ABSTRACT
In a large sample of Gulf War veterans (N = 2301) we examined the relations between PTSD symptoms assessed immediately upon returning from the Gulf War and self-reported health problems assessed 18-24 months later. PTSD symptomatology was predictive of self-reported health problems over time for both men and women veterans, even after the effects of combat exposure were removed from the analysis. Female veterans reported significantly more health problems than male veterans, however, there was no interactive effect of gender and PTSD on health problems. These findings provide further support for the theory that psychological response to stressors impacts health outcome.
Subject(s)
Combat Disorders/diagnosis , Persian Gulf Syndrome/diagnosis , Psychophysiologic Disorders/diagnosis , Veterans/psychology , Adult , Cohort Studies , Combat Disorders/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Persian Gulf Syndrome/psychology , Psychophysiologic Disorders/psychology , Sick RoleABSTRACT
This study examined recognition of facial expressions of emotion among women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD; n = 21), compared to a group of women with histories of childhood sexual abuse with no current or prior diagnosis of BPD (n = 21) and a group of women with no history of sexual abuse or BPD (n = 20). Facial recognition was assessed by a slide set developed by Ekman and Matsumoto (Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion and Neutral Faces, 1992), expanded and improved from previous slide sets, and utilized a coding system that allowed for free responses rather than the more typical fixed-response format. Results indicated that borderline individuals were primarily accurate perceivers of others' emotions and showed a tendency toward heightened sensitivity on recognition of fear, specifically. Results are discussed in terms of emotional appraisal ability and emotion dysregulation among individuals with BPD.
Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Emotions , Facial Expression , Social Perception , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Borderline Personality Disorder/complications , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Female , Humans , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Dementia/complications , Mental Disorders/etiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Geriatric Assessment , Humans , Long-Term Care , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Mental Disorders/prevention & control , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Nursing Homes , Prevalence , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The prevalence and correlates of behavior problems were assessed among 614 residents with dementia living in 70 special care units (SCUs) throughout the country. We assessed behavior problems at admission, using a comprehensive measure of behavior problems, the Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist-Nursing Home version. Overall, behavior problems were quite prevalent, with some problems reported for > 90% of the sample. Emotional distress was a frequent area of concern, second only to memory-related problems. Although the overall number of behavior problems was not associated with cognitive impairment, age, or gender, item analyses revealed relationships between these variables and individual behavior problems. The applicability of these findings to the care of the SCU resident is discussed.
Subject(s)
Behavior , Dementia/psychology , Prevalence , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nursing Homes , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
This study is an investigation of the concordance among different sources of information on ratings of depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Informants were 75 outpatients with diagnosed AD (22 with major depressive disorder), their caregivers, and geriatric clinicians. Clinicians rated each patient on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression on the basis of (a) the patient's report, (b) the caregiver's report, and (c) the clinician's evaluation. Overall, patients perceived themselves as less depressed than did caregivers or clinicians; for nondepressed patients, caregivers reported patients less depressed than clinicians reported; for depressed patients, no significant differences were obtained between caregiver or clinician. Certain items were more discrepant among informants and significantly differentiated depressed from nondepressed AD patients. Level of patient dementia did not affect ratings. These findings support the need for comprehensive, accurate assessment of depression in AD patients.
