Spirituality in geriatric psychiatry.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Academic recognition of the implications of religion/spirituality (R/S) for mental health is increasing, with a growing number of studies involving older adults. The present review provides an overview of these studies, highlighting the influence of R/S on older adults' mental health and the clinical implications of addressing R/S in the geriatrics and gerontology context. RECENT FINDINGS: The available evidence suggests that R/S involvement is usually associated with lower levels of depression, substance use/abuse, and cognitive declining and better quality of life, well being, and functional status in older persons. Despite the number of studies showing this relationship, few have yet investigated the effects of addressing spiritual needs or carrying out R/S interventions in this age group. SUMMARY: Evidence is mounting that R/S is most important in geriatric psychiatry. In general, studies have shown a positive relationship between R/S and mental health in the older population. Health professionals should be attentive to these spiritual needs. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms of the R/S-mental health association and how to integrate R/S in clinical practice.

Innovative psychosocial approaches in old age psychiatry.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To identify and discuss recent research studies that propose innovative psychosocial interventions in old age psychiatry. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies have shown that cognitive training research for healthy elderly has advanced in several ways, particularly in the refinement of study design and methodology. Studies have included larger samples and longer training protocols. Interestingly, new research has shown changes in biological markers associated with learning and memory after cognitive training. Among mild cognitive impairment patients, results have demonstrated that they benefit from interventions displaying cognitive plasticity.Rehabilitation studies involving dementia patients have suggested the efficacy of combined treatment approaches, and light and music therapies have shown promising effects. For psychiatric disorders, innovations have included improvements in well known techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy, studies in subpopulations with comorbidities, as well as the use of new computer-aided resources. SUMMARY: Research evidence on innovative interventions in old age psychiatry suggests that this exciting field is moving forward by means of methodological refinements and testing of creative new ideas.

Reports in pharmacological treatments in geriatric psychiatry: is there anything new or just adding to old evidence?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Dementia and depression are serious causes of global impairment in the elderly. This review is aimed at finding pharmacological reports from 2007-2008 so as to examine whether new guidance is available to treat these patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies on Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementias show that cholinesterase inhibitors are still first line treatment for these diseases and memantine is indicated in moderate/severe Alzheimer's disease, whereas there is as yet no standard available treatment for frontotemporal dementias. Treatment of depression in the elderly shows the same results as in younger individuals, and cerebrovascular pathology is important for treatment resistance. SUMMARY: There is a need for new drugs that focus on treatment resistant and nonresponder individuals. Most studies are confirmation of previous reported results.

[Geriatric psychiatry in the nursing home: a land of opportunity]. / La psicogeriatría en las instituciones geriátricas: una tierra de oportunidades.

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the development of the psychiatry at the nursing homes. We explore both the historic and epistemological aspects of the question and focus in the epidemiology, the psychiatric diagnosis (dementia, Depression And SAG.), the psychiatric medication and the controversial problem of the physical restraint.

Alteraciones psiquiátricas en la insuficiencia vascular cerebral / Psychiatrics symptoms in patients with cerebrovascular disease

La comparación de cuatro grupos de sujetos: normal neurológico, y depresivo, controles de un grupo con enfermedad vascular cerebral crónica principalmente, tanto en los datos clínicos como en los registros conductuales de depresión y sintomatología psiquiátrica, así como una escala estructurada neurológica, permite discriminar cuando las alteraciones psiquiátricas son debidas a la edad, el flujo sanguíneo cerebral deficiente, o problemas correlacionados, entidades nosológicas psiquiátricas sin influencia de lo anterior, facilitando al clínico un mejor análisis semiológico para la terapéutica y profilaxis de estas alteraciones. Las alteraciones psiquiátricas principales se refieren a estados depresivos y ansiosos, que se correlacionan en forma significativa con los trastornos clínicos circulatorios, la edad y el tiempo de evolución del cuadro, afectando principalmente la memoria, el lenguaje y la funciones motoras. También existe una correlación alta significativa entre la escala EEVC, la BPRS y la escala de automedición de la depresión, y con las variables clínicas comprendidas en las tres

Evaluación e intervención en pacientes dementes: ¿abordaje de las capacidades o abordaje de las deficiencias? / Evaluation and intervention in demented patients: capacity approach or deficiency approach?

Se discute de qué manera - tanto en la evaluación como la intervención terapéutica de los pacientes calificados de dementes - el abordaje de sus deficiencias y de sus capacidades debe, en gerontopsiquiatria, responder a metas determinadas y distintas, dentro de sus respectivos límites

Evaluación e intervención en pacientes dementes: ¿abordaje de las capacidades o abordaje de las deficiencias? / Evaluation and intervention in demented patients: capacity approach or deficiency approach?

Se discute de qué manera - tanto en la evaluación como la intervención terapéutica de los pacientes calificados de dementes - el abordaje de sus deficiencias y de sus capacidades debe, en gerontopsiquiatria, responder a metas determinadas y distintas, dentro de sus respectivos límites (AU)

Uso de la nimodipina (Nimotop) en psicogeriatría / Use of the nimodipine (Nimotop) in psychogeriatric

La nimodipina (Nimotop) es una droga prometedora para el anciano demente y para pacientes no dementes. Varios estudios doble ciego han demostrado que la droga puede ser efectiva para los déficit cognitivos, rendimiento, afectividad e integración social. Las conclusiones derivadas de los resultados de varios experimentos sobre conducta en animales son significativos para predecir los efectos clínicos de la nimodipina (Nimotop)