Geriatric Anxiety Inventory Research Articles

Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults With and Without Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives1) To develop and test the validity of the Psychosocial Pandemic Impact Scale (PPIS); 2) test associations between PPIS scores and demographics/cognitive performance in older adults; 3) answer whether the PPIS scores would differ between cognitively healthy (HOA) or mildly impaired older adults (MCI), and between those assessed before and after vaccines were available in Brazil. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingCommunity-dwelling older adults registered to participate in a remote randomized clinical trial of computerized cognitive training were assessed online during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. ParticipantsA sample of 181 older adults (>60 years) was used for the PPIS psychometric analysis, from which 120 who completed baseline cognitive, quality of life, and mood assessments were included in the group comparisons and correlational analysis. MeasurementsThe psychosocial pandemic impact scale (PPIS); The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; used as a brief screening tool); The verbal fluency test (to assess executive function) and the Verbal memory and learning with the Portuguese version of the rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT); The geriatric anxiety inventory (GAI); The Geriatric Depression Scale - Short Form (GDS); The WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD quality of life questionnaires; The Katz and Lawton scales and the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ) to measure daily function. ResultsThe PPIS demonstrated good internal consistency (α = .84) and sampling adequacy (MSA= .85) and was significantly associated with validated measures of anxiety and depression (GAI: ρ = 0.49, p< 0.001; GDS: ρ = 0.48, p = 0.006) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref: ρ = -0.46, p< 0.001; WHOQOL-Old: ρ = -0.24, p = 0.03), confirming construct validity and scale reliability. HOA who were female and had more years of education and those with MCI who were younger and had better memory reported higher PPIS scores. One-way ANOVAs including age and education as covariates revealed that people with MCI reported higher PPIS scores than HOA before vaccination (p = 0.01), but not after. While HOA assessed before and after vaccines were available showed similar PPIS scores, those with MCI assessed after had a trend towards lower scores than those assessed before (p = 0.06). ConclusionsOur study provides a reliable instrument for assessing older adults' psychosocial pandemic impact and shows that people with MCI might be more vulnerable to such effects—which are mediated by memory performance, age, education, and gender. This data can help clinicians to identify and propose interventions targeting vulnerable populations during public health emergencies.

A - 33 Impact of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Everyday Functioning in a Veteran Sample

Abstract Objective Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a well-supported nonpharmacological intervention, found to improve or maintain global cognition, daily functioning, and quality of life with persons with dementia. There are fewer studies assessing the effect of CST on neuropsychiatric symptoms; however, pilot studies have identified improvement in depression and anxiety in studies of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of this program evaluation was to evaluate the impact of CST on neuropsychiatric symptoms and everyday functioning is a veteran sample. Method Twenty-six male veterans diagnosed with cognitive disorder (84.6% dementia, 15.4% mild cognitive impairment) completed a 7-week CST program. The sample was diverse (46.2% White/Caucasian, 42.3% Hispanic/Latino, 7.7% Black/African American; 38.5% bilingual). Most frequent etiologies included mixed (26.8%), Alzheimer’s (23.1%), and vascular (19.2%). Ages ranged from 43–86 (M = 74.5; SD = 7.6). Pre-group/post-group assessment included Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-informant), Everyday Cognitive (ECOG), and Texas Functional Living Scale (TFLS). Analyses included paired-samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Post-group GAI scores were significantly lower (Median = 1) than pre-group scores (Median = 3), z = −2.574, p = 0.01, r = −0.515. There were no significant declines or improvements across other measures of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Measures of IADLs/everyday functioning also remained stable. Conclusions Consistent with prior studies, CST was effective in reducing anxiety symptoms of veterans with cognitive disorders. While measures of everyday functioning did not improve, performance and informant-report remained stable. CST presents a unique opportunity to impact both cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms that may cause significant distress in veterans with dementia and their caregivers.

