scholarly journals Differential item functioning in the Cambridge Mental Disorders in the Elderly (CAMDEX) Depression Scale across middle age and late life.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1219-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryne Estabrook ◽  
Michael E. Sadler ◽  
Matt McGue
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Differential Item Functioning ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Late Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Item Functioning

scholarly journals Differential Item Functioning Related to Age in the Reading Subtest of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond L. Ownby ◽  
Drenna Waldrop-Valverde
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Differential Item Functioning ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Response Format ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Item Functioning

Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when items in a measure perform in ways that are different for members of a target group when the different performance is not related to the individual’s overall ability to be assessed. DIF may arise for a number of reasons but is often evaluated in order to ensure that tests and measures are fair evaluations of a group’s abilities. Based on observations when administering the test, we developed the hypothesis that some items on the reading comprehension subtest of the Test of Functional Health Literacy (TOFHLA) might be differentially more difficult for older adults and the elderly due to its use of the cloze response format, in which the participant is required to determine what word, when placed in a blank space in a sentence, will ensure that the sentence is intelligible. Others have suggested that the cloze response format may make demands on verbal fluency, an ability that is reduced with the increasing age. Our analyses show that age-related DIF may present in a nearly one-half of reading comprehension items of the TOFHLA. Results of this measure in older persons should be interpreted cautiously.

scholarly journals Item response analysis of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory among the elderly in China: dimensionality and differential item functioning test

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongquan Li ◽  
Xia Zhao ◽  
Ang Sheng ◽  
Li Wang
Keyword(s):  
Differential Item Functioning ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Scale Analysis ◽  
Mokken Scale Analysis ◽  
Item Functioning ◽  
Bifactor Modeling ◽  
Somatic Diseases

Abstract Background Anxiety symptoms are pervasive among elderly populations around the world. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (the GAI) has been developed and widely used in screening those suffering from severe symptoms. Although debates about its dimensionality have been mostly resolved by Molde et al. (2019) with bifactor modeling, evidence regarding its measurement invariance across sex and somatic diseases is still missing. Methods This study attempted to provide complemental evidence to the dimensionality debates of the GAI with Mokken scale analysis and to examine its measurement invariance across sex and somatic diseases by conducting differential item functioning (DIF) analysis among a sample of older Chinese adults. The data was from responses of a large representative sample (N = 1314) in the Chinese National Survey Data Archive, focusing on the mental health of elderly adults. Results The results of Mokken scale analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of the GAI, and DIF analysis indicated measurement invariance of this inventory across individuals with different sex and somatic diseases, with just a few items exhibiting item bias but all of them negligible. Conclusions All these findings supported the use of this inventory among Chinese elders to screen anxiety symptoms and to make comparisons across sex and somatic diseases.

scholarly journals Relationship between progression of brain white matter changes and late-life depression: 3-year results from the LADIS study

2012 ◽  
Vol 201 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Firbank ◽  
Andrew Teodorczuk ◽  
Wiesje M. Van Der Flier ◽  
Alida A. Gouw ◽  
Anders Wallin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Late Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
White Matter Changes ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
History Of ◽  
Depressive Episodes ◽  
History Of Depression

BackgroundBrain white matter changes (WMC) and depressive symptoms are linked, but the directionality of this association remains unclear.AimsTo investigate the relationship between baseline and incident depression and progression of white matter changes.MethodIn a longitudinal multicentre pan-European study (Leukoaraiosis and Disability in the elderly, LADIS), participants aged over 64 underwent baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments. Repeat scans were obtained at 3 years. Depressive outcomes were assessed in terms of depressive episodes and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Progression of WMC was measured using the modified Rotterdam Progression scale.ResultsProgression of WMC was significantly associated with incident depression during year 3 of the study (P = 0.002) and remained significant after controlling for transition to disability, baseline WMC and baseline history of depression. There was no significant association between progression of WMC and GDS score, and no significant relationship between progression of WMC and history of depression at baseline.ConclusionsOur results support the vascular depression hypothesis and implicate WMC as causal in the pathogenesis of late-life depression.

