Prevalence of psychotic symptoms among older adults in an Asian population

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1211-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mythily Subramaniam ◽  
Edimansyah Abdin ◽  
Janhavi Vaingankar ◽  
Louisa Picco ◽  
Shazana Shahwan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Psychotic symptoms are common among older adults and are seen in a wide range of conditions. Most studies examining the prevalence and correlates of psychotic symptoms among older adults have been conducted in Western populations. To address this gap the current study was undertaken to establish the prevalence and correlates of psychotic symptoms and paranoid ideation within a community sample of older adults without dementia in an Asian population.Methods:The Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study was a comprehensive single phase, cross-sectional survey. All respondents were assessed using the Geriatric Mental State examination (GMS). Specific questions of the GMS were then used to establish the prevalence of hallucinations and persecutory delusions.Results:A total of 2,565 respondents completed the study giving a response rate of 65.6%. The prevalence of any psychotic symptoms in this population of older adults was 5.2%. The odds of hallucinations and any psychotic symptoms were significantly higher among those of Malay ethnicity, and those who had no formal education. Older adults aged 75–84 years were significantly associated with lower odds of having hallucinations (vs. older adult aged 60–74 years), while homemaker status was significantly associated with lower odds of having any psychotic symptoms.Conclusions:The prevalence of psychotic symptoms among older Asian adults without dementia was higher than that reported from Western countries. Psychotic symptoms were associated with Malay ethnicity, poor cognitive performance and fewer years of schooling, visual and hearing impairment as well as depression and irritability.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259198
Author(s):  
Rosalie Weigand ◽  
Annika Moosmayer ◽  
Thomas Jacobsen

Background Aesthetic experiences elicit a wide range of positive emotions and have a positive impact on various health outcomes. In this context, savoring refers to a cognitive form of emotion regulation used to maintain and extend positive emotional experiences and is considered to contribute to health and well-being. Chronic pain has been linked to reduced reward-seeking behavior. This is the first study to investigate the relationship between self-reported chronic pain and savoring. Methods We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey in a large non-clinical sample (opera, theater, and cabaret visitors; n = 322). The variables were assessed with a two-item-questionnaire. Results Self-reported chronic pain was significantly negatively correlated with savoring (r = -.547) Conclusion Altogether, this result helps to develop a better understanding of the effects of chronic pain in humans and to shed light on state-dependent differences in aesthetic experiences.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e023730 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Foster ◽  
Swatee Patel

ObjectivesTo investigate the concurrent use of ‘at-risk’ (AR) drinking (>10 units of alcohol per week) and prescription medications, while controlling for sociodemographic, and health-related factors, among older adults (aged 65–89 years).DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingData from Health Survey of England, 2013.InterventionsNone.ParticipantsGeneral population survey of 2169 adults aged 65–89 years.Primary outcome measuresAR drinking (>10 units per week). Secondary outcome was AR drinking defined as >14 units of alcohol per week limit (the cut-off used by the Department of Health for AT drinking).ResultsTwenty-seven per cent (n=568) of the sample were AR drinkers. Factors associated with alcohol consumption were gender, age, social class, marital status, rurality of dwelling, deprivation index, self-reported general health, cigarette smoking, body mass index, exercise level, health and well-being scores’ and number of prescription drugs. Logistic regression analysis showed that males were more likely to be AR drinkers (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.59 to 4.57, p<0.0001) than females. Each year increase in age, lowered the probability of AR drinking by a factor of 0.95 (95% CI 0.93 to 0.98, p<0.0001). Using prescription drugs reduced AR drinking by a factor of 0.92 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.93, p=0.033), after controlling for age, sex and rurality of dwelling. No other predictors were significant. Similar results were obtained for AR drinking of >14units per week.ConclusionAR drinking is more likely in older men than women. The odds of AR drinking lessens, as individuals age, and using prescription drugs also reduces AR drinking.


Author(s):  
Chong-Han Kua ◽  
Emily Reeve ◽  
Doreen S Y Tan ◽  
Tsingyi Koh ◽  
Jie Lin Soong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Knowledge of decision-making preference of patients and caregivers is needed to facilitate deprescribing. This study aimed to assess the perspectives of caregivers and older adults towards deprescribing in an Asian population. Secondary objectives were to identify and compare characteristics associated with these attitudes and beliefs. Method A cross-sectional survey of two groups of participants was conducted using the Revised Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing questionnaire. Descriptive results were reported for participants’ characteristics and questionnaire responses from four factors (belief in medication inappropriateness, medication burden, concerns about stopping, and involvement) and two global questions. Correlation between participant characteristics and their responses was analyzed. Results A total of 1,057 (615 older adults; 442 caregivers) participants were recruited from 10 institutions in Singapore. In which 511 (83.0%) older adults and 385 (87.1%) caregivers reported that they would be willing to stop one or more of their medications if their doctor said it was possible, especially among older adults recruited from acute-care hospitals (85.3%) compared with older adults in community pharmacies (73.6%). Individuals who take more than five medications and those with higher education were correlated with greater agreement in inappropriateness and involvement, respectively. Conclusions Clinicians should consider discussing deprescribing with older adults and caregivers in their regular clinical practice, especially when polypharmacy is present. Further research is needed into how to engage older adults and caregivers in shared decision making based on their attitudes toward deprescribing.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Studer-Luethi ◽  
Maria Brasser ◽  
Simon Lusti ◽  
Rahel Schaerli

