TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of problem alcohol use on patient behavior and caregiver burden in a geriatric assessment clinic
AU - Pirzada Sattar, S.
AU - Padala, Prasad R.
AU - McArthur-Miller, Delores
AU - Roccaforte, William H.
AU - Wengel, Steven P.
AU - Burke, William J.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank all the students, volunteers, staff and local guides for their help in the field, particularly Nestor Allgas and Alejandro ?Apu? Alarcon. This work was funded by Neotropical Primate Conservation, thanks to grants from Primate Conservation Inc., The National Geographic Society, International Primate Protection League ? UK, The Monkey Sanctuary Trust/Wild Futures, Apenhuel Primate Conservation Trust, Le Conservatoire pour la Protection des Primates, International Primate Protection League - US, Community Conservation, and the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation. We thank Direccion General Forestal y de de Fauna Silvestre/Ministerio de Agricultura for permits to carry out this work (Autorizaci?n N? N? 020-2012-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS; N? 056-2013-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS and N? 058-2013-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS). We confirm that this study adhered to the ethical guidelines for the treatment of animals in Peru. We also thank the editor and anonymous reviewer for their comments that improved this manuscript. Finally, we thank the countless local authorities and campesinos for all their help and guidance whilst looking for the monkeys. In particular we would like to remember Ronal Mego (1993?2013) and the whole Mego Family for all their help and support.
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - There has been a growing interest in understanding issues surrounding alcohol use in late life. Information about the relationship of alcohol use to behavioral problems in older persons living in the community is particularly limited. This study used information obtained from an outpatient geriatric assessment clinic to study this relationship and the effects of these behaviors on caregivers. Data on alcohol use, problem behaviors, and caregiver burden were collected prospectively in consecutive patients undergoing geriatric assessment primarily for cognitive problems over a 3-year period. All patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, which included a geriatric psychiatrist. The evaluation screened for current and/or past alcohol use through interviews with the patient and a collateral source. The collateral source also completed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Family Burden Scale. Subjects were classified into 2 groups: those with a current or past alcohol problem and those with no alcohol problem. A total of 349 patients were evaluated, with 17.8% being designated as having a current or past alcohol problem. This subgroup represented 35% of the men and 9% of the women from the study population. Approximately half of the subgroup was actively drinking alcohol. Patients with a history of problem alcohol use, regardless of current use and cognitive status, exhibited more behavioral disturbances including agitation, irritability, and disinhibition. Their caregivers reported significantly higher caregiver distress. Current or past alcohol problem use was frequent in this population of frail, older adults undergoing geriatric assessment. Regardless of current alcohol use, these patients displayed more behavioral disturbances than those without a history of problem drinking, and their caregivers experienced significantly more burden. A history of problem drinking appears to be a significant marker for behavioral disturbances in late life and merits further study.
AB - There has been a growing interest in understanding issues surrounding alcohol use in late life. Information about the relationship of alcohol use to behavioral problems in older persons living in the community is particularly limited. This study used information obtained from an outpatient geriatric assessment clinic to study this relationship and the effects of these behaviors on caregivers. Data on alcohol use, problem behaviors, and caregiver burden were collected prospectively in consecutive patients undergoing geriatric assessment primarily for cognitive problems over a 3-year period. All patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, which included a geriatric psychiatrist. The evaluation screened for current and/or past alcohol use through interviews with the patient and a collateral source. The collateral source also completed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Family Burden Scale. Subjects were classified into 2 groups: those with a current or past alcohol problem and those with no alcohol problem. A total of 349 patients were evaluated, with 17.8% being designated as having a current or past alcohol problem. This subgroup represented 35% of the men and 9% of the women from the study population. Approximately half of the subgroup was actively drinking alcohol. Patients with a history of problem alcohol use, regardless of current use and cognitive status, exhibited more behavioral disturbances including agitation, irritability, and disinhibition. Their caregivers reported significantly higher caregiver distress. Current or past alcohol problem use was frequent in this population of frail, older adults undergoing geriatric assessment. Regardless of current alcohol use, these patients displayed more behavioral disturbances than those without a history of problem drinking, and their caregivers experienced significantly more burden. A history of problem drinking appears to be a significant marker for behavioral disturbances in late life and merits further study.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Caregiver burden
KW - Geriatric
KW - Problem behavior
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U2 - 10.1177/0891988706297091
DO - 10.1177/0891988706297091
M3 - Article
C2 - 17548783
AN - SCOPUS:34249938147
SN - 0891-9887
VL - 20
SP - 120
EP - 127
JO - Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
JF - Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
IS - 2
ER -