Prevalence of mental disorders in late life

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 852-852
Author(s):  
V.Y. Semke
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
Late Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mental Disturbances ◽  
Diagnostic Approaches ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Cerebral Vascular

In late life patients considerably more seldom than patients of other age groups reach attention of psychiatrists due to obliteration of symptoms of mental suffering, their masked by somatic symptoms manifestation, not seldom - negative attitude of relatives toward psychiatric assistance etc.Study of patients of elder and older age at units of somatic hospital of another profile (therapeutic, cardiologic, neurological, traumatologic) has shown that mental disturbances are revealed in 74,4 % of them. Non-psychotic forms of disorders are basic (73,8 %), more seldom psychoses are found (18,6 %) and dementias of various nature (7,6 %). Of most prevalence in this contingent were disorders related with cerebral-vascular diseases (42,6 %), including those with acute disturbances of brain blood circulation (20,5 %). Somatogenic mental disorders occupy more modest place counting 8,8%. Neuroses including nosogenias are observed in 9,2 % of cases. Endogenous diseases are rarely found in patients of a somatic institution (6,7 %).In recent years significant growth of organic mental disorders in Russian Federation occurs predominantly at the expense of the elderly. In structure of this pathology as selective epidemiological investigations show the first place according to incidence rate is occupied by cerebral-vascular diseases (34,1 %); the second place is occupied by neurotic disturbances (26,0 %); the third one - affective disorders (15,4 %).Differences in sickness rate and morbidity in such conditions identified by researchers in different populations may reflect more particularly their diagnostic approaches than the true differences in incidence and prevalence.

scholarly journals Studying Individual Differences in Spatial Cognition Through Differential Item Functioning Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 774
Author(s):  
Antonella Lopez ◽  
Alessandro O. Caffò ◽  
Luigi Tinella ◽  
Albert Postma ◽  
Andrea Bosco
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Differential Item Functioning ◽  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Differential Impact ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Item Functioning ◽  
Differential Item Functioning Analysis ◽  
Group Memberships

Background: In the field of spatial cognition, the study of individual differences represents a typical research topic. Gender and age have been prominently investigated. A promising statistical technique used to identify the different responses to items in relation to different group memberships is the Differential Item Functioning Analysis (DIF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the DIF of the Landmark positioning on a Map (LPM) task, across age groups (young and elderly) and gender, in a sample of 400 healthy human participants. Methods: LPM is a hometown map completion test based on well-known and familiar landmarks used to assess allocentric mental representations. DIF was assessed on LPM items two times: on categorical (i.e., positions) and coordinate (i.e., distances) scores, separately. Results: When positions and distances were difficult to assess with respect to the intended reference point, the probability to endorse the items seemed to get worse for the elderly compared to the younger participants. Instead other features of landmarks (high pleasantness, restorativeness) seemed to improve the elderly performance. A gender-related improvement of probability to endorse distance estimation of some landmarks, favoring women, emerged, probably associated with their repeated experiences with those landmarks. Overall, the complexity of the task seemed to have a differential impact on young and elderly people while gender-oriented activities and places seemed to have a differential impact on men and women. Conclusions: For the first time DIF was applied to a spatial mental representation task, based on the schematic sketch maps of the participants. The application of DIF to the study of individual differences in spatial cognition should become a systematic routine to early detect differential items, improving knowledge, as well as experimental control, on individual differences.

AGE-RELATED ISSUES OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE MIDDLE RANGE EJECTION FRACTION OF ELDERLY AND SENILE AGE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF PHARMACOTHERAPY

2021 ◽  
pp. 734-741
Author(s):  
О.А. Осипова ◽  
Е.В. Гостева ◽  
Н.И. Жернакова ◽  
С.Г. Горелик ◽  
О.М. Кузьминов ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Chronic Heart Failure ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Middle Range

