scholarly journals Inevitable aging and the resultant mental disorders In developing countries: a sociological appraisal

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sheykhi

Aging is inevitably associated with a large number of body functions including the mental health. In addition to that, heart function, emotions, moods etc. could be mentioned as the results of gradual aging. Such conditions are usually accompanied with increase in medications consumption and decline in quality of life. Though usually medical sciences study mental health conditions, sociology also needs to be applied to appraise the "cause and effect" of mental health. As life expectancy is globally increasing, more and more people are subject to mental disorders, Alzheimer's disorders, dementia, depression and many more, as the effects of aging extensively impact mental health. Therefore, under the conditions of rapid aging, geriatrics needs to be strengthened and improved as much as possible to safeguard mental health. However, structural changes in terms of biological, physical, psychological and chemical reactions which inevitably occur with aging, need prevention and appropriate medication, and other investments in long term, and if not, other vulnerabilities will inevitably appear.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sheykhi

Aging is inevitably associated with a large number of body functions including the mental health. In addition to that, heart function, emotions, moods etc. could be mentioned as the results of gradual aging. Such conditions are usually accompanied with increase in medications consumption and decline in quality of life. Though usually medical sciences study mental health conditions, sociology also needs to be applied to appraise the "cause and effect" of mental health. As life expectancy is globally increasing, more and more people are subject to mental disorders, Alzheimer's disorders, dementia, depression and many more, as the effects of aging extensively impact mental health. Therefore, under the conditions of rapid aging, geriatrics needs to be strengthened and improved as much as possible to safeguard mental health. However, structural changes in terms of biological, physical, psychological and chemical reactions which inevitably occur with aging, need prevention and appropriate medication, and other investments in long term, and if not, other vulnerabilities will inevitably appear.


2010 ◽  
Vol 63 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 833-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dusan Backovic

A century has passed since Klifford Beers published his work "A mind that found Itself". This paper has inspired the shift of mental hygiene towards the prevention of mental disorders and health improvements. At the beginning of this millenium, with much improved scientific knowledge, experience and possibilities, but confronted with new challenges we are observing the tempestuous historical features which have influenced the development of mental health care. Mental health is crucial for the welfare of a society and its individuals, since such disorders are not only the cause of emotional suffering, but they also deteriorate the quality of life, cause alienation and discrimination of an individual. At the same time, they are a great economic burden to the society as they require long-term therapy and often result in poor productivity. In order to decrease the burden of mental disorders it is required to stimulate prevention and improvement of mental health of the population within the framework of national policies, legislation and financing.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
AnnaLynn M Williams ◽  
Sedigheh Mirzaei Salehabadi ◽  
Mengqi Xing ◽  
Nicholas Steve Phillips ◽  
Matthew Ehrhardt ◽  
...  

Long-term survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) experience high burden of chronic health morbidities. Correlates of neurocognitive and psychosocial morbidity have not been well established. 1,760 survivors of HL (mean[SD] age 37.5[6.0] years, time since diagnosis 23.6[4.7] years, 52.1% female) and 3,180 siblings (age 33.2[8.5] years, 54.5% female) completed cross-sectional surveys assessing neurocognitive function, emotional distress, quality of life, social attainment, smoking, and physical activity. Treatment exposures were abstracted from medical records. Chronic health conditions were graded according to NCI CTCAE v4.3 (1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe/disabling, 4=life-threatening). Multivariable analyses, adjusted for age, sex, and race, estimated relative risk (RR) of impairment in survivors vs. siblings and, among survivors, risk of impairment associated with demographic, clinical, treatment factors and grade 2+ chronic health conditions. Compared with siblings, survivors had significant higher risk (p's<0.05) of neurocognitive impairment (e.g. memory 8.1% vs. 5.7%), anxiety (7.0%%vs. 5.4%),depression (9.1% vs. 7%), unemployment (9.6% vs. 4.4%), and impaired physical/mental quality of life (e.g. physical function 11.2% vs. 3.0%). Smoking was associated with higher risk of impairment in task efficiency (RR=1.56[1.02-2.39]), emotional regulation (RR=1.84[1.35-2.49]), anxiety (RR=2.43[1.51-3.93]), and depression (RR=2.73[1.85-4.04]). Meeting CDC exercise guidelines was associated with lower risk of impairment in task efficiency (RR=0.70[0.52-0.95]), organization (RR=0.60[0.45-0.80]), depression (RR=0.66[0.48-0.92]), and multiple quality of life domains. Cardiovascular and neurologic conditions were associated with impairment in nearly all domains. Survivors of HL are at elevated risk for neurocognitive and psychosocial impairment, and risk is associated with modifiable factors that provide targets for interventions to improve long-term functional outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102-B (7) ◽  
pp. 845-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham S. Goh ◽  
Ming Han Lincoln Liow ◽  
You Wei Adriel Tay ◽  
Jerry Yongqiang Chen ◽  
Sheng Xu ◽  
...  

