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Background Frailty, a syndrome of physiological deficits, is prevalent among older adults and predicts elevated risk of adverse health outcomes. Although persistent pain predicts similar risk, it is seldom considered in frailty measurement. This article evaluated the construct and predictive validity of including persistent pain in phenotypic frailty measurement. Methods Frailty and persistent pain were operationalized using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2012 waves). Among a subset of adults aged 65 and older (n = 3,652), we used latent class analysis to categorize frailty status and to evaluate construct validity. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we compared time to incident adverse outcomes (death, fall, hospitalization, institutionalization, and functional disability) between frailty classes determined by either including or excluding persistent pain as a frailty component. Results In latent class models, persistent pain occurred with other frailty components in patterns consistent with a medical syndrome. Frail and intermediately frail classes determined by including persistent pain were more strongly associated with all adverse outcomes compared with frail and intermediately frail classes determined excluding persistent pain. Frail respondents had significantly greater risk of death compared with nonfrail respondents when frailty models included rather than excluded persistent pain (respectively, hazard ratio [HR] = 3.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.99-5.00 (including pain); HR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.71-2.59 (excluding pain). Conclusions Findings support consideration of persistent pain as a component of the frailty phenotype. Persistent pain assessment may provide an expedient method to enhance frailty measurement and improve prediction of adverse outcomes.

Objectives To determine whether a depression care management intervention in Medicare home health recipients decreases risk of hospitalization. Design Cluster-randomized trial. Nurse teams were randomized to intervention (12 teams) or enhanced usual care (EUC; 9 teams). Setting Six home health agencies from distinct geographic regions. Home health recipients were interviewed at home and over the telephone. Participants Individuals aged 65 and older who screened positive for depression on nurse assessments (N = 755) and a subset who consented to interviews (n = 306). Intervention The Depression CARE for PATients at Home (CAREPATH) guides nurses in managing depression during routine home visits. Clinical functions include weekly symptom assessment, medication management, care coordination, patient education, and goal setting. Researchers conducted telephone conferences with team supervisors every 2 weeks. Measurements Hospitalization while receiving home health services was assessed using data from the home health record. Hospitalization within 30 days of starting home health, regardless of how long recipients received home health services, was assessed using data from the home care record and research assessments. Results The relative hazard of being admitted to the hospital directly from home health was 35% lower within 30 days of starting home health care (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.65, P = .01) and 28% lower within 60 days (HR = 0.72, P = .03) for CAREPATH participants than for participants receiving EUC. In participants referred to home health directly from the hospital, the relative hazard of being rehospitalized was approximately 55% lower (HR = 0.45, P = .001) for CAREPATH participants. Conclusion Integrating CAREPATH depression care management into routine nursing practice reduces hospitalization and rehospitalization risk in older adults receiving Medicare home health nursing services.

Introduction Bereavement is common in older adults, but it remains unknown whether bereavement contributes to poor outcomes in the vulnerable population of older adults receiving home-based services. We examine whether recent bereavement was associated with worse physical or mental health, presence of abuse or neglect, and financial strain. Research Design Cross-sectional analyses of an assessment of functional and social vulnerabilities collected by the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA), the largest Area Agency on Aging in New York. Assessments were completed on 5,576 New York City Department for the Aging long-term care program, recipients aged ≥60 who received services in 2012. Assessment also collected data on partner or child death in the last year. Results Logistic regression indicated that the recently bereaved were more likely than the nonbereaved to report both depression symptoms and financial strain. Conclusion Enhanced efforts to identify and address mental health and financial concerns in bereaved homebound older adults may be warranted.

The aim of this study was to determine the association of active depressive symptoms in older home health care (home care) patients and discharge to the hospital. This study was based on a cross-sectional secondary data analysis. The data were from the Montefiore Home Healthcare Agency, Bronx, New York. Patients 65 years and older who were admitted to home care in 2010 ( N = 3,761) with a valid depression screen in the medical record were included. Disposition at discharge and the Patient Health Questionnaire–2 depression screen were collected from the home care nursing assessment. Demographic and clinical factors were collected from the medical record. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was greater for discharge resulting in hospitalization (AOR = 1.70, 95% confidence interval = [1.29, 2.25]) among those with positive depression screens compared with those with a negative screen at the time of admission. Conclusion: Active depressive symptoms at the time of admission to home care were associated with increased odds of hospitalization at discharge. Interventions to reduce depression during the home care admission may have implications for readmission rates and overall health care utilization.