The traditional Chinese version of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory: Psychometric properties and cutoff point for detecting anxiety

The study aimed to translate the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory into traditional Chinese (GAI-TC), examine its psychometric properties, and identify the optimal cutoff point. This research recruited 337 older adults from two community activity centers. Structured questionnaires were used, including demographic information and characteristics, the GAI-TC, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Cronbach's α of the GAI-TC was 0.93. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.90. The content validity index was 1.0. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that three factors in the GAI-TC, including cognition anxiety, impact of anxiety, and somatic anxiety, explained 59.46 % of the variance. The criterion-related validity showed a significant positive correlation between the GAI-TC and STAI, with an optimal cutoff of 9/10 for detecting anxiety in older persons living in the community. The GAI-TC had good reliability and validity and can provide professionals with a tool for the early identification of anxiety among older adults.

A quasi-experimental study to assess the impact of green gardens on elderly anxiety: A socio-ecological perspective

ABSTRACT By 2050, it’s projected that the elderly population will make up approximately 14% of the global populace. United Nations forecasts indicate a notable increase in the average age of Iran’s population, expected to rise from 29.5%–49.4% by 2100, presenting significant societal and environmental challenges for the future. Given this demographic shift, addressing the implications of an aging population in Iran is paramount, underscoring the necessity for a socio-ecological approach. This experimental study seeks to explore the effects of green gardens on the mental well-being of the elderly, employing practical experience and a socio-ecological perspective. The study cohort consisted of elderly individuals residing in eldercare facilities in Kermanshah city, located in western Iran. Utilizing a purposive sampling method, 80 individuals were carefully selected and included in the study. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40), ensuring demographic homogeneity. Adopting a quasi-experimental research design with pre-test/posttest measures and a control group, data were gathered through the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) questionnaire. The results revealed statistically significant differences in anxiety variables—cognitive (p < .01, d = 0.78), arousal (p < .01, d = 1.64), and somatic (p < .01, d = 0.85) aspects—both before and after the implementation of green garden initiatives in eldercare facilities among the experimental group. Conversely, no significant changes were observed in these variables within the control group before and after the intervention. The practical application of the socio-ecological approach has the potential to strengthen the connection between the elderly and their environment, leading to substantial changes in human resources concerning psychological characteristics and contributing to the development of green spaces in urban areas. This research provides valuable insights into addressing the health and well-being of the aging population through socio-ecological interventions. Furthermore, this study has practical and theoretical implications by addressing urban agriculture practices. Overall, this study contributes to urban agriculture practice on one hand and has a significant impact on the health of the elderly on the other hand.

The Relationship between Lifestyle, Mental Health, and Loneliness in the Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The study focused on examining the relationship between well-being and various psychological factors such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, and stress, whilst also considering changes in lifestyle. A total of 108 elderly participants, with an average age of 70.38 years, were enrolled in this quantitative cross-sectional study. The research employed a battery of assessment tools including a Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination, Positive Mental Health Scale, Stress Perception Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale (reduced version), Loneliness Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted in order to understand the distribution of scores across these variables, followed by the categorization of participants based on the reported alterations in eating and physical activity behaviors. Correlations between variables were assessed using Spearman correlation and an EBIC-LASSO network analysis. The findings indicated a potential detriment to the well-being of elderly individuals practicing social distancing, evidenced by heightened symptoms of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress, alongside the reported changes in dietary patterns and physical activity. The study underscores the importance of understanding the pandemic's impact on the well-being of older adults and advocates for longitudinal investigations to delineate the evolving effects of social distancing measures across different phases of the pandemic.

