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S Cullum

Publications and source records attributed to S Cullum.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Decline across different domains of cognitive function in normal ageing: results of a longitudinal population-based study using CAMCOG.

Dementia is an important cause of disability in the elderly. There is evidence that cognitive impairment in dementia is on a continuum with cognitive impairment in the non-demented elderly. In order to investigate this possibility, we need detailed knowledge about the population distribution of cognitive function and change in cognitive function. The aim of this study is to describe the change in different domains of cognitive function over 4 years in a population-based sample of non-demented elderly people, and to investigate the effect of sociodemographic variables and baseline cognitive function on change in each of the cognitive domains. Respondents from two group general practice lists (n = 503) were interviewed using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG) at the incidence wave of the Cambridge City Over-75 Cohort Study and after a mean time period of 3.9 years. One hundred and thirty five of 212 non-demented subjects seen at follow-up completed the CAMCOG at both interviews. The annual rate of change in total CAMCOG score was -1.6 points per year (p < 0.001). There was statistically significant decline in all of the CAMCOG subscales. Greater decline in the Memory subscale was associated with less education (p = 0.03). Greater decline in the Attention/Calculation subscale was associated with manual social class (p = 0.05). Greater decline in the Perception subscale was associated with older age (p = 0.03). Decline in specific cognitive domains may indicate a reversible phase of cognitive impairment and deserves further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Time course of response to electroconvulsive therapy in elderly depressed subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the time course of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in elderly depressed subjects. In particular, to determine whether significant antidepressant response occurs during the first few treatments. DESIGN: A naturalistic study of elderly patients receiving ECT. SETTING: Acute admission wards of a UK old age psychiatric service. PATIENTS: 13 consecutive inpatients aged over 65 years, meeting inclusion criteria, with a diagnosis of current major depressive episode, who were treated with ECT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Severity of depression as assessed by the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), psychomotor speed as assessed by Gibson's spiral maze test (GSM) and the Kendrick digit copying test (KDCT). RESULTS: The first ECT treatment reduced the mean MADRS score by 21% (p < 0.0001) and the second treatment the mean MADRS was reduced by 36% (p < 0.0001). A non-significant improvement on GSM scores was seen that paralleled improvement in the MADRS. The average number of ECT treatments needed to reduce the MADRS score by half was 3.73 +/- 1.85, though the actual number varied between 1 and 7. CONCLUSIONS: ECT is a highly effective treatment for depression in the elderly and significant antidepressant response can be demonstrated after only one treatment, arguing for careful mental state monitoring during treatment. However, considerable variability is seen in individual cases, implying that ECT should not be abandoned just because rapid response is not seen.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Whose health is it? Views about decision-making and information-seeking from people with HIV infection and their professional carers.

The views of people with HIV and their professional carers about patients' views on involvement in decision-making and information-seeking were studied, using a standardized self-report instrument. Patients and staff reported high levels of desire for patients' involvement in their care, but there were important differences between groups. Staff had higher preference for patients' involvement in decision-making than the patients themselves, while the opposite was the case for information-seeking. There were differences between professional groups and symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, social workers generally reporting higher preference for patients' autonomy, while doctors reported lower levels. Symptomatic patients tended to have lower preference for autonomy than asymptomatic ones. The significance and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Deliberate self harm: the hidden population.

Population-based epidemiological surveys of deliberate self harm (DSH) exclude homeless people and do not represent them in their conclusions. However, DSH in the homeless is commonly seen in inner city hospitals and the homeless are probably at higher risk of eventual suicide. We examined the demographic characteristics of all patients who presented to an inner London hospital after an episode of DSH over a period of three years and found that 15% of patients were of no fixed abode. Alternative methods of studying DSH need to be explored if suicide is to be prevented in this group of people.

Adolescent↗