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Featured Application: The implementation of targeted interventions focusing on specific cognitive domains affected by depression and cognitive impairment, ultimately enhancing the overall cognitive health and well-being of older adults. This study examined the cognitive performance of older adults aged 60 and above using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and DigiMoCA, a digital tool for cognitive screening administered by means of a smart speaker, to investigate whether the additional variables utilised by DigiMoCA allow for the identification of significant differences between individuals with depressive symptoms and those with mild cognitive impairment, which are not detected using the original MoCA test. A total of 73 senior adults located in Northwestern Spain, 22 male and 51 female, participated in this study. Subjects were divided into four groups based on the presence of depressive symptoms and mild cognitive impairment, with the aim of analysing the results of each dimension of the MoCA and DigiMoCA tests and assessing the additional insights provided by the digital administration tool. The results indicate significant differences among groups. Individuals with depressive symptoms exhibited poorer performance in forward number span, attention, and clock drawing compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, individuals with depressive symptoms and mild cognitive impairment exhibited significantly worse memory and orientation compared to those with cognitive impairment alone. Correlations revealed that a greater severity of depressive symptoms was associated with poorer performance across cognitive domains, including visuospatial skills, attention, language, memory, and phonemic verbal fluency. This study also illustrated how the exploitation of additional variables systematically captured by digital instruments, such as completion times or response delays to individual interactions, may facilitate the early identification of cognitive and depressive conditions, providing initial evidence about the importance of integrating advanced digital tools in cognitive assessment to inspire the development of more effective, personalised interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Development of screening tools and assessment protocols to identify individuals at risk of cognitive decline and depression, allowing for early intervention and support. Ultimately, enhance the quality of life and cognitive health for older adults by guiding the development of targeted interventions and support strategies. This study investigates memory performance among 73 adults over 60 years old, utilising Memory Impairment Screening (MIS) and self-reported memory failures assessed by the Memory Failures in Everyday questionnaire (MFE-28). Participants were divided into four groups: individuals with depressive symptoms, healthy individuals, individuals with depressive symptoms and mild cognitive impairment, and individuals with mild cognitive impairment only. Groups were organised according to their Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) scores. The study aims to analyse MIS scores and self-reported memory failures across these groups as measured with the 28-item Memory Failures Everyday (MFE-28) scale. Correlation analyses were conducted for the complete sample, while variance analyses were carried out for the four classification groups above. Bivariate linear regression analysis was carried out to explore how the combination of cognitive and depressive symptoms status influenced memory performance. Results show that subjective memory complaints and memory performance are related to depressive symptoms, and the latter is associated with worse cognitive performance. Lastly, our study highlights that individuals with mild cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms exhibit worse performance in recall tasks and report more subjective memory complaints compared to those with mild cognitive impairment alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology explores the social determinants and psychosocial factors that influence health outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of addressing social conditions such as working conditions, income level, and access to education in order to improve health. The editorial also discusses the impact of social factors on health and well-being, including gender, ethnicity, family, and culture. The findings provide valuable insights for families, patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. Additionally, a study mentioned in the editorial focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and caregiver burden of informal caregivers in Germany, revealing gender differences in psychological distress and caregiver burden. This highlights the need for targeted support and interventions for female caregivers during the pandemic. [Extracted from the article]

