Prevalence, presentation and prognosis of delirium in older people in the population, at home and in long term care: a review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to provide an overview of prevalence, symptoms, risk factors and prognosis of delirium in primary care and institutionalized long-term care. DESIGN: The method used in this study is a systematic PubMed search and literature review. RESULTS: The prevalence of delirium in the population among the elderly aged 65+ years is 1-2%. Prevalence rises with age: 10% among a "general" population aged 85+ years. Prevalence rises up to 22% in populations with higher percentages of demented elder. In long-term care, prevalence ranges between 1.4% and 70%, depending on diagnostic criteria and on the prevalence of dementia. There is a significant increase of the risk of delirium with age and cognitive decline in all groups. Concerning prognosis, most studies agree that older people who previously experienced delirium have a higher risk of dementia and a higher mortality rate. Population and long-term care studies show the same tendency. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium in a non-selected population aged 65+ years is uncommon. However, prevalence rises very quickly in selected older groups. Primary care doctors should be aware of a relatively high risk of delirium among the elderly in long-term care, those older than 85 years and those with dementia.

Incidence, prevalence, and consultation rates of shoulder complaints in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence, prevalence, and consultation rates of patients with shoulder complaints in general practice in the Netherlands during 10 years following initial presentation. METHODS: A primary care database with an average population of 30,000 patients per year aged 18 years or older was used to select patients who consulted their general practitioner (GP) with shoulder complaints in the northern part of the Netherlands in the year 1998. Information about consultations for shoulder complaints was extracted. Incidence and prevalence for men, women, and different age groups were calculated for 9 and 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 526 patients consulted their GP with a new shoulder complaint. During an average follow-up of 7.6 years, these patients consulted their GP 1331 times because of their shoulder complaints (average of 0.33 consultations per year). Almost half of the patients consulted their GP only once. Patients in the 45-64 age category had the highest probability of repeated GP consultations during follow-up. Average incidence was 29.3 per 1000 person-years. Women and patients in the 45-64 age category have the highest incidence. The annual prevalence of shoulder complaints ranged from 41.2 to 48.4 per 1000 person-years, calculated for the period 1998 to 2007, and was higher among women than among men. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of shoulder complaints in general practice is as high as 29.3 per 1000 person-years, GPs' workload is generally low, as nearly half of these patients consult their GP only once for their complaint.

Time for considering other blood pressure target values in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes?

Although blood pressure control has undoubtedly proven its benefits in reducing the high cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), it still remains unclear whether intensive antihypertensive treatment in old age (> 75 years) is beneficial. Many of the current guidelines recommend a systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 140 mmHg or lower, unless patients are at high risk for possible adverse events such as postural hypotension (1,2). This perspective aims to get a discussion started on the appropriate target SBP value for patients with T2DM aged older than 75 years.We would like to propose the less stringent value of< 160 mmHg in this specific population.

Health care in patients 1 year post-stroke in general practice: research on the utilisation of the Dutch Transmural Protocol transient ischaemic attack/cerebrovascular accident.

This study evaluates the kind of aftercare that ischaemic stroke patients receive and the extent that aftercare fulfils the criteria of the 'Dutch Transmural Protocol transient ischaemic attack/cerebrovascular accident'. Fifty-seven patients were interviewed 1 year post-stroke about secondary prevention and aftercare. Forty general practitioners (GPs) completed a questionnaire about guidance and secondary prevention (concerning medication and lifestyle advice). Most patients would like to see their GP more regularly. More aftercare was required than was planned. The use of aspirin remained the same, fewer patients used statins and more used antihypertensives. Of the 40 GPs who participated, 12% did not apply prevention. Blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol were measured in 84%, 28% and 40% of patients. All of these measures were often elevated, but treatment was not given. Lifestyle advice was offered to one-quarter of patients. Considering all of the advice given in the Dutch Protocol, several aspects can be improved in relation to secondary prevention. Too little attention is paid to giving lifestyle advice, stricter medical checkups by GPs are necessary and there is a decrease in use of preventive medication, partly because GPs monitors use of medication inadequately. The use of the Dutch Protocol in aftercare can be improved by a more detailed description of advice.

Transfer of information on palliative home care during the out-of-hours period.

BACKGROUND: Continuity of end-of-life care for patients receiving palliative care is an important challenge for out-of-hours services in general practice. AIM: To investigate how frequent information is transferred on patients receiving palliative care from GPs to the out-of-hours services, to explore the perceptions of GP's on this information transfer and to study the relation between information transfer and the used GP information systems. METHODS: This is a mixed-method design study. The frequency of information transfer to the out-of-hours services was investigated by analyzing a regional out-of-hours database. Barriers and promoting factors for this transfer of information were investigated by using semi-structured interviews among a purposive sample of GPs from the same region. The relation between information transfer and the GP information system was investigated by a postal questionnaire in a national random selection of GPs. RESULTS: When a palliative patient contacted the out-of-hours service, for 20% of these patients, a transfer of information was available and only half of these transfers included an anticipating end-of-life plan. All interviewed GPs considered continuity of care for these patients as important. However, some doubted whether a transfer of information is relevant for the quality of care. There was no relation between the information transfer and the used GP information systems. CONCLUSION: For only a minority of patients receiving palliative care, a transfer of information including an anticipating management plan was present. There is a large variation in the opinions of GPs on how to organize continuity of end-of-life care.

