Caring for a spouse with Parkinson's disease is associated with emotional and social distress, underlining the importance of also assessing the needs of carers. Mental symptoms of parkinsonian patients were the most consistent and powerful predictors of caregiver distress, suggesting that identification and treatment of mental symptoms may reduce distress in caregivers of subjects with Parkinson's disease.

Objective To determine the emotional and social distress of caring for a patient with Parkinson's disease and to explore the impact of motor and mental symptoms in subjects with Parkinson's disease on their caregivers' situation. Design Cross‐sectional, population‐based study using self‐report questionnaires to measure caregiver distress and rating scales to assess patient symptomatology. Setting Neurology and old age psychiatry services in Stavanger, Norway. Subjects Caregivers of 94 home‐dwelling patients with Parkinson's disease. Two control groups (patients with diabetes mellitus and healthy elderly). Outcome measures Measures of social and emotional distress in caregivers, including the Relative Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and the General Health Questionnaire. Results Caregivers, in particular spouses, had more severe depression and a higher proportion reporting tiredness, sadness and less satisfaction with life compared with healthy elderly subjects. Using linear regression analysis, patient predictors of caregiver distress were depression, functional and cognitive impairment, agitation, aberrant motor behaviour and delusions. Conclusions Caring for a spouse with Parkinson's disease is associated with emotional and social distress, underlining the importance of also assessing the needs of carers. Mental symptoms of parkinsonian patients were the most consistent and powerful predictors of caregiver distress, suggesting that identification and treatment of mental symptoms may reduce distress in caregivers of subjects with Parkinson's disease. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Twenty-one patients with Parkinson's disease and psychosis were included in an open-label 8-week trial of olanzapine. Eight subjects had dementia. Six subjects (29%) discontinued treatment prematurely because of drowsiness. Delusions and hallucinations improved significantly, and 80% were rated as much or very much improved. There was no worsening of parkinsonism or cognition.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and influencing factors of falls in the institutionalized elderly. Method: A descriptive survey design was used with a convenience sampling of 430 institutionalized elderly. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: The falls rate after admission in institution was 8.4%. Types of injury after falls were mostly contusion and fracture. Interventions for fall prevention were environmental management and regular evaluation of risk factors for falls. Fall experience was significantly different according to admission periods. Type of falls was significantly different according to state of ADL. Predictors for falls were longer admission periods and dependent state in ADL. Conclusion: Falls is important health related problem in the institutionalized elderly, so effective fall prevention program is needed for their health promotion.

권성복 1) ․이여진 2) ․한혜자 3) ․조경숙 4) ․임난영 5) ․이은희 6) 손행미 7) ․박영숙 8) ․김주현 9) ․강현숙 10) 1) 동신대학교 간호학과 부교수, 2) 가천대학교 간호학과 부교수, 3) 신성대학교 간호학과 부교수 4) 가천대학교 간호학과 교수, 5) 한양대학교 간호학과 교수, 6) 강릉원주대학교 간호학과 교수 7) 울산대학교 간호학과 부교수, 8) 서울대학교 간호대학 교수, 9) 강원대학교 간호학과 교수 10) 경희대학교 간호과학대학 교수