Drinking Patterns of Older Adults With Chronic Medical Conditions.

Drinking Patterns of Older Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions.

J Gen Intern Med. 2013 Apr 23;
Ryan M, Merrick EL, Hodgkin D, Horgan CM, Garnick DW, Panas L, Ritter G, Blow FC, Saitz R

BACKGROUND: Understanding alcohol consumption patterns of older adults with chronic illness is important given the aging baby boomer generation, the increase in prevalence of chronic conditions and associated medication use, and the potential consequences of excessive drinking in this population. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption patterns, including at-risk drinking, in older adults with at least one of seven common chronic conditions. DESIGN/METHODS: This descriptive study used the nationally representative 2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey linked with Medicare claims. The sample included community-dwelling, fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years and older with one or more of seven chronic conditions (Alzheimer’s disease and other senile dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke; n?=?7,422). Based on self-reported alcohol consumption, individuals were categorized as nondrinkers, within-guidelines drinkers, or at-risk drinkers (exceeds guidelines). RESULTS: Overall, 30.9 % (CI 28.0-34.1 %) of older adults with at least one of seven chronic conditions reported alcohol consumption in a typical month in the past year, and 6.9 % (CI 6.0-7.8 %) reported at-risk drinking. Older adults with higher chronic disease burdens were less likely to report alcohol consumption and at-risk drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of older adults with selected chronic illnesses report drinking alcohol and almost 7 % drink in excess of National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) guidelines. It is important for physicians and patients to discuss alcohol consumption as a component of chronic illness management. In cases of at-risk drinking, providers have an opportunity to provide brief intervention or to offer referrals if needed. HubMed – depression

Reproduced from Habenula volume in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder: a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study.

Mol Psychiatry. 2013 May; 18(5): 523
Savitz JB, Rauch SL, Drevets WC

HubMed – depression

Paradichlorobenzene (toxin)-induced leucoencephalopathy.

BMJ Case Rep. 2013; 2013:
Buckman F

A 40-year-old woman with a history of polysubstance abuse, hypertension, depression and anxiety with panic attacks admitted to the emergency room at the request of her primary physician owing to progressive decline in her mental status associated with anorexia and generalised pruritic skin rashes. Initial outpatient workup and that during two previous hospital admissions including thyroid function and syphilis tests, urine toxicology screen and brain imaging studies were unremarkable. Repeat MRI of the brain during her third hospital admission showed diffuse periventricular and white matter disease. This prompted further questioning of family members which revealed chronic ingestion of mothballs and toilet cakes containing paradichlorobenzene in the patient leading to toxin-induced leucoencephalopathy consistent with her neurological symptoms of altered mental status, ataxic gait, cogwheel rigidity in the arms and characteristic skin rashes. Subsequently, a feeding tube was placed to address her worsening nutritional status and she was discharged home in a stable state. HubMed – depression

Psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the MPI-SCI.

Spinal Cord. 2013 Apr 23;
Soler MD, Cruz-Almeida Y, Saurí J, Widerström-Noga EG

Study design:Postal surveys.Objectives:To confirm the factor structure of the Spanish version of the MPI-SCI (MPI-SCI-S, Multidimensional Pain Inventory in the SCI population) and to test its internal consistency and construct validity in a Spanish population.Setting:Guttmann Institute, Barcelona, Spain.Methods:The MPI-SCI-S along with Spanish measures of pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale), pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory), functional independence (Functional Independence Measure), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), locus of control (Multidimensional health Locus of Control), support (Functional Social Support Questionnaire (Duke-UNC)), psychological well-being (Psychological Global Well-Being Index) and demographic/injury characteristics were assessed in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and chronic pain (n=126).Results:Confirmatory factor analysis suggested an adequate factor structure for the MPI-SCI-S. The internal consistency of the MPI-SCI-S subscales ranged from acceptable (r=0.66, Life Control) to excellent (r=0.94, Life Interference). All MPI-SCI-S subscales showed adequate construct validity, with the exception of the Negative and Solicitous Responses subscales.Conclusions:The Spanish version of the MPI-SCI is adequate for evaluating chronic pain impact following SCI in a Spanish-speaking population. Future studies should include additional measures of pain-related support in the Spanish-speaking SCI population.Spinal Cord advance online publication, 23 April 2013; doi:10.1038/sc.2013.21. HubMed – depression