clinically depressed older persons. Subsequently, we studied which socio-demographic and clinical characteristics predict a depression diagnoses at 2-year follow-up. METHODS: Data were used from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO; N = 510). Diagnoses of depression DSM-IV-TR criteria were available from 285 patients at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. Severity of the depressive symptoms, as assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (IDS), was obtained from 6-monthly postal questionnaires. Information about socio-demographic and clinical variables was obtained from the baseline measurement. RESULT: From the 285 older persons who were clinically depressed at baseline almost half (48.4%) also suffered from a depressive disorder two years later. Patients with more severe depressive symptoms, comorbid dysthymia, younger age of onset and more chronic diseases were more likely to be depressed at 2-year follow-up. 61% of the persons that were depressed at baseline had a chronic course of depressive symptoms during these two years. CONCLUSIONS: Late-life depression often has a chronic course, even when treated conform current guidelines for older persons. Our results suggest that physical comorbidity may be candidate for adjusted and intensified treatment strategies of older depressed patients with chronic and complex pathology.

Effects and cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic screening for CYP2D6 among older adults starting therapy with nortriptyline or venlafaxine: study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (CYSCEtrial).

BACKGROUND: Nortriptyline and venlafaxine are commonly used antidepressants for treatment of depression in older patients. Both drugs are metabolized by the polymorphic cytochrome P450-2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme and guidelines for dose adaptations based on the CYP2D6 genotype have been developed. The CYP2D6 Screening Among Elderly (CYSCE) trial is designed to address the potential health and economic value of genotyping for CYP2D6 in optimizing dose-finding of nortriptyline and venlafaxine. METHODS/DESIGN: In a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, patients diagnosed with a major depressive disorder according to the DSM-IV and aged 60 years or older will be recruited from psychiatric centers across the Netherlands. After CYP2D6 genotyping determined in peripheral blood obtained by finger-prick, patients will be grouped into poor, intermediate, extensive, or ultrarapid metabolizers. Patients with deviant genotype (that is poor, intermediate or ultrarapid genotype) will be randomly allocated to an intervention group in which the genotype and dosing advice is communicated to the treating physician, or to a control group in which patients receive care as usual. Additionally, an external reference group of patients with the extensive metabolizer genotype is included. Primary outcome in all groups is time needed to obtain an adequate blood level of the antidepressant drug. Secondary outcomes include adverse drug reactions measured by a shortened Antidepressant Side-Effects Checklist (ASEC), and cost-effectiveness of the screening. DISCUSSION: Results of this trial will guide policy-making with regard to pharmacogenetic screening prior to treatment with nortriptyline or venlafaxine among older patients with depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01778907 ; registration date: 22 January 2013.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia in older people: a comparison with younger patients.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with panic disorder and agoraphobia (PDA) are underdiagnosed and undertreated, while studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are lacking. This study compares the effectiveness of CBT for PDA in younger and older adults. METHODS: A total of 172 patients with PDA (DSM-IV) received manualized CBT. Primary outcome measures were avoidance behavior (Mobility Inventory Avoidance scale) and agoraphobic cognitions (Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire), with values of the younger (18-60 years) and older (≥ 60 years) patients being compared using mixed linear models adjusted for baseline inequalities, and predictive effects of chronological age, age at PDA onset and duration of illness (DOI) being examined using multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: Attrition rates were 2/31 (6%) for the over-60s and 31/141 (22%) for the under-60s group (χ(2) = 3.43, df = 1, P = .06). Patients in both age groups improved on all outcome measures with moderate-to-large effect sizes. Avoidance behavior had improved significantly more in the 60+ group (F = 4.52, df = 1,134, P = .035), with agoraphobic cognitions showing no age-related differences. Baseline severity of agoraphobic avoidance and agoraphobic cognitions were the most salient predictors of outcome (range standardized betas 0.59 through 0.76, all P-values < .001). Apart from a superior reduction of agoraphobic avoidance in the 60+ participants (ß = -0.30, P = .037), chronological age was not related to outcome, while in the older patients higher chronological age, late-onset type and short DOI were linked to superior improvement of agoraphobic avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: CBT appears feasible for 60+ PDA-patients, yielding outcomes that are similar and sometimes even superior to those obtained in younger patients.

Lack of interventions for anxiety in older people.

Although anxiety disorders are common in later life, only a minority of patients receive appropriate treatment. The scarcity of clinical trials and decreasing effectiveness of current treatment modalities with advancing age, as shown by Wetherell and colleagues in this issue, argue for more clinical trials and development of age-specific psychotherapeutic techniques.

Residents with mental-physical multimorbidity living in long-term care facilities: prevalence and characteristics. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Aging societies will be confronted with increased numbers of long-term care (LTC) residents with multimorbidity of physical and mental disorders other than dementia. Knowledge about the prevalence rates, medical and psychosocial characteristics, and care needs of this particular group of residents is mandatory for providing high-quality and evidence-based care. The purpose of this paper was to review the literature regarding these features. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL from January 1, 1988 to August 16, 2011. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility of studies on pre-established inclusion criteria as well as methodological quality using standardized checklists. RESULTS: Seventeen articles were included. Only one small study describes multimorbidity of a wide range of chronic psychiatric and somatic conditions in LTC residents and suggests that physical-mental multimorbidity is rather rule than exception. All other studies show prevalence rates of comorbid physical and mental illnesses (range, 0.5%-64.7%), roughly in line with reported prevalence rates among community-dwelling older people. LTC residents with mental-physical multimorbidity were younger than other LTC residents and had more cognitive impairment, no dementia, and problem behaviors. Care needs of these residents were not described. CONCLUSIONS: Although exact figures are lacking, mental-physical multimorbidity is common in LTC residents. Given the specific characteristics of the pertaining residents, more knowledge of their specific care needs is essential. The first step now should be to perform research on symptoms and behavior, which seem more informative than diagnostic labels as well as care needs of LTC residents with mental-physical multimorbidity.