Author
Friedel M. Reischies
Other affiliations: Free University of Berlin
Bio: Friedel M. Reischies is an academic researcher from Charité. The author has contributed to research in topics: Dementia & Population. The author has an hindex of 36, co-authored 101 publications receiving 4711 citations. Previous affiliations of Friedel M. Reischies include Free University of Berlin.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: A two-factor solution seemed appropriate: depression, tearfulness and wishing to die loaded on the first factor (affective suffering), and loss of interest, poor concentration and lack of enjoyment on the second (motivation).
Abstract: BACKGROUND In an 11-country European collaboration, 14 population-based surveys included 21,724 subjects aged > or = 65 years. Most participating centres used the Geriatric Mental State (GMS), but other measures were also used.
AIMS To derive from these instruments a common depression symptoms scale, the EURO-D, to allow comparison of risk factor profiles between centres.
METHOD Common items were identified from the instruments. Algorithms for fitting items to GMS were derived by observation of item correspondence or expert opinion. The resulting 12-item scale was checked for internal consistency, criterion validity and uniformity of factor-analytic profile.
RESULTS The EURO-D is internally consistent, capturing the essence of its parent instrument. A two-factor solution seemed appropriate: depression, tearfulness and wishing to die loaded on the first factor (affective suffering), and loss of interest, poor concentration and lack of enjoyment on the second (motivation).
CONCLUSIONS The EURO-D scale should permit valid comparison of risk-factor associations between centres, even if between-centre variation remains difficult to attribute.
649 citations
TL;DR: Considerable variation occurs in the levels of depression across Europe, the cause for which is not immediately obvious and case and sub-case levels taken together show greater variability, suggesting that it is not a matter of case/sub-case selection criteria, which were standardised by computer.
Abstract: BACKGROUND This is the first report of results from the EURODEP Programme.
AIMS To assess the prevalence of depression judged suitable for intervention in randomised samples of those aged > or = 65 in nine European centres.
METHOD The GMS-AGECAT package.
RESULTS Differences in prevalence are apparent, 8.8% (Iceland) to 236% (Munich). When sub-cases and cases are added together, five high- and four low-scoring centres emerge. Women predominated over men. Proportions of sub-cases to cases revealed striking differences but did not explain prevalence. There was no constant association between prevalence and age. A meta-analysis (n = 13,808) gave an overall prevalence of 12.3%, 14.1% for women and 8.6% for men.
CONCLUSIONS Considerable variation occurs in the levels of depression across Europe, the cause for which is not immediately obvious. Case and sub-case levels taken together show greater variability, suggesting that it is not a matter of case/sub-case selection criteria, which were standardised by computer. Substantial levels of depression are shown but 62-82% of persons had no depressive level. Opportunities for treatment exist.
249 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Levels of depressive symptoms vary significantly between high and low scoring centres, prompting the next phase of this study, an examination of risk factors in Europe.
236 citations
TL;DR: Large between-centre differences in depression symptoms were not explained by demography or by the depression measure used in the survey, suggesting depression may be overdiagnosed in older persons because of an increase in lack of motivation.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Data from surveys involving 21,724 subjects aged > or = 65 years were analysed using a harmonised depression symptom scale, the EURO-D.
AIMS To describe and compare the effects of age, gender and mental status on depressive symptoms across Europe.
METHOD We tested for the effects of centre, age, gender and marital status on EURO-D score. Between-centre variance was partitioned according to centre characteristics: region, religion and survey instrument used.
RESULTS EURO-D scores tended to increase with age, women scored higher than men, and widowed and separated subjects scored higher than others. The EURO-D scale could be reduced into two factors: affective suffering, responsible for the gender difference, and motivation, accounting for the positive association with age.
CONCLUSIONS Large between-centre differences in depression symptoms were not explained by demography or by the depression measure used in the survey. Consistent, small effects of age, gender and marital status were observed across Europe. Depression may be overdiagnosed in older persons because of an increase in lack of motivation that may be affectively neutral, and is possibly related to cognitive decline.
230 citations
TL;DR: Tailored models of attention and executive function in the preclinical phase of AD in old age support theoretical models of neuropsychological processes before AD onset and significantly predicted incident AD over and above age, gender, and education.