Abstract BackgroundIn recent decades, the proportion of older adults in the population has continued to rise and with it the need for intervention programs to maintain cognitive functions into old age. Multiple lifestyle factors, first and foremost physical, cognitive, and social activities, have been shown to be crucial to forestalling decline in cognitive functions. However, since Covid-19 has curtailed opportunities for such activities, strategies must be designed to support older adults to remain cognitively healthy. MethodsThis study describes a newly developed ongoing publicly available preventive intervention, called brain coach, to support and stimulate cognitive activity in older adults. The intervention consists of weekly recommendations for evidence-based physical, cognitive, social, mindful, and creative activation exercises that can be integrated in daily life. 660 participants participated in an online cross-sectional survey examining experienced benefits and changes in relation to the program.ResultsParticipants reported benefits in memory, well-being, attitudes towards the brain, and lifestyle habits. Importantly, time invested in the intervention as well as some characteristics of participants, such as personality and positive attitude toward brain health, show positive relationships with these experienced benefits. Further research will explore the effects of such a multimodal intervention in a longitudinal randomized controlled trial study.


Author(s):  
Hyejin Yoon ◽  
Won Seok Lee ◽  
Kyoung-Bae Kim ◽  
Joonho Moon

South Koreans’ life expectancy has dramatically increased over the last four decades. However, the life satisfaction index of older Korean adults has been in the bottom third globally. The large majority of older Koreans spend most of the day watching television at home. However, concrete evidence regarding the effects of leisure involvement on older adults’ quality of later life is scant. Only a few existing studies have examined the link via cross-sectional survey data. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether meaningful leisure participation outside the home in older age plays an essential role in improving life satisfaction. To achieve the research aim, nationally representative panel data from the Korea Employment Information Service were used for the data analysis. The results indicated that social and productive leisure participation in religious activity, social gatherings, and volunteering was significantly related to quality of life in older adults. Moreover, frequent participation in travel and cultural activities outside the home were positively related to life satisfaction. These findings suggest that participation in meaningful leisure activities is a critical factor contributing to subjective well-being and good mental health in older Korean adults and should be encouraged.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimmy V. S

Background: woman manifest a wide range of stress responses in their daily life in the personal life at home and job related stress at workplace. It can be in the form of physical disorders ranging from headache, neck ache, shoulder pain, lack of sleep, lack of appetite and in their extreme conditions, it can lead to lack of attention, frustrations, anxiety, depression and to suicidal thoughts. This can interfere their well being and quality of life activities of daily living also. Aim: The research examined the prevalence of depression among young adult woman residing in Kerala State. Research Design: Cross sectional survey design was used. Sample: A sample of 30 people (young adult females) over the age of 18 years participated in the study. Tool used: To assess the depression, CES-D a screening test for depression developed by Radolff (1977)was used. Results: Most of the participants does not have depression, but to a lesser extend mild to moderate depression and possibility of major depression was also found among the participants. Conclusion:. Early screening of depression at regular basis provides intimation towards the woman who need immediate interventions, including counseling facilities and even medical support on right time, protects them from hampering of their functional abilities to a greater extend.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Cassidy ◽  
Ingrid Doyle

 The research aim was to test the General Benefit Finding Scale (GBFS) in a cross-sectional survey of adults aged 55 years and older and to assess to what extent it relates to mental well-being, perceived social support, health and personality. Participants (n=341) completed a questionnaire which included demographic questions, the GBFS, and measures of mental well-being, perceived social support, activity levels, and personality. Benefit finding was higher in older adults and correlated positively with mental well-being and perceived support. The impact of the psychosocial factors investigated on benefit finding levels was small (9.2%) with mental well-being, sex and agreeableness being significant predictors. The study provides additional support for the use of the GBFS and suggests that perceived social support, particularly from friends, is especially important for older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S676-S677
Author(s):  
Farhana Ferdous Luna

Abstract Care for older adults is most precarious in developing countries where poverty and weak state support systems have put the well-being of their older populations at risk. Bangladesh is one such nation characterized by excess poverty, poor health, high mortality rates, and illiteracy among its older adults. The lack of elder-friendly infrastructure presents another problem for aging well in Bangladesh. This study examined perceptions about the adequacy of care and support received by older Bangladeshis. A cross-sectional survey collected data from 100 older people who were purposively sampled. Results revealed that older people generally are not satisfied with support services from the government and feel that old-age care has historically declined. Inadequate care and support was cited both at family and state levels. Respondents expressed concern that earlier generations of older people were better taken care of than the present generation, and that the former received more respect than the latter. Factors related to perceived support deficits included poverty, widowhood, and migration of sons. In this patrilineal culture, widowed women in particular perceived themselves as disadvantaged in terms of care availability. We conclude by recommending that policies be designed to enhance care and support services for older people in Bangladesh, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized among them.


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