scholarly journals Alcohol misuse in older people

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Rao ◽  
Ilana Crome

SummaryThe clinical and public mental health aspects of alcohol misuse in older people (both men and women) have increasing relevance for both old age and addiction psychiatrists. Clinical presentations are often complex and involve a number of different psychiatric, physical and psychosocial factors. The assessment, treatment and aftercare of alcohol-related and comorbid other mental disorders will also involve a broad range of interventions from a wide range of practitioners. Given its growing clinical relevance, there are particular areas, such as alcohol-related brain damage and drug interactions with alcohol, that deserve special attention.

Author(s):  
Jaqueline Almeida Guimarães Barbosa ◽  
Alain Giami ◽  
Maria Imaculada de Fátima Freitas

The goal of this study was to understand the ways of living and thinking about sexuality of people with mental disorders. Open interviews were conducted with men and women in public mental health services in Brazil. Transcrips were examined based on the proposal of sexual scripts. Major imbalances coming from conceptions of masculinity and femininity in society were identified in the sexual scripts experienced by these men and women. Interviewees have little pleasure in their sexual lives, with recurrent complaints of sexual abuse, even by steady partners; prejudice; and lack of affection in their relationships. Additionally, they were found to have few self-care skills concerning sexual health, in a context marked by social exclusion. The results showed the need to promote sexual health as a human right, and fight gender stereotypes, which cause so much damage to the sexual health of people with mental disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 652-655
Author(s):  
Carlos Laranjeira

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled states to limit free movement, in order to protect at-risk and more vulnerable groups, particularly older adults. Due to old age or debilitating chronic diseases, this group is also more vulnerable to loneliness (perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships) and social isolation (feeling that one does not belong to society). This forced isolation has negative consequences for the health of older people, particularly their mental health. This is an especially challenging time for gerontological nursing, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to combat age stereotypes reinforced with COVID-19, to urge the measurement of loneliness and social isolation, and to rethink how to further adjust interventions in times of crisis, such as considering technology-mediated interventions in these uncertain times.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (16) ◽  
pp. 2730-2739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate M. Scott ◽  
Sukanta Saha ◽  
Carmen C.W. Lim ◽  
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola ◽  
Ali Al-Hamzawi ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPrevious work has identified associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and general medical conditions (GMCs), but their temporal direction remains unclear as does the extent to which they are independent of comorbid mental disorders.MethodsIn total, 28 002 adults in 16 countries from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys were assessed for PEs, GMCs and 21 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) mental disorders. Discrete-time survival analyses were used to estimate the associations between PEs and GMCs with various adjustments.ResultsAfter adjustment for comorbid mental disorders, temporally prior PEs were significantly associated with subsequent onset of 8/12 GMCs (arthritis, back or neck pain, frequent or severe headache, other chronic pain, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and peptic ulcer) with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–1.5] to 1.9 (95% CI 1.4–2.4). In contrast, only three GMCs (frequent or severe headache, other chronic pain and asthma) were significantly associated with subsequent onset of PEs after adjustment for comorbid GMCs and mental disorders, with ORs ranging from 1.5 (95% CI 1.2–1.9) to 1.7 (95% CI 1.2–2.4).ConclusionsPEs were associated with the subsequent onset of a wide range of GMCs, independent of comorbid mental disorders. There were also associations between some medical conditions (particularly those involving chronic pain) and subsequent PEs. Although these findings will need to be confirmed in prospective studies, clinicians should be aware that psychotic symptoms may be risk markers for a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Whether PEs are causal risk factors will require further research.


Author(s):  
Tom Dening ◽  
Kuruvilla George

Globally increasing numbers of older people bring both challenges and opportunities for old age psychiatry services. This chapter outlines the history, underlying principles, and policy context for contemporary mental health services for older people. It discusses components of services, including community health teams, memory assessment services, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and in-patient mental health care, as well as newer types of service, such as crisis teams and outreach to care homes. Other recent developments include various models of case management and emphasis on post-diagnostic support. Equally important are issues of equality and access, and the chapter covers several key areas, such as age, gender, sexual orientation, religion and spirituality, and rurality. Major challenges to old age psychiatry come from limited resources and non-recognition of the distinct needs of older adults, as well as the demands of the growing older population, advances in science and technology, and the need to attract talented psychiatrists into this field.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  

Abstract Scope and extent as well as duration of mental health and mental disorders are influenced by various factors, such as environmental factors. Environmental factors relate to physical, chemical and built environment. We aim to build knowledge by providing 1) a case study on perception of climate change and possibilities and limitations of adaptation, 2) a review on mental and neuropsychiatric disorders in the light of the SDGs framework and 3) give an overview of research methods both, in environmental epidemiology and in neuropsychiatric epidemiology. By bringing together the two fields of expertise and the members of the section of Environment and Health and of Public Mental health we will not only build bridges between individuals but between disciplines which might lead to a joint research agenda. Key messages The scope of mental health changes with changes in the environment. Knowledge provides a strong bridge to link the environment with mental disorders.


2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 962-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Lawrence ◽  
Julia Head ◽  
Georgina Christodoulou ◽  
Biljana Andonovska ◽  
Samina Karamat ◽  
...  