Aims While patients with psychological distress have poorer short-term outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), their longer-term function is unknown. We aimed to 1) assess the influence of preoperative mental health status on long-term functional outcomes, quality of life, and patient satisfaction; and 2) analyze the change in mental health after TKA, in a cohort of patients with no history of mental health disorder, with a minimum of ten years’ follow-up. Methods Prospectively collected data of 122 patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA in 2006 were reviewed. Patients were assessed pre- and postoperatively at two and ten years using the Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS) and Function Score (KSFS); Oxford Knee Score (OKS); and the Mental (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) which were derived from the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36). Patients were stratified into those with psychological distress (MCS < 50, n = 51) and those without (MCS ≥ 50, n = 71). Multiple regression was used to control for age, sex, BMI, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and baseline scores. The rate of expectation fulfilment and satisfaction was compared between patients with low and high MCS. Results There was no difference in the mean KSKS, KSFS, OKS, and SF-36 PCS at two years or ten years after TKA. Equal proportions of patients in each group attained the minimal clinically important difference for each score. Psychologically distressed patients had a comparable rate of satisfaction (91.8% (47/51) vs 97.1% (69/71); p = 0.193) and fulfilment of expectations (89.8% vs 97.1%; p = 0.094). The proportion of distressed patients declined from 41.8% preoperatively to 29.8% at final follow-up (p = 0.021), and their mean SF-36 MCS improved by 10.4 points (p < 0.001). Conclusion Patients with poor mental health undergoing TKA may experience long-term improvements in function and quality of life that are comparable to those experienced by their non-distressed counterparts. These patients also achieved a similar rate of satisfaction and expectation fulfilment. Undergoing TKA was associated with improvements in mental health in distressed patients, although this effect may be due to residual confounding. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(7):845–851.


Author(s):  
Adrienne Nevola ◽  
Michael E. Morris ◽  
Holly C. Felix ◽  
Teresa Hudson ◽  
Nalin Payakachat ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Robert Brackbill ◽  
Howard Alper ◽  
Patricia Frazier ◽  
Lisa Gargano ◽  
Melanie Jacobson ◽  
...  

Fifteen years after the disaster, the World Trade Center Health Registry (Registry) conducted The Health and Quality of Life Survey (HQoL) assessing physical and mental health status among those who reported sustaining an injury on 11 September 2001 compared with non-injured persons. Summary scores derived from the Short Form-12 served as study outcomes. United States (US) population estimates on the Physical Component Score (PCS-12) and Mental Component Score (MCS-12) were compared with scores from the HQoL and were stratified by Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and injury status. Linear regression models were used to estimate the association between both injury severity and PTSD and PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores. Level of injury severity and PTSD history significantly predicted poorer physical health (mean PCS-12). There was no significant difference between injury severity level and mental health (mean MCS-12). Controlling for other factors, having PTSD symptoms after 9/11 predicted a nearly 10-point difference in mean MCS-12 compared with never having PTSD. Injury severity and PTSD showed additive effects on physical and mental health status. Injury on 9/11 and a PTSD history were each associated with long-term decrements in physical health status. Injury did not predict long-term decrements in one’s mental health status. Although it is unknown whether physical wounds of the injury healed, our results suggest that traumatic injuries appear to have a lasting negative effect on perceived physical functioning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Olsson ◽  
Tanja Meltendorf ◽  
Jan Fuge ◽  
Jan C. Kamp ◽  
Da-Hee Park ◽  
...  