Objectives The study evaluated the effectiveness of a depression care management intervention in reducing suicidal ideation (SI) among home health patients.

High rates of controlled prescription drugs are associated with cognitive impairment, falls, and misuse and dependence. Little is known about the prevalence of these medications among older adults receiving home healthcare. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of, and the factors related to, opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines (BNZ), and nonbenzodiazepine (NBNZH) hypnotics among a large sample of older adults entering home healthcare services. The data came from administrative records of 133 Certified Home healthcare Agencies located across 32 states. Patients (age ≥ 65) receiving Medicare home healthcare services and who received a start-of-care Medicare OASIS assessment between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014, were included in the study (n = 87,780). Rates of controlled medication use were compared across patient-level sociodemographic, clinical, functional, and environmental variables. The prevalence of controlled medication was high, with 58% prescribed at least one class of controlled drug, 44% were prescribed an opioid, 19% were prescribed a BNZ, and almost 7% were prescribed a NBZDH. Factors independently associated with higher levels of controlled medication usage include younger-old age, white race, postsurgical status, injuries, referral from inpatient settings, and rural location. Home healthcare clinicians are well positioned to review and reconcile medication, oversee referrals and follow-up care, and provide ongoing assessment of risk regarding the use of opioids, BNZ, and hypnotics among home healthcare patients.

OBJECTIVE Using the database of the NIMH-sponsored Acute Treatment of Late Life Mania study (GERI-BD), we assessed the role of social support in the presentation of late-life bipolar mania.

BACKGROUND: Preventing hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations of older adults receiving Medicare home health (HH) services is a key goal for patients and care providers. This study aimed to identify factors related to greater risk of and earlier hospitalizations from HH, a key step in targeting preventive efforts. METHODS: Data come from Medicare mandated start-of-care assessments from 87,780 HH patients served by 132 agencies in 32 states, collected from January 2013 to March 2015. Using parametric accelerated failure time (AFT) survival models, we evaluated the association between key patient and environmental characteristics and the hazard of and time until hospitalization and re-hospitalization. RESULTS: In total, 15,030 hospitalizations, including 6,539 re-hospitalizations, occurred in the sample within 60 days of start of HH. Factors most strongly associated with substantially greater risk of and earlier hospitalization included male gender, history of hospitalization, polypharmacy, elevated depressive symptoms, greater functional disability, primary diagnoses of heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and urinary tract infection, and government-controlled agency care. In addition to these factors, black race and primary diagnosis of skin wounds were uniquely related to risk of earlier re-hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that factors collected during routine HH patient assessments can provide important information to predict risk of earlier hospitalization and re-hospitalization among Medicare HH patients. Identified factors can help identify patients at greatest risk of early hospitalization and may be important targets for agencies and care providers to prevent avoidable hospitalizations.