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Introduction: The Geriatric Depression Scale is an instrument used to identify depression in people of an older age. The original English version of this scale has been translated into Spanish (GDS-VE); two shorter versions of 5- (GDS-5) and 15-items (GDS-15) have been developed. Aim of the study: To assess the validity and compare the 5- and 15-item Spanish versions of the GDS among the Spanish population. Materials and methods: 573 Galicia residents aged >50 years participated in this study. The following instruments were applied: the 19-item Control, Autonomy, Self- Realization and Pleasure scale, the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination test, the GDS-5, and the GDS-15. Results: We found differences in total score between GDS-5 and GDS-15 regarding the variable sex. Internal reliability for GDS-5 and GDS-15 was 0.495 and 0.715, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for GDS-5 – with a cut-off value of 1 – was 0.517 and 0.650, respectively; for GDS-15 – with a cut-off value of 3 points – sensitivity was 0.755 and specificity 0.668. GDS-5 has a ROC curve of 0.617 and GDS-15 of 0.764. Conclusion: GDS-15, and to a greater extent GDS-5, should be revised or even reformulated to improve their diagnostic usefulness by choosing higher discriminative ability items or even include new items with greater sensitivity that consider currently prevailing psychosocial factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objectives: The experiences and changes that come along with old age may lead to a feeling of loneliness, usually followed by negative physical and mental manifestations. In this systematic review, we evaluated the existing tools to assess loneliness in older adults. Methods: We performed a literature search in the Web of Science, Medline, and PsycINFO, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. After, we examined the psychometric properties of the instruments with a focus on reliability, validity, and main conclusions. Results: We included 27 articles published between 1996 and 2021. Conclusion: To date, there are few instruments to assess loneliness in older adults. In general, they present adequate psychometric properties, although it is true that some scales show somewhat low levels of reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of immunosuppressants has been key for the advancement of solid organ transplant surgery. Specifically, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or everolimus have significantly increased the survival rate of patients by reducing the risk of a rejection of the transplanted organ and limiting graft-versus-host disease. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who, after undergoing a liver transplantation and receiving an immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporine and everolimus, presented severe obsessive, psychotic, and behavioral symptoms over the past three years, and describe the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions implemented against these symptoms. In this case, the immunosuppressants used have been cyclosporine and, preferably, everolimus. On the other hand, potential adverse reactions to the treatment have been observed, including neuropsychiatric symptoms such as tremor, anxiety, dysthymia, psychosis, and behavioral disorders, which make it necessary to use corrective psychoactive drugs such as benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, combined with non-pharmacological interventions. A transversal approach, from the medical and psychosocial disciplines, facilitates success in managing neuropsychiatric symptoms after soft organ transplants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic required a population lockdown during the first wave in March 2020. Evidence has shown a circular relationship between perceived threat and the risk of developing negative mood, which might impact the affect balance of older adults. We aimed to investigate the positive and negative feelings expressed by young–old (60–70 years) and old–old (over 71 years) Spanish adults during the lockdown of the COVID-19 first wave, and the social and psychological variables associated. Cross-sectional study conducted in 528 participants using a questionnaire composed of sociodemographic data and validated scales for resilience (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) and emotions (Scale of Positive and Negative Experience). We found a positive balance between positive and negative feelings with no differences between both groups. Regression analysis showed that social network and resilience, but not age, are significant predictors of both greater positive feelings and lower negative feelings. Our results evidence the relevance of promoting targeted support psychological and social measures that effectively help older adults to cope with such a difficult scenario as the current pandemic. Health-care providers must develop targeted care strategies aimed at providing emotional support for older adults from a holistic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global pandemic of COVID-19 has required a population lockdown. Spain has one of the oldest/most aging populations in the world and was one of the most affected countries. We aim to describe the psychological and social implications as well as health-related behaviors as a result of the lockdown in community-dwelling older adults. Materials and Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. A total of 528 participants of over 60 years of age were recruited using snowball sampling technique during the lockdown of the COVID-19 first wave using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire composed of descriptive questions and validated scales for resilience (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) and emotions (Scale of Positive And Negative Experience). Results: Most participants (76.9%) live with other people and have an open space at home (64%). Only 33.7% continued doing activities to promote healthy aging, 65.7% did less physical activity and 25.6% increased their intellectual activity. Most of them (83%) used electronic communication with family and friends to a greater extent, and left the house to run basic errands. Greater scores on resilience showed significant negative correlations with age and negative feelings, and positive correlations with the size of the social network and positive feelings. Lacking an open space at home was associated with more negative feelings. Discussion: Older people are a vulnerable group severely affected by this pandemic crisis at multiple levels, requiring specific interventions to minimize the