General practitioners' characteristics and the assessment of psychiatric illness.

We put forward the hypothesis that general practitioners (GPs) with a family medicine orientation are more sensitive to the presence of mental health problems than GPs with a clinical orientation. To test it, GPs were divided into three subgroups on the basis of an attitude questionnaire. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Present State Examination (PSE) were used as criteria. No differences in sensitivity to psychiatric illness were observed using either scale. Results of factor analysis with the subscales of the GP attitude questionnaire and the indices 'bias' and 'accuracy' were similar to those reported by GOLDBERG and associates. 'New' patients were defined as patients in whom the GP had not identified a mental health problem (MHP) in the past year. 'Old' patients were defined as 'not new'. GPs tended to under-identify MHPs in 'new' and over-identify them in 'old' patients. Recognition of psychiatric illness was better in 'old' than in 'new' patients. In 'new' patients, recognition depended on psychiatric diagnosis. Among 'old' patients, older people and people (especially women) with low education predominated. In their assessments GPs used information not contained in the GHQ.

Effect of naloxone on blood pressure and survival in different shock models in rats.

The effect of naloxone on a number of experimental shock models, using the anaesthetized rat, was studied with special emphasis on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and chance of survival. Only a slight increase in MABP was noted in haemorrhagic shock models whereas survival was not affected. Naloxone was without effect in endotoxin shock (i.p. administration of endotoxin). In endotoxin shock (i.v. administration) naloxone increased MABP especially at a high dose of endotoxin. Although survival time was prolonged, the chance of permanent survival was not improved. Naloxone had practically no effect in anaphylactic shock and intestinal ischaemia shock. It is concluded that if naloxone has any effect it is relatively slight. However, this does not exclude the possibility that naloxone might still be considered as an adjunct to other forms of shock treatment at least in certain types of shock.

Effects on depression pharmacotherapy of a Dutch general practitioner training program.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners' (GPs) ability to recognize, diagnose and treat depression improved significantly after a comprehensive, 20-h training programme. This study aims to evaluate in more detail the effects of the training on GPs' pharmacotherapy of depression and related issues. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design was used. Both in the pre- and post-training phase, a sample was drawn from consecutive patients of the 17 participating GPs. In the pre-training phase we identified a sample of 31 cases with an ICD-10 depression who received an antidepressant from their GP. The sample was followed for 1 year. Outcome measures were: type of antidepressant, dosage, duration and number of target instructions given by the GP. Then we trained the GPs. In the post-training phase, we identified a new sample (n = 47) from their practices and measured the same outcomes. RESULTS: Improvements were seen in choice for modern antidepressant, adequate dosage, adequate duration, and number of target instructions given. LIMITATIONS: Observed changes can be due to a period effect, inherent in a pre-post design. CONCLUSIONS: A post-academic hands-on training of GPs can improve depression pharmacotherapy according to clinical guidelines with respect to choice of a modern antidepressant, adequate dosage, adequate duration and psychoeducation.

Training primary care physicians improves the management of depression.

The purpose of this pretest-posttest study was to evaluate effects of a training program designed to improve primary care physicians' (PCPs) ability to recognize mental health problems (MHP) and to diagnose and manage depression according to clinical guidelines. The primary care settings were in the northern part of The Netherlands. There were eight intensive, hands-on training sessions of 2.5 hours, each of which three were targeting depression (7.5 hours). In the pretraining phase we screened 1778 consecutive patients of 17 PCPs with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and interviewed a stratified sample of 518 patients about presence of current depression with the Primary Health Care version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-PHC). PCPs registered patient's mental health (status, severity, diagnosis) and treatment prescribed. Then we trained the PCPs. In the posttraining phase, we screened a new group of 1724 consecutive patients of the same PCPs and a new stratified sample of 498 patients went through the same interview and rating procedures as patients in the pretraining phase. Knowledge about depression was assessed pre- and posttraining. PCPs' knowledge of depression improved significantly. Recognition of MHP and accuracy of depression diagnosis improved, but was not statistically significant. The proportion of patients receiving treatment according to the clinical guidelines increased significantly. It was observed that training PCPs improves the management of depression.