The research community is placing greater emphasis on understanding geriatric bipolar disorder across a variety of settings, as numerous questions remain unanswered about many aspects of the illness and its impact on patients’ lives (e.g., lifetime course, psychiatric and medical comorbidity, mortality, etc.) (1-3). As the overall population ages in the United States, and as the number of elderly with severe mental illness grows, there is a need to better characterize this population in order to better understand the service needs of this group (4-6). Among the few studies that have been conducted on elderly bipolar disorder patients in community (epidemiological) or clinical outpatient settings, prevalence rates vary between 0.15% and 9%. There have been relatively consistent findings that elderly bipolar disorder patients have significant cognitive and functional impairment. These patients also seem to have less substance abuse than a younger cohort (7, 8). In other health domains, findings have been less consistent. For example, compared to younger patients, elderly bipolar disorder patients appear to use similar inpatient and greater outpatient services in a veterans setting, but less inpatient and outpatient services (except case management) in a community health setting (7, 8). A few studies examining the relationship between symptom severity and age also have had mixed findings: in two separate studies, Young, et al. (9) found no decrease in overall severity with age among a mixed-age sample of manic bipolar disorder patients, but this was in contrast to Broadhead and Jacoby (10), who did find decreased overall severity with age among manic bipolar disorder patients. Given the dearth of information on elderly bipolar disorder patients— and virtually none on those dwelling in Adult Congregate Facilities [(ACFs) described below]— it is important to better characterize the health status and needs of this population. ACF is an umbrella term whose precise definition varies somewhat from state to state, but which generally refers to senior-based housing that is publicly supported, provides apartments, suites and/or rooms for residents receiving some form of state assistance and who may need support in personal care or daily activities (11). Generally, these settings accept residents aged 55 years or older, although younger residents may be accepted if they meet physical or mental disability eligibility requirements. ACFs typically provide unskilled support, such as resident monitoring, congregate meals, and certain personal care services, but do not provide skilled nursing or other medical care. The size and organization of ACFs can vary substantially: while large metropolitan regions and states (e.g., New York, California) may have large ACFs housing up to several hundred residents, ACFs can also consist of small group home settings. For a more detailed description of New York's ACFs, see the New York Department of Health (DOH) website: www.health.ny.gov/facilities/adult_care. In 2002, the state of New York undertook a large evaluation of the state's ACFs due to concerns related to a steady change in the population over the past 30 years: although originally oriented toward supportive care for the elderly, approximately 25–30% of the resident population has a psychiatric disability, with a substantial proportion also having medical comorbidities (11). The state evaluation was initiated in order to better understand the needs of these residents, and to determine if the ACF setting was adequately in meeting those needs (11). Under state contract, New York Presbyterian Hospital conducted evaluations of over 2,600 ACF residents between February 2003 and February 2004, examining a full spectrum of resident health status, preferences, needs, and services. In order to meet the needs of the state contract, a large number of residents had to be assessed within a one-year period of time. A full report of the New York ACF project can be found at: www.health.ny.gov/facilities/adult_care/workgroup_report/10-2002/report.htm. The goal of this analysis was to better characterize the demographic and health-related features of the geriatric bipolar disorder residents of these New York ACFs. Based on chart diagnoses of bipolar disorder, we conducted an estimate of the prevalence of the illness among the full sample of residents. We then analyzed data from a subgroup of 100 residents who were either elderly (age ≥ 60) or young (age 18-49), comparing them across (i) demographic characteristics, (ii) clinical features (cognitive status, chronic disease burden, and medical status), (iii) benefit and service use, and (iv) medication use. Based on other studies of geriatric bipolar disorder and the nature of the adult home population, we expected that the prevalence of bipolar disorder would be 5–9%, with lower education levels than those found in other studies of general or outpatient bipolar populations. We also expected higher rates of cognitive impairment and increased medical burden. Between the two age groups, we expected the elderly sample to have greater cognitive impairment and medical burden; a larger number of services and medications used (and more classes); and greater sensory impairment. Given other studies [e.g., Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD)] showing lower lithium use among elderly patients, and the potential for lithium to worsen cognitive status among the elderly, we expected lower rates of lithium use among this group compared to the young cohort (6, 12)

Objectives: This is an exploratory analysis of ambulatory and inpatient services utilization by older persons with type I bipolar disorder experiencing elevated mood. The association between type of treatment setting and the person’s characteristics is explored within a framework that focuses upon predisposing, enhancing, and need characteristics. Method: Baseline assessments were conducted with the first 51 inpatients and 49 outpatients 60 years of age and older, meeting criteria for type I bipolar disorder, manic, hypomanic, or mixed episode enrolled in the geriatric bipolar disorder study (GERI-BD) study. We compared participants recruited from inpatient versus outpatient settings in regard to the patients’ predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics. Results: Being treated in an inpatient rather than an outpatient setting was associated with the predisposing characteristic of being non-Hispanic caucasian (odds ratio [OR]: 0.1; P = .005) and past history of treatment with first-generation antipsychotics (OR: 6.5; P < .001), and the need characteristic reflected in having psychotic symptoms present in the current episode (OR: 126.08; P < .001). Conclusion: Ethnicity, past pharmacologic treatment, and current symptom severity are closely associated with treatment in inpatient settings. Clinicians and researchers should investigate whether closer monitoring of persons with well-validated predisposing and need characteristics can lead to their being treated in less costly but equally effective ambulatory rather than inpatient settings.