Background: The aim of this survey is to investigate professional attitudes to the presence and value of spiritual care from Old Age Psychiatrists.Method: All registered members of the Faculty of the Psychiatry of Old Age in the United Kingdom were asked to complete a 21-question semi-structured questionnaire. The first mail shot took place in 2002 and the second mail shot to non-respondents in 2003. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the answers received.Results: The response rate was 46%. The majority of respondents (92%) recognize the importance of spiritual dimensions of care for older people with mental health needs and about a quarter of respondents appear to consider referring patients to the chaplaincy service. In contrast, integration of spiritual advisors within the assessment and management of individual cases is rare.Conclusions: Opinions vary as to whether provision of spiritual care should become widely available to older people with mental health needs who are admitted to hospital. Old age psychiatrists recognize that awareness of spiritual dimensions may be important for their patients. They seem less clear about the role of spiritual advisors and how NHS multidisciplinary clinical teams and spiritual and pastoral care services can be best integrated. Much work needs to be done on developing effective training and operational policies in this area.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Rebecca Rhead ◽  
Deirdre MacManus ◽  
Margaret Jones ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
Nicola T Fear ◽  
...  

Abstract Background For a small minority of personnel, military service can have a negative impact on their mental health. Yet no studies have assessed how the mental health of UK veterans (who served during the recent operations in Afghanistan or Iraq) compares to non-veterans, to determine if they are at a disadvantage. We examine the prevalence of mental disorders and alcohol misuse in UK veterans compared to non-veterans. Methods Veteran data were taken from the third phase of the King's Centre for Military Health Research cohort study (n = 2917). These data were compared with data on non-veterans taken from two large general population surveys: 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (n = 5871) and wave 6 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS, n = 22 760). Results We found that, overall, UK veterans who served at the time of recent military operations were more likely to report a significantly higher prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) (23% v. 16%), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (8% v. 5%) and alcohol misuse (11% v. 6%) than non-veterans. Stratifying by gender showed that the negative impact of being a veteran on mental health and alcohol misuse was restricted to male veterans. Being ill or disabled was associated with a higher prevalence of CMD and PTSD for both veterans and non-veterans. Conclusion Whilst the same sociodemographic groups within the veteran and non-veteran populations seemed to have an increased risk of mental health problems (e.g. those who were unemployed), male veterans, in particular, appear to be at a distinct disadvantage compared to those who have never served.


1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 394-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Andrews

Objective: The purpose of the study was to review the information in a Consultancy prepared for the National Mental Health Policy which suggested that half of the people with serious mental illnesses were untreated, while persons with “mental problems” were being overserviced by the specialist mental health services. The fate of the large group of persons with mental disorders of mid-range severity was not addressed. Method: Epidemiological data was reconciled with the service patterns of the clinical workforce and the extent of the unmet need estimated. Results: It was estimated that 25–30% of the Australian population meet criteria for a mental disorder in any year, yet less than one third will receive treatment. Of those that are treated, three quarters will receive their treatment from general practitioners and the remaining quarter will be treated by either the public mental health services, the addiction services, or private psychiatrists. The problem is that less than one half of those with serious mental disorders and only two thirds of those with chronic and disabling disorders appear to be being treated by anyone. Even if there were no slippage of services away from these serious and chronic groups of patients, there would still be a workforce shortfall, especially in rural and remote areas. Conclusions: Strategies to remedy this shortfall that involve psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and general practitioners are noted, and the need for a National Mental Health Survey to provide accurate data is stressed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Tucker ◽  
Robert Baldwin ◽  
Jane Hughes ◽  
Susan Benbow ◽  
Andrew Barker ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Rauschenberg ◽  
Anita Schick ◽  
Dusan Hirjak ◽  
Andreas Seidler ◽  
Isabell Paetzold ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on public mental health. Digital interventions that have been developed and evaluated in recent years may be used to mitigate the negative consequences of the pandemic. However, evidence-based recommendations on the use of existing telemedicine and internet-based (eHealth) and app-based mobile health (mHealth) interventions are lacking. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the theoretical and empirical base, user perspective, safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of digital interventions related to public mental health provision (ie, mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders) that may help to reduce the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A rapid meta-review was conducted. The MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL databases were searched on May 11, 2020. Study inclusion criteria were broad and considered systematic reviews and meta-analyses that investigated digital tools for health promotion, prevention, or treatment of mental health conditions and determinants likely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS Overall, 815 peer-reviewed systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified, of which 83 met the inclusion criteria. Our findings suggest that there is good evidence on the usability, safety, acceptance/satisfaction, and effectiveness of eHealth interventions. Evidence on mHealth apps is promising, especially if social components (eg, blended care) and strategies to promote adherence are incorporated. Although most digital interventions focus on the prevention or treatment of mental disorders, there is some evidence on mental health promotion. However, evidence on process quality, cost-effectiveness, and long-term effects is very limited. CONCLUSIONS There is evidence that digital interventions are particularly suited to mitigating psychosocial consequences at the population level. In times of physical distancing, quarantine, and restrictions on social contacts, decision makers should develop digital strategies for continued mental health care and invest time and efforts in the development and implementation of mental health promotion and prevention programs.


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