The context of COVID-19 affected the long-term sleep quality of older adults more than SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Sleep problems are one of the most persistent symptoms of post-COVID syndrome in adults. However, most recent research on sleep quality has relied on the impact of the pandemic, with scarcely any data for older adults on the long-term consequences of COVID infection. This study aims to understand whether older individuals present persistently impaired sleep quality after COVID-19 infection and possible moderators for this outcome. This is a cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal cohort study with 70 elders with 6-month-previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and 153 controls. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality; Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory for screening depression and anxiety. Demographics and comorbid conditions were collected. The mean age of participants was 66,97 ± 4,64 years. There were no statistical differences in depression and anxiety between groups. Poor sleep quality was found in 52,9% and 43,8% of the COVID and control groups (p=.208). After controlling for multiple variables, all the following factors resulted in greater chances of poor sleep quality: female gender (OR, 2.12; p=.027), memory complaints (OR, 2.49; p=.074), insomnia (OR, 3.66; p=.032), anxiety (OR, 5.46; p<.001), depression (OR, 7.26; p=.001), joint disease (OR, 1.80; p=.050), glucose intolerance (OR, 2.20; p=.045), psychoactive drugs (OR, 8.36; p<.001), diuretics (OR, 2.46; p=.034), and polypharmacy (OR, 2.84; p=.016). Psychosocial burden in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-existing conditions seems to influence the sleep quality of older adults more than SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Sintomas ansiosos e depressivos em pessoas idosas assistidas pela Estratégia Saúde da Família em áreas rurais de Campo Grande/MS

Abstract Objective To identify the prevalence of anxious and depressive symptoms, and associated factors, in older adults treated by the Family Health Strategy in rural areas of Campo Grande/MS. Method A cross-sectional study with proportional stratified simple random probabilistic sampling was conducted. Instruments were applied to characterize the sample and assess multimorbidity and functioning, in addition to the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) and the Depression Scale Geriatric (GDS) for screening depressive and anxious symptoms. The prevalence ratio (PR), and respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI), was estimated using Poisson Regression with robust variance. Results 249 older adults participated in the study. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 23.29% (95%CI 18.42-28.98) and anxiety symptoms was 22.09% (95%CI 17.33-27.20). The presence of depressive symptoms was associated with age, marital status, physical activity, self-rated health status, and medication use. The presence of anxious symptoms was associated with gender, marital status, physical activity, self-rated health status, and the presence of multimorbidity. Conclusion Mental illness stems from social vulnerabilities and physical health conditions to which older adults are exposed. The older population in rural areas needs greater visibility and mental health care through the Family Health Strategy, calling for the development of public policies for this population focusing on health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation.

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF SELF-HELP GUIDED BY LAY PROVIDERS FOR GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Low use of professional help for anxiety disorders in older adults may be due in part to limited access to mental health services. Self-help guided by lay providers (LPs) could help improve access to treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy and long-term outcomes of self-help guided by LPs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults. Participants (≥ 60 years) with threshold or subthreshold GAD were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 75) or a wait-list control group (n = 75). Intervention group participants used a manual presenting readings and exercises based on principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and received weekly support calls by LPs. Groups were similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and initially did not differ significantly on outcomes. At post-treatment, the intervention group had decreased significantly on various measures while the wait-list group remained stable: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7): -4.8 vs -.03; Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ): -11.7 vs .07; Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI): -5.3 vs -.07. Probability of having a diagnosis of threshold GAD decreased significantly more in the intervention group (79% to 16% vs 74% to 53%). Intervention group scores on the GAD-7, the PSWQ, and the GAI as well as probability of having a diagnosis of threshold GAD remained stable at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Results provide evidence of the efficacy of self-help guided by LPs for GAD in older adults as well as of the maintenance of improvement following this treatment.

Is it possible to deprescribe benzodiazepine receptor agonists in older adults?

Aim: to analyze the viability and related factors for deprescribing benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRA).Methods: this is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional study performed with older adults assisted at a geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic; these were divided into two groups: BZRA users and non-users. The instruments used in this study were a general questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (short form), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.Results: we evaluated 74 patients, 40 (54.1%) of which were BZRA users and 34 (45.9%) were non-users, with an average age of 71.3 ± 7.5 years. Patients who used BZRA had a higher dropout rate of the deprescription process 26 (65%). Seven patients completely stopped using BZRAs (17.5%) and five reduced their use (12.5%). The mean scores for depression and anxiety symptoms were lower at the final assessment. As to sleep quality, BZRA users presented higher baseline values and both groups presented reductions in scores at the end of the treatment.Conclusion: deprescribing is viable and safe. However, there is resistance by both the patient and prescribers. The levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality improved after discontinuing BZRA.