The growing population of elders is increasing the attention to bipolar disorder (BD) in late life (1, 2). The scant relevant literature highlights the challenges of treating BD in older adults, including greater medical comorbidity and lower tolerance to standard pharmacotherapies than in younger patients (3-6). Evidence specific to geriatric BD is urgently needed (7, 8). While depressive symptoms contribute to reduced quality of life among BD elders (4), there are no published prospective studies of the treatment of geriatric bipolar depression. The challenge of managing bipolar depression in mixed-age populations has been highlighted by previous reports (9-12), and a limited number of medications have been shown to be efficacious for bipolar depression. In addition to the possible precipitation of mania or rapid cycling (13, 14), the addition of multiple psychotropic agents to stabilize mood and treat depression is of concern in older adults due to the risks associated with polypharmacy (15, 16). Lamotrigine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy in 1994, and for the maintenance treatment of BD in 2003. Meta-analysis and meta-regression of monotherapy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest minimal to modest efficacy for lamotrigine in acute bipolar depression (17, 18). However, lamotrigine is widely used in clinical settings for the treatment of bipolar depression, typically in combination with other agents. A recent study of combined lamotrigine and lithium in bipolar depression demonstrated significant improvement and good tolerability in mixed-age adults (19). A literature review and a secondary data-analysis of lamotrigine in older adults with BD (20, 21) suggest that lamotrigine is well tolerated and efficacious, with particular benefit against depressive relapse. The secondary analysis (20) focused on older adults (≥ 55 years) from two placebo-controlled, RCTs evaluating lamotrigine, lithium, and placebo in BD maintenance. There were 638 patients in the double-blind treatment phase including 98 older adults (mean age 61 years, SD = 6.0; range: 55–82 years). Lamotrigine significantly delayed time-to-intervention for depression compared with lithium, while lithium performed better than lamotrigine for time-to-intervention for mania. Side effects for both lamotrigine and lithium were generally time-limited and mild to moderate in intensity, including similar rates of skin rash (3% for lamotrigine, 5% for lithium). Given the positive prospective findings in mixed-age patients and encouraging results in the secondary analysis with older BD patients, we conducted a 12-week, open label trial of lamotrigine in adults age 60 and older with type I or II bipolar depression, assessing its dosing, tolerability, and efficacy. We hypothesized that lamotrigine would be associated with improvement in depressive symptoms and would be well tolerated by these older adults with bipolar depression.

Gildengers AG, Mulsant BH, Al Jurdi RK, Beyer JL, Greenberg RL, Gyulai L, Moberg PJ, Sajatovic M, Ten Have T, Young RC, The GERI-BD Study Group. The relationship of bipolar disorder lifetime duration and vascular burden to cognition in older adults.Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 851–858. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives: We describe the cognitive function of older adults presenting with bipolar disorder (BD) and mania and examine whether longer lifetime duration of BD is associated with greater cognitive dysfunction. We also examine whether there are negative, synergistic effects between lifetime duration of BD and vascular disease burden on cognition. Methods: A total of 87 nondemented individuals with bipolar I disorder, age 60 years and older, experiencing manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes, were assessed with the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP) as a measure of vascular disease burden. Results: Subjects had a mean (SD) age of 68.7 (7.1) years and 13.6 (3.1) years of education; 50.6% (n = 44) were females, 89.7% (n = 78) were white, and 10.3% (n = 9) were black. They presented with overall and domain-specific cognitive impairment in memory, visuospatial ability, and executive function compared to age-adjusted norms. Lifetime duration of BD was not related to DRS total score, any other subscale scores, or vascular disease burden. FSRP scores were related to the DRS memory subscale scores, but not total scores or any other domain scores. A negative interactive effect between lifetime duration of BD and FSRP was only observed with the DRS construction subscale. Conclusions: In this study, lifetime duration of BD had no significant relationship with overall cognitive function in older nondemented adults. Greater vascular disease burden was associated with worse memory function. There was no synergistic relationship between lifetime duration of BD and vascular disease burden on overall cognition function. Addressing vascular disease, especially early in the course of BD, may mitigate cognitive impairment in older age.