effects of changes in lifestyle that may be harmful. Detecting needs is essential to improve care and support from community health and social services, both nowadays and in future similar situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy (SE) has been shown to be a remarkable cognitive factor affecting health. Subjective perception of memory and other cognitive failures (i.e., subjective cognitive complaints [SCC]) have been associated with self-perception. The authors studied whether SE is a relevant subjective variable in predicting SCC in middle-aged adults living in the community (Self-efficacy (SE) has been shown to be a remarkable cognitive factor affecting health. Subjective perception of memory and other cognitive failures (i.e., subjective cognitive complaints [SCC]) have been associated with self-perception. The authors studied whether SE is a relevant subjective variable in predicting SCC in middle-aged adults living in the community (N = 438) and explored the role of SE and SCC in predicting health care use. SE, age, and cognitive performance predicted SCC. SE, age group, cognitive status, and SCC were predictors of health care use in univariate logistic regression analysis, although only SE, age group, and cognitive status remained significant in the multivariate analysis. The influence of SCC in health care use seems to be mediated by subjective estimations, such as those measured by SE. The authors suggest that well-implemented health education interventions might contribute to an increase in SE in middle-aged adults with a subsequent decrease in SCC, which would have a relevant effect in reducing the burden of care. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 13(5), 228–232.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research studies on love have focused on the study of typologies, among which Sternberg's triangular theory of love and the typology of Hendrick and Hendrick deriving from that of Sternberg have been the most common and empirically verified. Love types have been linked to all types of sociodemographic and psychological variables. However, these studies possess shortcomings: When the data are analyzed according to age, only a few ranges are studied; with respect to other variables such as satisfaction, typically only two levels are studied, and no continuous study is conducted. This study attempts to overcome these limitations. It analyzes types of love according to the two systems noted earlier and based on two variables: age and satisfaction. For satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) by Diener et al. was used, and 439 subjects aged 15 to 89 years participated in the study. The results show that both of the variables—age and satisfaction—explain that love types occur in varying degrees; however, satisfaction is more predictive than is age. Possibilities for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term harassment is often used to refer two contexts, the workplace and school, but not the legal system itself. Long drawn-out litigation in the Family Law Courts often produces a surreptitious phenomenon of violence toward one of the litigating parties, who become victims of the legal system itself. The aim of this study was to determine whether legal harassment could be detected and measured in the Spanish Justice System using an innovative Legal Harassment Scale (LHS). This hypothesis was substantiated by the data obtained using a new 32-item psychometric instrument with a global index: the LHS, consisting of four factors: Direct Aggression, Procedural Harassment, Personal Contempt, and Manipulation of Reality. The estimated reliability and validity of the LHS was satisfactory, both in terms of the global score, and for each of the four factors distributed along the normal curve. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the limitations of the study and in relation to future lines of research aimed at ensuring that the legal system respects and safeguards the rights of the parties involved in litigation, and that no party falls victim to legal harassment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the functional vision of a sample of older adults living in nursing homes in Galicia in northwestern Spain. The study is aimed at raising the awareness of clinicians, as well as researchers working in the field of vision and the Spanish Social and Equality Services, regarding the need to develop visual screening protocols in nursing homes, which are currently lacking in Spain (Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, n.d.). Methods: Presenting visual acuity (visual acuity with current eyeglasses or contact lenses, if worn) was assessed to determine the functional vision of a sample of older adults living in nursing homes. We tested monocular and binocular high-contrast visual acuity using the directional-^ screening test (3.70 scale) for distance vision, and the Rosenbaum near vision chart for near acuity. Visual impairment (distance and near vision) was defined as a binocular presenting visual acuity of less than 6/18 (20/63). Results: The prevalence of visual impairment for distance and near vision reached 23.1% and 16.4%, respectively. We did not find any significant differences in the mean values of presenting visual acuity (far and near vision) between genders. The prevalence of visual impairment for distance vision increased with age (p < 0.01), reaching 25.8% among senior citizens between 80 and 89 years of age, and 50% in the case of nonagenarians. Nevertheless, we did not find any association between age and functional near vision (p > 0.05). Discussion: The findings confirm the high prevalence of visual impairment among this population group. Many of the residents we examined have a level of vision that affects their typical daily activities and quality of life, so it is urgent to develop standard visual screening protocols in nursing homes. Implications for practitioners: Developing visual screening programs in nursing homes would allow for the early detection of visual impairment and help other professionals working in nursing homes--especially clinicians, nurses, and caregivers--to optimize the care of the residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical restraint is a procedure used frequently in long-term care. It is a controversial practice because its use is associated with numerous complications and also affects freedom and individual autonomy. The objective of this study was to examine the use of physical restraint of long-term care residents with the ability to move voluntarily.