Homebound elderly people psychotherapeutic intervention (HEPPI): Exploring the mediating role of loneliness

ObjectivesThe present study aimed to explore whether the Homebound Elderly People Psychotherapeutic Intervention (HEPPI), a home-delivered ten-week cognitive-emotional intervention, was effective in reducing self-reported loneliness among homebound older adults presenting mild cognitive impairment and psychological symptomatology. Effects of HEPPI in total, social, and emotional loneliness, compared with a treatment-as-usual group, were investigated at post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. In addition, the potential role of social and emotional loneliness as mediators of the HEPPI impact on episodic memory and symptoms of depression and anxiety was examined. MethodsThis study built upon the data of a previously conducted randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the HEPPI group (n = 98) or the treatment-as-usual group (n = 101) and completed baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up assessments, including measures of loneliness (UCLA - Loneliness scale), episodic memory (Wechsler Memory Scale-III), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-30), and anxiety symptoms (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory). Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis employing linear mixed models and mediation analyses for repeated measures. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05499767. ResultsCompared with usual care controls, the HEPPI participants reported a significant immediate decrease in total and social loneliness, but these effects were not maintained at a 3-month follow-up. The reduction in immediate perceived social loneliness significantly mediated the improvement of depressive symptoms. ConclusionsThe current findings suggest that HEPPI potentially reduced total and social loneliness of the homebound older population immediately post-intervention, and such decrease in social loneliness may be a relevant mechanism for improving their short-term depressive symptomatology.

P141: BRIGHT (Building Resilience in Geriatric Health Today)

Aims:Geriatric depression and anxiety are increasingly relevant conditions in the ageing population of Singapore. Subsyndromal depression and anxiety in older adults is estimated at 20-50% of the population and often go undetected despite adverse effects on quality of life (Preisig et al., 2001), suicidality (Sadek and Bona, 2000), disability and inappropriate usage of medical services (de Beurs et al., 1999; Wagner et al., 2000), and cognition (Yoachim et al., 2013). BRIGHT is an early intervention group coaching programme to empower older adults to self-manage physical and mental health ailments so as to decrease healthcare utilization and expenditure. This paper aims to present the findings from three pilot runs of BRIGHT with older adults in the community setting.Methodology:BRIGHT consists of 4 half-day workshops with both didactic and interactive components that leverage on the group-based therapy setting to promote psychoeducation, self-reflection, and reminiscence. This was delivered by a multidisciplinary team comprising psychiatrists, psychologists, and medical social workers. Simple digital literacy skills were taught and a mobile application to promote active lifestyles was utilized.Groups are kept small at less than 15 participants each who were referred from community partners. They have been screened for subclinical depression and anxiety using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), and Health Confidence Score (HCS). The same scales were administered again immediately upon completion of the programme to capture (1) reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms, (2) quality of life, (3) improvement in health confidence, and (4) participant satisfaction.Result:Average participant satisfaction was 82.2% - most qualitative feedback was positive but one group preferred the sessions to be conducted in Mandarin instead of English. GDS, GAI, HCS, and SF12 PCS scores improved by an average of 2.285, 0.969, 0.685, and 1.733 respectively. However, SF12 MCS scores decreased by an average of 1.795.Conclusion:Preliminary quantitative data shows that BRIGHT appears to be an effective early intervention modality for older adults with subclinical depressive and anxiety symptoms. After an iterative process of refining the programme content, plans are underway to “train the trainers” so as to increase scale and sustainability.