Objectives: Depression in older adult home care recipients is frequently undetected and inadequately treated. Failed communication between home healthcare personnel and the patient's physician has been identified as a barrier for depression care. The purpose of this pilot intervention study was to improve nurse competency for communicating depression-related information to the physician. Design: A single group pre-post experimental design. Setting: Two Medicare-certified home healthcare agencies serving an urban and suburban area in New York. Participants: Twenty-eight home care nurses, all female Registered Nurses. Intervention: Two-hour skills training workshop. Measurements: To evaluate the intervention, pre-post changes in effective nurse communication using Objective Structured Clinical Examinations and nurse survey reports. Results: The intervention significantly improved the ability of the home care nurse to perform a case presentation in a complete and standard organized format pre versus postintervention. The intervention also increased nurse-reported certainty to communicate depression-related information to the physician. Conclusions: Our findings provide support for the ability of a brief, depression-focused communication skills training intervention to improve home care nurse competency for effectively communicating depression-related information to the physician.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether an educational intervention would improve depression assessment and appropriate referral. Secondary analyses tested whether referral led to depression improvement. DESIGN: Training in the Assessment of Depression (TRIAD) was a three-group, nurse-randomized trial. Researchers interviewed randomly selected patients at baseline and 8 weeks. SETTING: Three certified home healthcare agencies in Westchester County, New York. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three medical/surgical nurses were randomized within agency to three intervention groups: full, minimal, or control. Research contact with nurses' patients (aged >65; N=477) yielded 256 (53.7%) enrolled subjects, 84 (17.6%) ineligibles, and 120 (25.2%) refusals; 233 of the 256 (87.1%) enrolled patients completed follow-up interviews. INTERVENTION: Nurse training in clinically meaningful use of depression sections of Medicare's mandatory Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS). MEASUREMENTS: Nurse-assessed mood or anhedonia (OASIS) versus research assessments using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Disorders (SCID); referrals for mental health evaluation (agency records), and depression severity (24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; HDRS). RESULTS: Referral rates for patients with (SCID) depressed mood or anhedonia (n=75) varied according to nurse group: 50.0% full intervention, 18.5% minimal, 21.4% control (P=.047). Rates for nondepressed patients (n=180) did not differ (4.9%, 2.0%, 5.8%, respectively; P=.60). In patients with major or minor depression (n=37), referral was associated with symptom improvement. Change in HDRS was 5 points greater in referred patients than others (P=.04). Concordance between OASIS and SCID did not differ between intervention groups. CONCLUSION: TRIAD showed that training nurses to assess for depression using an approach developed in partnership with home healthcare agencies led to appropriate referral and care for depressed patients.

Objectives Although bereavement and depression are both common in older primary care patients, the effect of bereavement on depression intervention outcomes is unknown. We examined whether standard interventions for depression in primary care were as effective for bereaved as for non-bereaved depressed patients. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Twenty community-based primary care practices in New York City, greater Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Randomization to either intervention or usual care occurred by practice. Participants Patients aged 60 years or older who met criteria for major depression or clinically significant minor depression (N = 599). Patients who did not complete the bereavement measure or who were missing 4-month data were excluded (final N = 417). Intervention Study-trained depression care managers offered guideline-concordant recommendations to primary care physicians at intervention sites and assisted patients with treatment adherence. Patients who did not wish to take antidepressants could receive interpersonal psychotherapy. Measurements Bereavement was captured using the Louisville Older Persons Events Schedule. Depression severity was assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Outcomes at 4 months were remission (HDRS ≤7) and response (HDRS reduction ≥50% from baseline). Results Logistic regressions indicated that, for non-bereaved participants, response and remission were higher in intervention than usual care. However, recently bereaved older adults were less likely to achieve response or remission at 4 months if treated in the intervention condition. Conclusions Standard depression care management appears to be ineffective among recently bereaved older primary care patients. Greater attention should be paid in primary care to emotional distress in the context of bereavement.