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational and correlational multi-center study. Nine centers agreed to participate. Of the 1,200 people present at the time of data collection, those without voluntary movement or in the facility for less than a month were excluded. Thus, the final sample was 920 residents. Data on the use of restraints was collected by direct observation. Information about the age, gender, length of stay, falls, mobility, cognition and functional status of residents was gathered by reviewing clinical records and interviewing nursing staff. A descriptive analysis of the data obtained was conducted. The generalized linear model was used, considering only the principal effects of each variable and using the logit link function. The model has been adjusted for clusters and for other possibly confounding factors. For all analyses, a confidence interval (CI) of 95% was estimated.Results: The prevalence of residents with at least one physical restraint was 84.9% (95% CI: 81.7-88.1), with variability between centers of 70.3 to 96.6% (p-value Kruskal Wallis test <0.001). Full-enclosure side rails were most often used (84.5; 95% CI: 81.1-87.9), but other types of restraints were also used frequently. Multivariate analysis showed that the degree of functional impairment increased the probability of the use of restraint. A significant association was also found between restraint use and the impaired cognitive status of residents.Conclusions: The prevalence was higher than in studies from other countries. The results emphasize the need to improve the training of nursing staff in the care of residents with impairments in functional and cognitive status. The use of alternative devices and nurse consultants need to be evaluated, and the introduction of specific laws considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which aims to design an instrument to measure coping self-efficacy among patients with health problems. A parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on groups based on the quartiles of self-efficacy in health. The reliability and validity of the coping self-efficacy scale of health problems (SEH) was established.

Burnout syndrome was defined in 1976 by Maslach and Jackson, and there is evidence of its high impact on nursing personnel. The syndrome manifests most intensely among palliative care unit employees who assist elderly patients, owing to their constant exposure to patient deaths. The aim of this study is to determine whether palliative care unit nursing staff who treat terminal gerontology patients and who have certain personality traits are more susceptible to occupational stress. The study also determines the personality type that most significantly reduced vulnerability to occupational stress. Two questionnaires, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Big Five Inventory, were applied to 162 nursing professionals working in Spain. The most relevant study findings are the following: Extroverted nurses tend to not express stress; the more sociable the caregiver is, the greater the degree of emotional fatigue he/she experiences; nurses who exhibit a higher degree of neuroticism show an average degree of emotional fatigue; and caregivers who exhibit high openness to change have low stress levels while experiencing a strong sense of success. From these results, an ideal personality profile for selecting palliative care unit nursing staff was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Judicial Family Law proceedings are peculiar; a large number of cases are never closed, until the children reach adulthood. We selected three variables to test whether they can explain the credibility of each party and agent in the proceedings: guiding principle that orients the court's decision, confirmation of maternal manipulation in the psycho-social report, and establishing credibility of the child's testimony. An incidental sample of 169 people was used. The three manipulated variables imply very different levels of credibility for each party to the proceedings. Finally, proposed modifications to court proceedings are suggested to ensure adequate protection of children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose To examine the perception of registered nurses and nursing assistants regarding the use of physical restraints with residents of nursing homes located in four of the regions of Spain; and to evaluate the relationship of these perceptions to the staff respondents' level of training. Design Cross-sectional multicenter and correlational study. The research was conducted in 2013 in 19 Spanish nursing homes with 2,940 residential beds. A total of 785 nurses (170 registered nurses and 615 nursing assistants) participated in the study. Methods The Perception of Restraint Use Questionnaire (PRUQ), consisting of 17 of the most cited reasons for using these devices, was used, as was a questionnaire capturing the sociodemographic characteristics and educational or experience level of staff respondents. Findings Nurses reported the most important uses for restraints as prevention