P158: Efficacy of a self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (GSH-CBT) guided by lay providers for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults: preliminary results

Background:Only a small proportion of older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) seek professional help. One reason is the lack of access to mental health professionals licensed to provide psychotherapy. One way to improve access to psychotherapy is through guided self- help (GSH). GSH based on the principles of cognitive-behavior therapy (GSH-CBT) can be guided by trained lay providers (LPs). The purpose of this poster is to report preliminary results from a multisite randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a GSH-CBT guided by LPs for GAD in older adults.Methods:The sample included 150 participants (≥ 60 years old) with a diagnosis of threshold or subthreshold GAD randomly assigned to: 1) GSH-CBT guided by LPs (n = 75) or 2) waiting list (n = 75). The GSH-CBT lasted 15 weeks. Participants used a manual presenting weekly reading and at-home exercises. They also received weekly support calls (30 minutes maximum) by LPs (undergraduate psychology students) supervised by psychologists. Repeated-measures regression models were used to compare changes in the groups before and after 15 weeks on three outcomes: severity of GAD symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item; GAD-7), tendency to worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire; PSWQ), and level of anxiety (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory; GAI).Results:At the first assessment, both groups were similar in terms of age, sex, level of education, marital status, occupation, and did not differ significantly on outcomes. The GSH- CBT group decreased significantly on all three outcomes (GAD-7: -4.8, 95% CI [-5.7, -3.8], PSWQ: -11.7; 95% CI [-13.6, -9.9], GAI: -5.3 95% CI [-6.5, -4.1]) while the waiting list group remained stable over 15 weeks (GAD-7: -0.3, 95% CI [-1.2, 0.6], PSWQ: 0.7; 95% CI [-1.2, 2.5], GAI: -0.7 95% CI [-1.9, -0.5]).Conclusions:GSH-CBT guided by LPs appears to be an effective intervention for reducing severity of GAD symptoms, tendency to worry, and level of anxiety in older people with GAD. Further analyses will be conducted to test whether the intervention differs in efficacy between participants with a threshold vs. subthreshold GAD. The maintenance of long-term gains (6 and 12 months after the intervention) will also be tested.

Prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety, geriatric anxiety, and related factors among the elderly in Quchan, Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Anxiety is a prevalent mental disorder among the elderly, leading to discomfort, disability, increased expenses, reduced quality of life, and dysfunction. Consequently, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety and geriatric anxiety, along with the factors influencing anxiety, in the elderly population served by urban healthcare centres in Quchan. This cross-sectional study involved 650 elderly individuals aged 60-95 years. The participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected through three questionnaires: the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and a questionnaire on factors contributing to anxiety. Data analysis was performed using simple and multiple regression with IBM SPSS 24. The prevalence of geriatric anxiety among the elderly was 40.3%, while the prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety (moderate and severe) was 22.8%. Significant relationships were observed between geriatric anxiety and substance abuse, stressful life events, comorbidities, COVID-19 anxiety, financial support, loneliness, walking habits, and sleep patterns (P < 0.05). COVID-19 anxiety and geriatric anxiety are prevalent concerns among the elderly. Factors like substance abuse, stressful life events, COVID-19-related anxiety, comorbidity, living alone, lack of financial support, and poor walking and sleeping habits, which affect anxiety in the elderly, it is essential to address these factors in life planning and provide services through relevant organisations, healthcare teams, and initiatives by the elderly themselves.

B - 62 The Clinical Utility of the BAI Compared to the GAI in Community Dwelling Older Adults.

Given the potential impact anxiety may have on cognitive performance, the current study explored the relationship of both the Beck Anxiety inventory (BAI) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) to cognitive performance in community dwelling older adults. Specifically, the correlation of anxiety and depression symptomatology to performance on measures of executive functioning and processing speed was explored (Dorekamp & Vik, 2018; Najimi et al., 2015; Vytal et al., 2012). Archival data from a sample of 60 community dwelling older adult participants (female n = 54; White n = 52), with an average education of 13.83years and an average age of 76years were included. The BAI and GAI were used to determine anxiety levels. Processing speed and executive functioning were assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Coding subtest and Trail Making Test B respectively. Data was analyzed using Pearson's R product moment correlations. Pearson's R product moment correlations were significant between the BAI and RBANS Coding (r = -0.328; p = 0.011), Trails B (r = 0.295; p = 0.023), and the GAI (r = 0.268; p = 0.04). However, the GAI was only significantly associated with the BAI. While both the BAI and GAI are well established measures of anxiety in older adults, the BAI appears to be more sensitive to the effects of anxiety on executive functioning and processing speed in community dwelling older adults. Future directions related to exploration of severity and potential cut scores will be discussed.

