Delusional Parasitosis in the Elderly: A Review and Report of Six Cases From Northern Finland

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirkko Räsänen ◽  
Kari Erkonen ◽  
Ulrica Isaksson ◽  
Pirjo Koho ◽  
Risto Varis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Elderly Woman ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Test Results ◽  
High Potency ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Delusional Parasitosis ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Insight Into

A patient with delusional parasitosis has a strong conviction of being infested with parasites: for example, lice or worms. Such a patient is not satisfied with assurances or test results that no parasites are present, but is so convinced that he or she will go as far as to bring the parasites in “matchboxes” to a physician. Subjectively worried, the patient may try to pick the parasites out of the skin, causing cutaneous lesions and even ulcerations. The condition is classified as a delusional/paranoid disorder, somatic type according to DSM-III-R. Not much is known epidemiologically of this rare disorder, which usually affects older women who often are isolated socially. Therapy is regarded as difficult, and a wide variety of treatment methods have been attempted. In this article six female cases are presented, showing that a typical patient is an elderly woman who has suffered losses or is socially isolated. These patients lack deeper psychiatric insight into their problem, so they are mostly in the care of nonpsychiatric physicians. Treatment with a low dose of high-potency neuroleptics combined sometimes with antidepressants appears to be effective. Reducing social isolation is also important.

Safety and Efficacy of Two Different Doses of Capecitabine in the Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer in Older Women

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2155-2161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Bajetta ◽  
Giuseppe Procopio ◽  
Luigi Celio ◽  
Luca Gattinoni ◽  
Silvia Della Torre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Advanced Breast Cancer ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Dose Group ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Advanced Breast ◽  
Safety And Efficacy

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of capecitabine in older women with advanced breast cancer. Patients and Methods Seventy-three eligible patients (median age, 73 years; range, 65 to 89 years) were enrolled. The first 30 patients received oral capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 to 14 every 21 days. Due to the occurrence of two toxic deaths, capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 twice daily was given to the subsequent 43 patients. Results All patients were assessable for safety and efficacy. A total of 351 treatment cycles were administered (median, six per patient; range, one to eight cycles). Dose reductions due to toxicities were required in 30% of patients in the standard-dose group, but capecitabine was given without a dose reduction to 95% of patients in the low-dose group. Capecitabine demonstrated a favorable safety profile. The overall incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities was low: the most common events reported in ≤ 10% of the patients were fatigue, diarrhea, dyspnea, and nausea. In the standard-dose group, the response rate was 36.7% (95% CI, 19.9% to 56.1%). An additional seven patients had disease stabilization at ≥ 24 weeks. In the low-dose group, the response rate was 34.9% (95% CI, 21% to 50.9%). An additional 15 patients had prolonged stabilization. The median time to disease progression was 4 months in either group. Conclusion This study shows that capecitabine is safe and effective in the elderly breast cancer patient. Based on the overall results, the capecitabine dose of 1,000 mg/m2 twice daily merits consideration as “standard” for older patients who do not have severely impaired renal function.

Gender differences of the elderly after cardiac surgery - Do older women worse than men?

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ried ◽  
C Schmid ◽  
L Rupprecht ◽  
M Hilker ◽  
C Diez
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Cardiac Surgery ◽  
Older Women ◽  
The Elderly

Anorexia Nervosa in an Elderly Woman

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalie Hill ◽  
Christopher Haslett ◽  
Shailesh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Clinical Picture ◽  
Elderly Woman ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Aggressive Treatment ◽  
Comorbid Depression ◽  
First Onset

Objective: To demonstrate a case of anorexia nervosa in the elderly and to highlight the need for broadening of current diagnostic criteria. Clinical picture: First onset of anorexia nervosa in a 72-year-old woman following bereavement of her husband. Treatment: Nine treatments of electroconvulsive therapy. Outcome: Treatment resulted in remission of the depressive symptoms and improvement of eating behaviour. Conclusions: Anorexia nervosa does occur in the elderly and can be difficult to detect. Where comorbid depression exists it requires aggressive treatment.

scholarly journals Aging and Exercise: A Health Perspective

1994 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna L. Bokovoy ◽  
Steven N. Blair
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Women ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
Fatal Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Habitual Exercise ◽  
And Function ◽  
Older Men And Women

Habitual exercise provides protection against fatal coronary heart disease, extends longevity, and enhances quality of life. National surveys show less physical activity in older men and women compared with middle-aged and younger persons; older women are particularly sedentary. Although there are still few longitudinal studies on exercise and physical activity in older individuals, the data support a positive relationship between physical activity and health and function in older individuals. The data further show that with regular physical activity, health and physical fitness are maintained or even increased over time in older individuals. Studies on physical activity requirements for beneficial health effects in the elderly are reviewed and presented, and exercise recommendations for older individuals are given.

Enter the Elderly Woman as Citizen

2003 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Sheila M. Neysmith
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Woman ◽  
The Elderly

scholarly journals Amiodarone Toxicity Screening: What are the Clinicians Supposed to Tell Patients

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
John D Rozich ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Toxicity Screening ◽  
Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Routine Testing ◽  
Continued Use

The use of amiodarone in clinical practice continues to be widespread in the setting of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Use of amiodarone continues especially in the elderly where the drug’s favorable characteristics and outcomes in the setting of chronic kidney disease coupled to its low inherent proarrhythmic profile has ensured its continued use. The present work focuses on the information that clinicians should tell their patients regarding requisite toxicity screening during daily treatment with amiodarone when it is maintained at a low dose of 200 mgs per day or less. Several questions need be answered in pursuit of the fundamental query as to whether routine testing for toxicity should still be advised. Most importantly, has ongoing screening shown to be of any proven value?

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