of falls and avoidance of medical device interference. As indicated by an average PRUQ score of 3.47, staff respondents supported restraint use, especially nursing assistants (3.59) as compared to registered nurses (3.00). With regard to training: 83.7% had participated in little, if any, training and only 29.2% had read three or more documents related to restraint use; 66.6% believed that their training was inadequate. No correlation was found between the results of the PRUQ and the respondents´ sociodemographic characteristics or participation in training activities. No differences were found among nurses by region. Conclusions In contrast to papers published in other countries, nurses in this study still consider it necessary to apply restraints in everyday practice. The education of nursing staff regarding restraint and knowledge of alternatives is needed; they should at least be aware of international standards of care regarding physical restraint use. Clinical Relevance Most of the staff perceived their training related to the use of these devices as insufficient. Nursing assistants considered the use of restraints more important than did the registered nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on personality variables and consumption of health services in actively employed people or retirees has been extensive, but the group of pre-retirees has hardly been studied. This work attempts to determine the mental health and use of health resources of the three groups, hypothesizing that, as the group of pre-retirees does not receive the social stigma of work exclusion, it will present better mental health. A sample of 1332 Spanish participants aged between 51 and 69 years was randomly chosen, and various personality tests were applied, and consumption of healthcare resources was determined. Pairwise analysis of the three work situations using binary logistic regressions showed that pre-retirees present better mental health, although there were no differences in the consumption of healthcare resources. The implications of this study for the creation of health promotion policies targeting older people, depending specifically on their employment status, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia is a brain syndrome that affects a growing number of persons worldwide and generates a strong and progressive demand for care from a family caregiver, usually females.Objective: We aimed to describe the care provided by family caregivers of persons with dementia as well as the impact on their health and its interrelation with gender.Patient Involvement: This study was carried out in collaboration with the 13 associations of family caregivers of persons with dementia that are part of a Regional Federation. This partnership worked towards bettering patient care and proposing improvements to the public health system.Methods: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study. A total of 462 primary family caregivers of persons with dementia from north-west Spain were included. Data were collected between January and April 2019 with an anonymous self-administered validated questionnaire (ICUB-97) based on Virginia Henderson's nursing care model.Results: The most affected needs in family caregivers are those related to "recreational activities", "communication" and "rest and sleep". Statistically significant differences between male and female participants' pattern of care and health-related impacts were found, especially in issues related to work and family reconciliation.Discussion: Care plans should be developed taking gender perspective into account. From a nurse model point of view, more research is necessary to reduce health disparities. This study provides an assessment of gender differences in care and the impact on caregivers' health.Practical Value: Regarding the specific health conditions of female caregivers and from a holistic point of view, these findings could provide novel and interesting data that might help to implement gender perspective in nursing care plans, generally invisible in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the definition of "cognitive frailty" and to study the conceptual and operational definitions used and their implications for empirical research. The relationships between this concept and cognitive reserve, the role of neuropathology and brain reserve, motor signs of aging and the reversibility of cognitive frailty are also discussed.Study Design: Systematic review of empirical studies identified from Medline Advanced 1966, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus until August 2017.Main- Outcome Measures: Effect sizes. The quality of the articles was assessed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Statement. Three independent reviewers participated in the study selection and data extraction.Results: Nineteen studies involving 31,707 participants met the inclusion criteria. Significant associations were reported between cognitive frailty and physical frailty or gait speed. Screening instruments were usually used to determine objective cognitive decline rather than extensive neuropsychological assessments. Educational level was the only indicator of cognitive reserve that was systematically included in the evaluation of cognitive frailty. Motor decline and gait variables were not systematically included in protocols for the assessment of cognitive frailty.Conclusions: A strong operational definition would benefit both the development of treatments to counter cognitive frailty and the assessment of treatment effectiveness. Nevertheless, since there is clear agreement regarding the importance of interventions for and the prevention of cognitive frailty, randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of preventive interventions are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]