[Depression in primary health care; international data on prevalence and treatment, among others from The Netherlands]. / Depressie in de eerstelijnsgezondheidszorg; internationale gegevens over prevalentie en behandeling, onder meer uit Nederland.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of depression and other psychiatric disorders in the contact population of primary care physicians (PCPs) in several countries. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. METHOD: The WHO carried out a study in 15 centers in 14 different countries, including the Groningen centre in the Netherlands. This study comprised interviewing 5438 patients with the primary health care version of the 'Composite international diagnostic interview' (CIDI). The PCPs also evaluated their patients' somatic and psychic health. RESULTS: Depression was found to be seen at all centres, according to the CIDI results as well as according to the physicians. Most patients with a depression were treated by the PCPs themselves; only a small proportion were referred. As regards pharmacotherapy, in most centres tranquillizers were prescribed more often than antidepressive agents. Groningen differed from the other centres in that a larger proportion of depressive patients attended the PCPs for a psychological reason for encounter, and in that the patients' somatic health was classified as much better. The Groningen PCPs referred to institutes for mental health care more often than the PCPs in most other centres. CONCLUSION: Depression was diagnosed in all participating countries, both by PCPs and with the aid of the CIDI results.

[Improved recognition and treatment of depression with occasional faster recovery through postgraduate training of family practitioners]. / Betere herkenning en behandeling van depressie en soms sneller herstel na nascholing van huisartsen.

OBJECTIVE: To examine to what extent postgraduate training of general practitioners (GPs) with the Intervention Study Primary Care (INSTEL) programme improved detection, diagnosis, and treatment of depression, and whether the course of depression was influenced favourably. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative. SETTING: Academic Hospital Groningen, discipline group Psychiatry and General Practice, Groningen, the Netherlands. METHOD: General practitioners active in ten practices in Groningen and surrounds were trained in recognition and treatment of depression. The first group consisted of ten GPs who had not participated in psychiatrically oriented research before, the second group of seven GPs who had participated in such research. Both before and after the training, a group of patients aged 18-65 years visiting these GPs' office hours were examined by the investigators for presence of depression with the aid of questionnaires. The GPs recorded of each patient whether or not they found him/her depressed, and they mentioned the treatment. The researchers assessed the outcomes of depressed patients shortly after the index consultation and at 3 and 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: Before the training a questionnaire was completed by 1778 patients, of whom 179 were depressed; after the training a questionnaire was completed by 1724 patients, of whom 155 were depressed. Detection and diagnosis of depression improved in the first group of GPs, but not in the second group. Treatment improved for patients in both groups. In terms of symptoms, illness duration, daily functioning, and absence from work patients recovered slightly faster from their depression after the training, although the effects were weak, not always statistically significant (p < 0.05), and mostly limited to the subgroup of recognized depressions with a recent onset. At the 12-month follow-up the pre-post differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The postgraduate training with the INSTEL programme appears to be an effective intervention that improves treatment and somewhat speeds up recovery in recent onset cases.

Family doctor-driven follow-up for adult childhood cancer survivors supported by a web-based survivor care plan.

PURPOSE: To facilitate family doctor-driven follow-up for adult childhood cancer survivors, we developed a survivor care plan (SCP) for adult survivors and their family doctors. METHODS: The SCP was accessible for survivors and their family doctors on a secure website and as a printed booklet. It included data on diagnosis, treatment and potential risks as well as recommendations for follow-up. Childhood cancer survivors who were off-treatment ≥5 years, aged ≥18 years and not involved in a long-term follow-up program were eligible. They were advised to visit their family doctor. The endpoints were numbers of participants, adherence of family doctors to the guidelines and satisfaction ratings. RESULTS: The eligibility criteria were fulfilled by 108 survivors. Three family doctors and 15 survivors refused, 10 survivors were non-responders. Of the remaining 80 survivors, 73 survivors visited 72 family doctors. Sixty-nine (96%) family doctors returned data of whom 60 (83%) fully adhered to the recommended tests. The majority of survivors and family doctors were satisfied about the SCP. CONCLUSIONS: A (web-based) SCP for survivors and family doctors can serve as an effective communication vehicle to provide adequate shared care by the long-term follow-up clinic and family doctors.

Coping with adverse drug events in patients with heart failure: Exploring the role of medication beliefs and perceptions.

This study describes coping strategies that patients with heart failure (HF) use to manage adverse drug events (ADEs). The included coping strategies were social support seeking, information seeking, non-adherence and taking alleviating medication. The role of beliefs about medication and ADE perceptions in explaining these coping strategies was assessed using the Self-Regulation Model. We performed a cross-sectional study including 250 HF patients who experienced an ADE. Patients completed validated questionnaires assessing their coping strategies, ADE perceptions and medication beliefs. Social support (60%) and information seeking (32%) were the most commonly used strategies to cope with ADEs. Non-adherence was reported by 7% of the patients. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that demographics, clinical factors and medication beliefs explained only a small amount of the variance in coping strategies, whereas ADE perceptions explained a substantial amount of variance. Path analysis showed that patients' perceptions about the timeline, consequences and controllability of ADEs by the health care provider were directly related to their coping behaviour. The effect of patients' medication beliefs on their coping strategies was consistent with mediation through their ADE perceptions. Our results support the value of the Self-Regulation Model in understanding patients' coping behaviour with regard to ADEs.