В статье рассмотрены вопросы изменения качества жизни лиц пожилого и старческого возраста с ХСН и промежуточной ФВ (ХСНпрФВ) в процессе длительной (12 мес) фармакотерапии. Были обследованы 377 больных, из них 129 - 45-59 лет (средний возраст), 128 - 60-74 лет (пожилой возраст), 120 - 75 лет и старше (старческого возраста). Диагноз устанавливали в соответствии с Рекомендациями по диагностике и лечению ХСН (2013, 2016 г.) Проведена оценка качества жизни по опроснику MLHFQ. Установлено улучшение качества жизни через 12 мес терапии во всех группах больных, но наиболее выраженные результаты получены в старческом возрасте. Максимальное снижение уровня тревоги наблюдали у мужчин средней возрастной категории, у женщин - в пожилом возрасте. В пожилом и старческом возрасте отмечено сопоставимое снижение баллов по шкале депрессии Цунга как у мужчин, так и у женщин. The article deals with the issues of changing the quality of life of elderly and senile people with chronic heart failure with middle range ejection fraction (CHFmrHF) during long-term (12 months) pharmacotherapy. 377 patients were examined, including 129 people aged 45 to 59 years (middle age), 128 people aged 60 to 74 years (elderly), and 120 people aged over 75 years (senile age). The diagnosis was made in accordance with the Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of CHF (2013, 2016). The quality of life was assessed according to the MLHFQ questionnaire. There was an improvement in the quality of life after 12 months of therapy in all groups of patients, but the most pronounced results were obtained in old age. The maximum decrease in the level of anxiety was observed in men in the middle age group, in women - in the elderly. In the elderly and senile age, there was a comparable decrease in the scores on the Zung depression scale in both men and women.

Hoarding in the elderly: a critical review of the recent literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1077-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Roane ◽  
Alyssa Landers ◽  
Jackson Sherratt ◽  
Gillian S. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Recent Literature ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Hoarding Disorder ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Distinct Features ◽  
Morbid Conditions

ABSTRACTBackground:Hoarding is now a stand-alone diagnosis in DSM-5. The objective of this review is to critically evaluate the most recent literature on hoarding disorder (HD) in ageing patients.Methods:A literature search was conducted using PubMed and PsychINFO to identify papers from 2000 to 2015 that examined HD and hoarding symptoms in late-life participants.Results:Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria. Selected studies had significant methodological limitations with regard to participant sampling, diagnostic criteria, and methods for identifying co-morbid conditions. Hoarding in the elderly generally had onset before age 40 years, increased in severity after middle age, and was linked with social isolation. Depression was associated with hoarding in 14–54% of geriatric cases. Co-morbid anxiety and PTSD were also found. A variety of medical conditions were more common in seniors with hoarding including arthritis and sleep apnea. Late-life hoarding was associated with deficits in memory, attention, and executive function.Conclusions:HD in the elderly has distinct features. A combination of self-neglect, psychiatric and medical co-morbidities, and executive dysfunction may contribute to the progression of hoarding symptoms in the elderly.

The Psycho-geriatric Patient in the Emergency Room (ER) of the Maggiore della Carità Hospital in Novara

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S648-S649 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Di Tullio ◽  
C. Vecchi ◽  
A. Venesia ◽  
L. Girardi ◽  
C. Molino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Psychiatric Evaluation ◽  
Axis I ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionDue to population aging, the health system will face increasing challenges in the next years. Concerning mental disorders, they are major public health issues in late life, with mood and anxiety disorders being some of the most common mental disorder among the elderly. For this reason, increasing attention has to be paid to the evaluation of the elderly in psychiatry emergency settings.ObjectivesTo evaluate the socio-demographic and clinical features of over 65 patients referred to psychiatric consultations in the ER of “Maggiore della Carità” Hospital in Novara, in a 7 years period.AimsThe analysis of the characteristics of the study sample could be potentially useful in resource planning in order to better serve this important segment of the general population.MethodsDeterminants of ER visits for over 65 patients referred to psychiatric evaluation were studied retrospectively from 2008 to 2015.ResultsElderly patients made up 14,7% (n = 458) of all psychiatric evaluation in the ER (n = 3124). About two thirds (65,9%) were females and one third were males (34,1%). The mean age of patients recruited was 75.11 years. The majority of subjects (68.6%) presented without a diagnosis of Axis I according to DSM-IV. The other most frequent diagnosis was “cognitive disorders” (11.4%) and “mood disorders” (10.9%).ConclusionsThe large proportion of patients without a diagnosis of Axis I, could be related to the misunderstanding of the psychosocial aspects of aging. Preliminary results highlight the importance of research on this topic, considering population aging and the impact of mental disorders in late-life.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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