Objective: Mental health may affect the quality of life (QoL) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, mental disorders have not been systematically assessed in these patients. We examined the prevalence of mental disorders using structured interviews and determined their impact on QoL in patients with PAH.Methods: This study included 217 patients with PAH from two German referral centers. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using the structured clinical interview for DSM-V. QoL was assessed using the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (short form). The diagnostic value of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results: More than one third of the patients had psychological disorders with current or past adjustment disorder (38.2%), current major depressive disorder (23.0%), and panic disorder (15.2%) being the most prevalent mental illnesses. About half of the patients with a history of adjustment disorder developed at least one other mental illness. The presence of mental disorders had a profound impact on QoL. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ruled out panic disorder and depression disorder with negative predictive values of almost 90%.Conclusion: Mental disorders, in particular adjustment disorder, major depression, and panic disorder, are common in patients with PAH and contribute to impaired QoL in these patients. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale may be used as a screening tool for the most common mental health disorders. Future studies need to address interventional strategies targeting mental disorders in patients with PAH.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 859-859
Author(s):  
N. Tataru ◽  
A. Dicker

It is difficult to talk about quality of life of elderly with mental disorders. Thus, there appeared serious ethical challenges for psychiatry: to cut mental health costs and to provide care to as many as possible through all duration of their diseases, from the onset to the end-of-life. The psychiatrists have to face these challenges and treat the elderly with or without mental disorders from primary care to residential one, assuring them the best quality of life as it is possible. The goal of medical policy is to optimize the patients’ and their caregivers’ well-being. Multiple loses in old age are important in decreasing of quality of life and increasing of mental health problems in the elderly. They have more social and medical problems, which include depression and suicide. Caring for a family member with dementia can be both challenging and stressful. Primary care-staff need to develop the skills to detect and manage signs of caregivers stress. Health care professionals can promote well-being of the caregivers not only the patients’ well-being, educate them how to access help and manage their stress effectively. Recognition of the importance of the role of caregivers and finding the effective ways of supporting them, respecting their personal perception of the quality of this offer, improve the quality of primary care of elderly patients with mental disorders and also improve the quality of life of their relative or caregivers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Miguel-Cruz ◽  
Anna-Maria Ladurner ◽  
Megan Kohls-Wiebe ◽  
David Rawani ◽  
Fiona Jaffray

BACKGROUND Mental health is a prevalent condition amongst Canadians. Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability, as each year 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health issue. Five percent of people aged 65 years and older perceive their mental health as fair or poor, and 6.3% of them have mood disorders. Regarding older adults with cognitive impairments such as dementias, up to 40 to 50 per cent of them experience depression at some point. We believe that older adults can benefit significantly from information and telecommunication technologies (ICTs) as a strategy for improving mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, while at the same time improving their quality of life. 3Scape Systems Inc. is an Albertan-based private company that has produced a series of specialized 3D videos that have been designed to simulate real-life events and engage individuals living with mental health disorders and cognitive impairments such as dementia. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to explore the trial design and effects of 3Scape videos on older adults’ symptoms of depression, anxiety, and quality of life, as well as the efficacy of this technology in reducing the caregiver burden on the START Psychiatry Day Hospital program at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (GRH), and to provide data in order to estimate the parameters required to design a definitive Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). METHODS The trial will use a randomized controlled design comprising 15 intervention participants and 15 control group participants. The participants will be adults aged 65 years and older who are cognitively intact or who have a minimal cognitive impairment, i.e. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) ≥18), and clients from the START Psychiatry Day Hospital program at GRH. This study’s primary outcome variables are related to the clients’ depressive and anxiety symptoms, and their quality of life. The control group will receive the standard of care (i.e. the START Psychiatry Day Hospital program at GRH). The intervention group will receive the same standard of care as the control group at each facility and will use the 3Scape Systems videos for the therapeutic activities. RESULTS Our study is currently on hold due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. The recruitment process is expected to resume by November 2020 and the primary impact analysis is expected to be conducted by February 2021. CONCLUSIONS This study will provide valuable information such as the measurement of comparative intervention effects, perception of older adults and hand therapists about the 3Scape Systems, the associated costs of treatment, and product costings. This will contribute to the evidence planning process, which will be crucial for the future adoption of the 3Scape Systems. CLINICALTRIAL International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): ISRCTN: 93685907 (available at https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN93685907)


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Johansson ◽  
Mats Ewertzon ◽  
Birgitta Andershed ◽  
Agneta Anderzen-Carlsson ◽  
Salmir Nasic ◽  
...  

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