Emotion dysregulation in older people: validity and reliability of an 8-item version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale

Objectives The abbreviated 16-item version of the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16) is widely used to assess individuals’ perceived challenges in regulating their emotions, a central aspect of psychological symptoms commonly experienced in old age. However, its psychometric properties have yet to be tested in this population. Furthermore, a shorter version of the DERS-16 could further minimize the assessment burden on older individuals. Thus, we aimed to test the DERS-16’s psychometric performance and determine if any items were redundant to develop a psychometrically sound shorter version. Methods We enrolled 302 Portuguese older adults (M age = 75.22; SD = 8.99 years) in a cross-sectional study. Results Exploratory factor analyses indicated a one-factor structure and a four-factor solution with eight items (69.3%–81.9% of the variance observed). The four-factor–8-item solution presented an interpretable structure and demonstrated good reliability values (> 0.70) and construct validity with the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Eight-Item Geriatric Depression Scale, and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (r = 0.66, 0.40, 0.52; p < 0.001). Conclusion The robust psychometric properties of DERS-8 make it a valuable tool for clinical and longitudinal studies, facilitating targeted interventions in older adults and allowing for precise emotion dysregulation screening.

Penerapan Teknik Butterfly Hug Untuk Menurunkan Kecemasan Pada Lansia Di Panti Usia Lanjut ‘Aisyiyah Surakarta

Background: The prevalence of elderly anxiety at the age of 55-65 years is 6.9%, while at the age of 65-75 years it reaches 9.7% and the age of 75 years and over has a figure of 13.4% Along with the increase in the level of anxiety of the elderly in Indonesia, it is found that the elderly experience many problems both physiological and psychological Problems that often arise in the elderly are anxiety experienced by the elderly in Indonesia is very high, Handling in elderly anxiety can be given one of them with the Butterfly Hug relaxation technique to reduce anxiety levels. Objective: Knowing changes in anxiety levels in the elderly at the 'Aisyiyah Surakarta Elderly Home. Method: This study used a descriptive design on 2 elderly respondents conducted from May 26-28, 2023 at the 'Aisyiyah Surakarta Elderly Home with each respondent given an intervention for 3 consecutive days. The instrument used was the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) observation Results: The level of anxiety before implementation on both respondents was included in the moderate anxiety category with the 1st respondent scoring 10 and the 2nd respondent scoring 9, Then after the application, the anxiety level of the two respondents fell into the mild anxiety category with the 1st respondent scoring 3 and the 2nd respondent scoring 4. Conclusion: The application of the Butterfly Hug technique is able to reduce anxiety levels in the elderly at the 'Aisyiyah Surakarta elderly home.

The importance of the university of the third age to improved mental health and healthy aging of community-dwelling older adults

ABSTRACT The aim of this uncontrolled interventional study was to determine the effect of a yearly educational course within the University of the Third Age on quality of life, life satisfaction, sense of coherence, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, attitudes toward old age, and older people’s perception of social support. The population included 121 community-dwelling older people who had completed a yearly educational course within the University of the Third Age (three educational modules: 1. Cardiovascular Diseases, 2. Mental Health, and 3. Neurological Diseases; 16 lectures and two practical lessons for each module). Psychosocial factors were evaluated using the following tools: the Older People’s Quality of Life questionnaire (OPQOL_brief), the Life Satisfaction Index for the Third Age – Short Form (LSITA-SF), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ), the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and social support. After completing the yearly educational cycle, older people who had had lower scores for individual parameters at the beginning of the study were found to have a statistically significant improvement (p < .001) in anxiety, depression, quality of life, sense of coherence, life satisfaction, attitudes toward old age and aging, and perceptions of social support. To promote healthy aging, education at universities of the third age is recommended for lonely older people and older people with symptomatology of anxiety and depression.

Association of frailty with cognitive impairment and functional disability in older adults with affective disorders: a brief research report.

The Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index (IVCF-20) is a validated multidimensional instrument that has been used in Brazil to evaluate functional disability in frail older adults. The main aim of this study was to assess frailty using this novel screening tool. In addition, to investigate whether frailty was associated with cognitive impairment and functional disability in older adults with affective disorders. Participants included were over 60 years old, with affective disorders (depressive or anxiety disorders), from two specialized outpatient clinics. The sample was comprised of 46 patients (30% of a total from 153). The following instruments were applied: Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); Verbal Fluency Test (VFT); Pfeffer Questionnaire or Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ); Katz Index; Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15); Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), and IVCF-20 as well as sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires. The association between the variables of interest was estimated using Spearman correlation. This study found a negative correlation between frailty and cognitive decline (MMSE; rs = -0.58; p < 0.001); (VFT; rs = -0.60; p < 0.001); (CDT; rs = -0.47; p = 0.001) and a positive correlation between frailty and depressive symptoms (GDS-15; rs = 0.34; p = 0.019) as well as disability for IADLs (FAQ; rs = 0.69; p < 0.001). However, there was no statistical difference in the association between frailty and anxiety symptoms (GAI; rs = 0.24; p = 0.103) or disability for BADLs (Katz; rs = -0.02; p = 0.895). Our data support that the associations between frailty, cognitive and functional disability are prevalent issues in Psychogeriatrics. Assessing frailty in a multidimensional context is essential using a rapid assessment frailty tool in clinical practice.

Assessing late-life anxiety in Japanese older adults: psychometric evaluation of the Japanese version of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale.

This study developed a Japanese version of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS-J) and its short form (GAS-10-J) to evaluate anxiety in Japanese older adults and assess its psychometric properties using a cross-sectional design. A total of 331 community-dwelling older adult participants (208 men, 116 women, seven unknowns; mean age = 73.47 ± 5.17 years, range = 60-88 years) recruited from two Silver Human Resources Centres in the Kanto region, Japan, answered a set of self-report questionnaires. Of these respondents, 120 participated in a follow-up survey to evaluate test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that, as with the original GAS, the GAS-J had a three-factor structure and the GAS-10-J had a unifactor structure with high standardised factor loadings. Test-retest correlations and internal consistency analyses indicated that these scales were reliable. Correlations between the GAS-J/GAS-10-J with the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, Geriatric Depression Scale-15, World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index, and Kihon Checklist were mostly consistent with our hypotheses, thereby supporting the construct validity of the GAS-J/GAS-10-J. The findings indicate that the GAS-J and GAS-10-J have robust psychometric properties for assessing late-life anxiety in Japanese older adults. Further GAS-J studies are required for clinical groups.

Predictors of life satisfaction in elders living at home in the Czech Republic.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the life satisfaction of older people living in a home environment and to find out what predictors influence it. The research involved 1,121 older people 60 years and above from the Moravian-Silesian region who live in a home environment. The short form of the Life Satisfaction Index for the Thirds Age (LSITA-SF12) was used to assess life satisfaction. The Geriatric depression scale (GDS-15), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory Scale (GAI), The Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to evaluate related factors. In addition, age, gender, marital status, education, social support, and subjective health assessment were evaluated. The overall life satisfaction score was found to be 36.34 (s = 8.66). The satisfaction of older people was classified into four grades: high satisfaction (15.2%), moderate satisfaction (60.8%), moderate dissatisfaction (23.4%), and high dissatisfaction (0.6%). The predictors of the longevity of the lives of older people were confirmed, both health factors (subjective health assessment, anxiety, and depression [Model 1: R = 0.642; R2 = 0.412; p<0.000]) and psychosocial factors (quality of life, self-esteem, sense of coherence, age, and social support [Model 2: R = 0.716; R2 = 0.513; p<0.000]). In implementing policy measures, these areas should be emphasized. The availability of educational and psychosocial activities (e.g. reminiscence therapy, music therapy, group cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive rehabilitation) within the community care of the older people and university of third age is appropriate to increase the life satisfaction of the older people. An initial depression screening is also required as part of preventive medical examinations to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of depression.