Short-term effects of enhanced treatment for depression in primary care: results from a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a highly prevalent, often recurring or persistent disorder. The majority of patients are initially seen and treated in primary care. Effective treatments are available, but possibilities for providing adequate follow-up care are often limited in this setting. This study assesses the effectiveness of primary-care-based enhanced treatment modalities on short-term patient outcomes. METHOD: In a randomized controlled trial we evaluated a psycho-educational self-management intervention. We included 267 adult patients meeting criteria for a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder, assessed by a structured psychiatric interview. Patients were randomly assigned to: the Depression Recurrence Prevention (DRP) program (n=112); a combination of the DRP program with psychiatric consultation (PC+DRP, n=39); a combination with brief cognitive behavior therapy (CBT+DRP, n=44); and care as usual (CAU, n=72). Follow-up assessments were made at 3 months (response 90%) and 6 months (85%). RESULTS: Patient acceptance of enhanced care was good. The mean duration of the index episode was 11 weeks (S.D.=9.78) and similar in CAU and enhanced care. Recovery rate after 6 months was 67% overall; 17% of all participants remained depressed for the entire 6-month period. CONCLUSION: Enhanced care did not result in better short-term outcomes. We found no evidence that the DRP program was more effective than CAU and no indications for added beneficial effects of either the psychiatric evaluation or the CBT treatment to the basic format of the DRP program. Observed depression treatment rates in CAU were high.

[A new development in the treatment of anxiety and trauma: "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)"]. / Eine neue Entwicklung in der Behandlung von Angst und Traumata: "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)".

This article presents a new development on the field of psychotherapy: Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This recently developed procedure promises rapid and effective treatment of anxiety related complaints, including post-traumatic stress disorders (DSM-III-R). In essence the therapist induces a series of rapid and rhythmic eye-movements. EMDR facilitates cognitive changes and lasting decrease of anxiety. As indicated by research and illustrated by case histories, EMDR can be effective in one session. Until now there is no definitive explanation for the effectiveness of this method.

Recognition, management and outcome of psychological disorders in primary care: a naturalistic follow-up study.

This article addresses the issues of recognition and labelling of psychological disorders (PDs) by general practitioners (GPs), and the association of recognition with management and outcome. Nearly 2000 attenders of 25 GPs were screened with the GHQ and a stratified sample of 296 patients was examined twice, using the Present State Examination (PSE) and Groningen Social Disability Schedule (GSDS). Prevalence rates of PDs according to the GHQ, GP and PSE were 46%, 26% and 15% respectively. For the 1450 'new' patients, i.e. patients who had no PD diagnosed by their GP in the 12 months prior to the enrollment visit, these rates were 38%, 14%, and 10%. GPs missed half of the PSE cases and typically assigned non-specific diagnoses to recognized cases. Depressions were more readily recognized than anxiety disorders, and the detection rates for severe disorders were higher than those for less severe disorders. Recognition was strongly associated with management and outcome. Recognized as compared to non-recognized cases were more likely to receive mental health interventions from their GP and had better outcomes in terms of both psychopathology and social functioning. Initial severity, psychological reasons for encounter, recency of onset, diagnostic category, and psychiatric comorbidity were related to both better recognition and outcome. However, these variables could not account for the association of recognition with management and outcome, but some did modify the association. A causal model of the relationships is presented and possible reasons for non-recognition and for the beneficial effects of recognition are discussed.

Quantum chemical studies on clonidine and related derivatives.

The ground state geometry of the protonated form of clonidine was established by CNDO/2 (complete neglect of differential overlap) calculations. For the interplanar angle of this molecule we found a value of about 40 degrees. The interplanar angles of a number of clonidine related derivatives, both bases and protonated forms, were calculated on the basis of the results obtained for clonidine by taking into account the bond lengths and van der Waals radii of the substituents present at the ortho positions of the phenyl ring. The preferred conformations of the free bases and protonated forms were used as inputs for the semi-empirical PPP-MO (Pariser, Parr and Pople molecular orbital) calculation procedure in order to obtain several quantum chemical parameters. Excellent correlations resulted in relating some of the calculated parameters with the experimentally determined pK'a of the molecules. The results show the ability of MO-calculations to predict the basicity in this series of congeneric molecules and furthermore support the reliability of the calculation procedure in providing the quantum chemical parameters reported in this paper.