ABSTRACT
Blood tests are in need, in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as minimally invasive and less expensive alternatives to cerebrospinal fluid and neuroimaging methods. On these lines, single molecule array (Simoa) analysis of amyloid-ß (Aß42), total tau (t-tau), phospho-tau (p-tau 181), and neurofilament L (NfL) in the plasma samples of AD subjects, healthy controls (HC), and non-AD subjects was conducted. Findings from this study suggest that a panel of multiple plasma biomarkers (NfL, Aß42, t-tau, and p-tau 181) combined with the clinical assessments could support differential diagnosis of AD and other dementias from healthy controls.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop and assess the effectiveness of the intervention package on knowledge and attitude regarding meeting the functional needs and improving the quality of life of elderly patients with psychiatric illness, among nursing interns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out among 60 nursing interns of a tertiary government mental health setting. After the pretest, the educational intervention package on functional needs and quality of life of elderly patients with psychiatric illness was administered to the study group in four sessions. Posttest data collection was performed using the same questionnaires after 2 weeks after the last session. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in the knowledge and attitude of nursing students following the sessions of the intervention package. Pretest data showed that there is a positive correlation between the knowledge and attitude of study subjects. Overall knowledge has significantly improved after attending the intervention program (Z = 6.701, P < 0.001). Moreover, the overall attitude level has significantly improved after attending the intervention program (Z = 6.741, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The educational intervention package on functional needs and quality of life of elderly patients with psychiatric illness was effective in improving the knowledge and attitude regarding functional needs and quality of life of elderly patients with psychiatric illness, among nursing interns. Similar packages may be incorporated into the nursing curriculum in training future nurses for their better practice in this area.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the major public health problems. Little is known about the extent of violence experienced, its severity, or history of childhood abuse or exposure to intergenerational family violence in women with mental illness. METHODS: One hundred women seeking in-patients (IP) or out-patients (OP) services at a tertiary care psychiatric setting were recruited using consecutive sampling. IPV Questionnaire and Danger Assessment Questionnaire were administered. RESULTS: The data revealed a moderate level of IPV experienced by the women. In their childhood, more than one-third had undergone physical abuse by their fathers and witnessed violence by fathers toward mothers. CONCLUSION: Screening for intimate violence is essential in women attending mental health settings.
