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Biomedical subjects

H G Koenig

Publications and source records attributed to H G Koenig.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
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Religious coping and cognitive symptoms of depression in elderly medical patients.

The investigators examined associations between depressive symptom type and religious coping in 832 consecutively admitted older medical inpatients. Cognitive symptoms of depression, but not somatic symptoms, were related to religious coping. Boredom, loss of interest, social withdrawal, feeling downhearted and blue, restlessness, feeling like a failure, feeling hopeless, or feeling that other people were better off were all significantly less common among religious copers. Difficulty initiating new activities was the only somatic symptom related to this coping behavior. Religious coping, a strategy heavily dependent on cognitive processes, is associated with fewer cognitive but not somatic symptoms of depression in medically ill older patients

Adaptation, Psychological↗
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An analysis of research on religious and spiritual variables in three major mental health nursing journals, 1991-1995.

A review of quantitative research studies published between 1991 and 1995 in 3 major mental health nursing journals revealed that approximately 10% (31 of 311) included a measure of religion or spirituality. This percentage (10%) is 3 to 8 times higher than that found in previous reviews of empirical research in psychological and psychiatric journals, suggesting that mental health nursing research is more sensitive to the role of religious-spiritual factors on mental health than research in related disciplines. The results are discussed in the context of the history and philosophy of nursing and in comparison to related disciplines. Methodological aspects of the research, especially the importance of multiple measures, are discussed, as are other salient findings.

Humans↗
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Elderly suicide, mental health professionals, and the clergy: a need for clinical collaboration, training, and research.

This article addresses the need for improved clergy-mental health professional collaboration in the assessment and treatment of elderly suicide. Millions of older adults with personal problems seek the counsel of clergy. A recent Gallup survey found that elders are more willing to turn to their clergy than their medical doctor or a mental health specialist for help when a friend is contemplating suicide (Gallup Organization, 1992). Elder suicide prevention presents the mental health and religious communities with unique opportunities to work together in the best interests of those they serve.

Aged↗
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Treatment considerations for the depressed geriatric medical patient.

Depression is one of the most common reversible psychiatric disorders in the medically ill hospitalised elderly. Because of its adverse impact on quality of life, compliance with medical therapy, motivation towards recovery, and survival itself, depression requires rapid diagnosis and comprehensive management. Because of the risks attendant on the use of antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in this population, medical and psychosocial strategies are of paramount and primary importance in the treatment of most critically ill depressed elderly individuals. These include adequate treatment of reversible medical illness, provision of psychological support, mobilisation of community resources, and involvement of family and social support networks. When depression is severe or associated with marked suicidal ideation, however, these four strategies may need to be carried out concurrently with biological therapies. After ensuring adequate cardiac, liver, and renal function, antidepressant therapy is best initiated at a low dosage (secondary amine preferred) and gradually titrated upward following serum concentrations carefully and monitoring for anticholinergic, hypotensive and cardiac adverse effects. If antidepressant therapy is not tolerated or is unsuccessful, then psychiatric consultation should be obtained and ECT considered, particularly if the patient is well enough to undergo repeated episodes of brief general anaesthesia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychoneuroimmunology and the faith factor.

A recent systematic review of research on religion and health has found a consistent relationship between religion and better mental health as well as greater social support. There also appears to be a relationship between religious involvement and better physical health, although the mechanism for this effect is poorly understood. One way that religion could impact physical health is through neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms, or psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). This article describes the physiological mechanisms by which the mind affects the body, reviews research substantiating the link between psychosocial processes and immune functioning, and examines the limited research that has addressed the religion-PNI relationship. Gender differences are emphasized.

Depression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Geriatric fellowships in family medicine: status and directions.

The American Board of Medical Specialties recently approved the concept of certificates of added qualifications in geriatrics within both internal medicine and family practice. Certification requirements have been worked out for each training model, and questions have quite naturally arisen addressing whether the developing family practice model is substantially different from the longer established internal medicine model. A survey was made of 12 family practice based geriatric fellowship programs. Program directors were asked how they felt family practice geriatrics differed from internal medicine geriatrics in approaches to patient care and training and in areas of research interests. Information was also gathered about program size, length of training, and operational status. Eight fellowship programs were found to be active at the time of the survey, but only two for more than six months. Of the eight functioning programs, four were currently without fellows--a forewarning, perhaps, of potential recruitment problems for additional programs under development. Survey responses indicated a universal feeling among directors of family practice geriatric programs that their model does serve a unique function. Within the "distinguishing characteristics" most frequently noted, an emphasis on psychosocial and family issues can be identified. This emphasis can also be seen in the suggestions for distinctive research, with an indication of special interest in the delivery of health care.

Curriculum↗