This research was funded by: The project was supported by the University of Rochester CTSA award number UL1 RR024160 from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health and was partially supported by the National Institutes of Health, Grant R25 MH071544/MH/ NIMH (PI: Dilip V. Jeste, M.D.) and the University of California, San Diego, Stein Institute for Research on Aging. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

The objective of this study is to determine the racial/ethnic effect of depression symptom recognition by home healthcare nurses.This is a secondary analysis of administrative data from a large urban home healthcare agency. Patients' age were 65 years and older with a valid depression screen, identified as Caucasian, African American, or Hispanic and admitted to homecare in 2010 (N = 3711). All demographic and clinical information were obtained from the electronic medical record.Subjects were 29.34% Caucasian, 37.81% African American, and 32.85% Hispanic. About 6.52% had a formal chart diagnosis of depression, and 13.39% received antidepressant therapy. The rates of positive depression screens by nurses were higher in Caucasians than that of in African Americans or Hispanics (13.41% vs. 9.27% vs. 10.99%; χ(2) = 10.70, df [degrees of freedom] = 2; p 0.01). Depression screening rates were then stratified by the number of clinical indicators from the chart (depression diagnosis or antidepressant on medication list). The proportion of positive screen increased for minorities with an increase in the number of indicators. African Americans had significantly greater positive screens with two indicators compared with that of the Caucasians and Hispanics (50.00% vs. 23.81% vs. 35.59%; χ(2) = 6.65, df = 2; p = 0.04).These findings show a wide range of variation in screening for depression among ethnic groups. The rates increase for minorities with the presence of increased clinical indicators, suggesting that nurses may screen higher in minorities when there is higher clinical suspicion. Future research in home healthcare should be aimed at training nurses to conduct culturally tailored depression screening to improve management of depression in older minorities.

Objective Determine the racial/ethnic effect on depression treatment among home healthcare patients. Design Cross-sectional analyses of administrative data. Setting A large home healthcare agency in Bronx, NY. Participants Patients 65 years and older admitted to homecare in 2010 (N = 3,744). Measurements Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2 depression screen. Other data, such as diagnosis, medications, and demographics, were collected from the patient electronic medical record. Results 6.52% of the sample had a depression diagnosis, 11.11% screened positive for depression (+PHQ-2), and 13.39% were prescribed antidepressants. The odds of receiving an antidepressant among those who screened positive for depression were 0.42 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.79) for African Americans and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.26–0.93) for Hispanics compared with Caucasians. Conclusions These findings suggest that disparities continue to exist in depression treatment for older minority home healthcare patients compared with older Caucasians.

Much of the research on geriatric bipolar disorder is from outpatient populations or epidemiological surveys with small samples. In contrast, in this study a descriptive analysis was conducted of geriatric and younger adult residents with bipolar disorder or mania in non-clinical adult congregate facilities (ACFs) in the greater New York City region.A total of 2602 ACF residents were evaluated in 19 facilities, across multiple demographic and health domains. Within this sample, 200 residents had chart diagnoses of bipolar disorder or mania. Among these, 50 geriatric residents (age ≥ 60) were compared to 50 younger adult residents (age50) on a number of demographic and health measures. Based on chart diagnoses, the overall prevalence of bipolar disorder was 7.8%. Compared to other studies of outpatient, epidemiological, and census samples, both older and younger residents with bipolar disorder had higher rates of cognitive impairment, impairment in executive functioning, vision impairment, and proportion of residents who had never been married. The younger group also had higher rates of obesity and the elderly group had a greater proportion of residents without high-school education. Both age groups had rates of lithium or valproate use comparable to those found in outpatient studies. Comparing the two age groups, the elderly sample had lower overall cognitive and executive functioning, and was using a larger number of medication classes than the younger group. The elderly group also had a larger proportion of residents who were separated/divorced or widowed compared to the younger group, which had higher rates of never-married residents.Overall, both age groups had relatively high rates of bipolar disorder, with significant cognitive impairment, medical burden, obesity, mental health service use, and lower education levels, as compared to outpatient, epidemiological, and census samples. Of note was the significant cognitive impairment across age groups.

