International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Feb 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy of memantine in PDD and DLB: an extension study including washout and open-label treatment.
This 30-week extension trial was a continuation of the first double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) to study memantine in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). The objective was to evaluate the presence of recurrence of symptoms upon drug withdrawal. Furthermore, the aim was to explore washout dynamics in order to inform clinical practice. ⋯ The findings inform clinical practice that any possible memantine-associated benefits might be rapidly lost after drug withdrawal. The magnitude of deterioration suggests a symptomatic rather than a disease-modifying effect of the drug. Open-label results should merely be considered inspiration for future trials.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialBefriending carers of people with dementia: a cost utility analysis.
There is very little evidence on the cost-effectiveness of social care interventions for people with dementia or their carers. The BEfriending and Costs of CAring trial (BECCA, ISRCTN08130075) aimed to establish whether a structured befriending service improved the quality of life of carers of people with dementia, and at what cost. ⋯ Befriending leads to a non-significant trend towards improved carer quality of life, and there is a non-significant trend towards higher costs for all sectors. It is unlikely that befriending is a cost-effective intervention from the point of view of society.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Apr 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialHelping carers to care--the 10/66 dementia research group's randomized control trial of a caregiver intervention in Russia.
Dementia is a rapidly growing public health problem in low and middle income countries. There is an urgent need, in the absence of formal services, to develop interventions designed to improve the lives of people with dementia, and their families. This study tests the effectiveness of the 10/66 caregiver intervention among people with dementia, and their carers. ⋯ The low-level intervention seems to be as, if not more, effective than similar interventions applied in high income countries.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Oct 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySubthreshold depression in patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia--clinical and demographic correlates.
About 40% of the patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have depressive symptoms, either major depression (MD) or subthreshold depression. Depression was found to be associated with age and age at onset of PD, female gender, more severe parkinsonism, in particular with left-sided and akinetic-rigid symptoms, more functional impairment and cognitive impairment.However, the findings are inconsistent and partly contradictory and most of the studies focused on major depression in PD without dementia. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between subthreshold depression and other clinical features in 538 PD patients with dementia but without MD drawn from a randomized, placebo-controlled multicentre trial of rivastigmine in PD. ⋯ In contrast to previous findings in PD patients with major depression but without dementia, we found no relationship between subthreshold depression and other clinical symptoms in patients with PDD.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Apr 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) for reducing the incidence of postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement.
This was a pilot, phase 2a study to assess methodological feasibility and the safety and efficacy of donepezil in preventing postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement surgery in older people without pre-existing dementia. The hypothesis was that donepezil would reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium. ⋯ The experimental paradigm was feasible and acceptable. Donepezil did not significantly reduce the incidence of delirium or length of hospital stay, however for both outcomes there was a consistent trend suggesting possible benefit. The sample size required for a definitive trial (99% power, alpha 0.05) would be 95 subjects per arm.