Abstract: Objective Longitudinal studies of neuropsychological changes in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer disease (AD) have yielded mixed results. Although some studies report tests of episodic memory, others report tests of attention and executive functions as reliable predictors of subsequent AD. Following theoretical models of neuropsychological processes before AD onset, the authors examined the predictive value of attention and executive function in the preclinical phase of AD in old age. Methods Authors studied the cognitive performance of 187 initially normal participants of the Berlin Aging Study, a community-based representative sample of Berlin citizens age 70 to 103, over a period of 4 years. Tests of attention and executive function (Digit Letter Test, Trailmaking Part B Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, and Identical Pictures Test) and of learning and recall functions (Activity Recall, Memory for Text, and Paired-Associate Learning) were administered at baseline. Diagnosis of AD was made according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria (probable AD). Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy and predictive value of the neuropsychological tests at baseline for incident AD after 4 years. Results After 4 years, 15 participants had developed AD. Tests of attention and executive function discriminated best between nonconverters and incident AD cases. A similar pattern was found in survival analyses; attention and executive function tests, together with tests of learning and recall, significantly predicted incident AD over and above age, gender, and education. Conclusion These results support theoretical models of attention and executive function in the preclinical phase of AD in old age.
196 citations
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TL;DR: Motivated performance tasks elicited cortisol responses if they were uncontrollable or characterized by social-evaluative threat (task performance could be negatively judged by others), when methodological factors and other stressor characteristics were controlled for.
Abstract: This meta-analysis reviews 208 laboratory studies of acute psychological stressors and tests a theoretical model delineating conditions capable of eliciting cortisol responses. Psychological stressors increased cortisol levels; however, effects varied widely across tasks. Consistent with the theoretical model, motivated performance tasks elicited cortisol responses if they were uncontrollable or characterized by social-evaluative threat (task performance could be negatively judged by others), when methodological factors and other stressor characteristics were controlled for. Tasks containing both uncontrollable and social-evaluative elements were associated with the largest cortisol and adrenocorticotropin hormone changes and the longest times to recovery. These findings are consistent with the animal literature on the physiological effects of uncontrollable social threat and contradict the belief that cortisol is responsive to all types of stressors.
5,028 citations
TL;DR: Mental health affects progress towards the achievement of several Millennium Development Goals, such as promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, and reversal of the spread of HIV/AIDS.
2,943 citations
TL;DR: A significant association between severity of depression and poorer QOL in older persons was found, and the association was found to be stable over time, regardless of which assessment instruments for QOL were applied.
Abstract: Background: Depression is a prevalent and disabling condition in older persons (≥60 years) that increases the risk of mortality and negatively influences quality
2,704 citations
Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University1, French Institute of Health and Medical Research2, University of British Columbia3, UBC Hospital4, Beta5, Sahlgrenska University Hospital6, University of Virginia7, McGill University8, Brigham and Women's Hospital9, Washington University in St. Louis10, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University11, University College London12, University of Antwerp13, University of Geneva14, University of California, San Diego15, University of Kentucky16, Karolinska University Hospital17, university of lille18, University of California, San Francisco19, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis20, Brown University21, University of Paris22, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais23, Maastricht University Medical Centre24, University of Southern California25, NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital26, VU University Amsterdam27, Lou Ruvo Brain Institute28
TL;DR: It is proposed that downstream topographical biomarkers of the disease, such as volumetric MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose PET, might better serve in the measurement and monitoring of the course of disease.
Abstract: In the past 8 years, both the International Working Group (IWG) and the US National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association have contributed criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that better define clinical phenotypes and integrate biomarkers into the diagnostic process, covering the full staging of the disease. This Position Paper considers the strengths and limitations of the IWG research diagnostic criteria and proposes advances to improve the diagnostic framework. On the basis of these refinements, the diagnosis of AD can be simplified, requiring the presence of an appropriate clinical AD phenotype (typical or atypical) and a pathophysiological biomarker consistent with the presence of Alzheimer's pathology. We propose that downstream topographical biomarkers of the disease, such as volumetric MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose PET, might better serve in the measurement and monitoring of the course of disease. This paper also elaborates on the specific diagnostic criteria for atypical forms of AD, for mixed AD, and for the preclinical states of AD.
2,581 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Definition: To what extent does the study allow us to draw conclusions about a causal effect between two or more constructs?
Abstract: Definition: To what extent does the study allow us to draw conclusions about a causal effect between two or more constructs? Issues: Selection, maturation, history, mortality, testing, regression towrd the mean, selection by maturation, treatment by mortality, treatment by testing, measured treatment variables Increase: Eliminate the threats, above all do experimental manipulations, random assignment, and counterbalancing.
2,006 citations