Objective Given the paucity of information available regarding standardized ratings of depression symptoms in bipolar manic states, and in particular those in older adults, we explored depression ratings in symptomatic participants in a multicenter study of treatment of bipolar I disorder in late life. Methods Baseline data was obtained from the first 100 patients enrolled in an NIMH-funded, 9-week, randomized, double-blind RCT comparing treatment with lithium or valproate in patients of age 60 years and older with Type I Bipolar mania or hypomania. This multi-site study was conducted at six academic medical centers in the United States and enrolled inpatients and outpatients with a total Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score of 18 or greater. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The criterion for at least moderate bipolar depressive symptoms was the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Consensus Meeting definition of HAM-D 17 total score >20. Results Eleven percent of patients had mixed symptoms defined by depression scale severity according to ECNP criterion. In the overall sample, total scores on the two depression scales were highly correlated. Total YMRS scores of this mixed symptom group were similar to the remainder of the sample. Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that moderate to severe depressive symptoms occur in about one in ten bipolar manic elders. Future studies are needed to further evaluate symptom profiles, clinical correlates, and treatments for bipolar older adults with combined manic and depressive symptoms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To determine whether an educational intervention would improve depression assessment and appropriate referral. Secondary analyses tested whether referral led to depression improvement.Training in the Assessment of Depression (TRIAD) was a three-group, nurse-randomized trial. Researchers interviewed randomly selected patients at baseline and 8 weeks.Three certified home healthcare agencies in Westchester County, New York.Fifty-three medical/surgical nurses were randomized within agency to three intervention groups: full, minimal, or control. Research contact with nurses' patients (aged65; N=477) yielded 256 (53.7%) enrolled subjects, 84 (17.6%) ineligibles, and 120 (25.2%) refusals; 233 of the 256 (87.1%) enrolled patients completed follow-up interviews.Nurse training in clinically meaningful use of depression sections of Medicare's mandatory Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS).Nurse-assessed mood or anhedonia (OASIS) versus research assessments using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Disorders (SCID); referrals for mental health evaluation (agency records), and depression severity (24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; HDRS).Referral rates for patients with (SCID) depressed mood or anhedonia (n=75) varied according to nurse group: 50.0% full intervention, 18.5% minimal, 21.4% control (P=.047). Rates for nondepressed patients (n=180) did not differ (4.9%, 2.0%, 5.8%, respectively; P=.60). In patients with major or minor depression (n=37), referral was associated with symptom improvement. Change in HDRS was 5 points greater in referred patients than others (P=.04). Concordance between OASIS and SCID did not differ between intervention groups.TRIAD showed that training nurses to assess for depression using an approach developed in partnership with home healthcare agencies led to appropriate referral and care for depressed patients.

Objective: To assess the completeness and accuracy of clinical information provided by referral sources to visiting nurses for patients admitted to receive home health care. Methods: Clinical referral information for a representative sample of 243 older adults admitted to receive skilled home-health nursing was compared to medical record information from home-health charts and in-home research interviews to determine their concordance. Measures used included referral information, home-care chart documentation, in-home nurse review of medications, medication allergies, caregiver contact information, cognitive status, depression status, and follow-up plan. Results: There were medication discrepancies between in-home nurse review and admission information in 215 cases (88.4%). Clinical information on medication allergies was lacking from referrers in 85 cases (34.9%). No information was provided by the referrers about cognitive status in 38 (73%) cases classified as cognitively impaired and in only 2 of 35 cases with major depression identified with the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (SCID), was depression related information provided by referrers. Conclusions: The primary finding of this study is that during a transfer of an older adult to the home care service sector, essential clinical information is often missing, and there are significant discrepancies between medication regimens. These findings support the need for both educational initiatives and technology to address the complex care needs of older adults across settings to reduce the risk for medication errors and poor outcomes.

Importance Among older home health care patients, depression is highly prevalent, is often inadequately treated, and contributes to hospitalization and other poor outcomes. Feasible and effective interventions are needed to reduce this burden of depression. Objective To determine whether, among older Medicare Home Health recipients who screen positive for depression, patients of nurses receiving randomization to an intervention have greater improvement in depressive symptoms during 1 year than patients receiving enhanced usual care. Design, Setting, and Participants This cluster randomized effectiveness trial conducted at 6 home health care agencies nationwide assigned nurse teams to an intervention (12 teams) or to enhanced usual care (9 teams). Between January 13, 2009, and December 6, 2012, Medicare Home Health patients 65 years and older who screened positive for depression on routine nursing assessments were recruited, underwent assessment, and were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months by research staff blinded to intervention status. Patients were interviewed at home and by telephone. Of 502 eligible patients, 306 enrolled in the study. Interventions The Depression Care for Patients at Home (Depression CAREPATH) trial requires nurses to manage depression at routine home visits by weekly symptom assessment, medication management, care coordination, education, and goal setting. Nurses’ training totaled 7 hours (4 onsite and 3 via the web). Researchers telephoned intervention team supervisors every other week. Main Outcomes and Measures Depression severity, assessed by the 24-item Hamilton Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Results The 306 participants were predominantly female (69.6%), were racially/ethnically diverse (18.0% black and 16.0% Hispanic), and had a mean (SD) age of 76.5 (8.0) years. In the full sample, the intervention had no effect ( P = .13 for intervention × time interaction). Adjusted HAM-D scores (Depression CAREPATH vs control) did not differ at 3 months (10.5 vs 11.4, P = .26) or at 6 months (9.3 vs 10.5, P = .12) but reached significance at 12 months (8.7 vs 10.6, P = .05). In the subsample with mild depression (HAM-D score, P = .90), and HAM-D scores did not differ at any follow-up points. Among 208 participants with a HAM-D score of 10 or higher, the Depression CAREPATH demonstrated effectiveness ( P = .02), with lower HAM-D scores at 3 months (14.1 vs 16.1, P = .04), at 6 months (12.0 vs 14.7, P = .02), and at 12 months (11.8 vs 15.7, P = .005). Conclusion and Relevance Home health care nurses can effectively integrate depression care management into routine practice. However, the clinical benefit seems to be limited to patients with moderate to severe depression. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01979302

Integrated models of primary care depression management improve outcomes. Subsequent dissemination efforts and their evaluation need a fidelity measure.We sought to develop and validate a fidelity measure using data gathered during routine clinical application of the clinical model.Longitudinal outcome data on depression severity were obtained from 224 subjects experiencing major depression or dysthymia and assigned to a 3-component model (3CM) intervention. Data on 10 essential 3CM process-of-care components were obtained from telephone logs maintained by care managers administering 3CM care. Stakeholders (n = 23), including researchers, health care administrators, and care managers, independently rated the importance of the 10 elements distributing 100 points among the elements. Mean ratings were used as weights to construct a fidelity score. Predictive validity was assessed using logistic regression for patient response and remission at 3 and 6 months.3CM fidelity was high, with a mean of 74.1 at 3 months and 75.9 at 6 months. Given a large gap in the scores' distribution, subjects were classified into zero, low-, and high-fidelity groups. Logistic regressions adjusting for baseline depression found a distinct continuum. Patients that were provided high fidelity 3CM were significantly more likely to achieve treatment response and remission at 3 months. At 6 months, high-fidelity care was again significantly more likely to produce a response, but remission rate did not differ from patients provided low fidelity.Most patients received a substantially implemented "3CM dose." Even within this high implementation, however, a higher fidelity score was associated with better outcomes. The easily applied measure is a promising tool for monitoring the quality of implementation of integrated care.