Rating Scales for Psychotropic Drug Research with Geriatric Patients. I. Behavior Ratings*

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Forty male volunteers over the age of 60 took either a daily dose of diazepam (12 mg) or placebo for a two-week period. Differential responses to these compounds partially depended upon age and the initial symptom level. Diazepam produced sedative side effects, a modest antidepressant effect, and a reduction in memory. Placebo had an antianxiety effect in the relatively older subjects, and was associated with decreased fatique, improved memory and improved motor function. Considerable variability was observed in both drug and placebo responses among the elderly. A self-rating depression scale (D30R) was useful for assessing changes in affective states and in discriminating between the effects of active drug and placebo.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychopharmacologic Investigations in Elderly Volunteers: Effect of Diazepam in Males†

Salzman

Shader

Harmatz

et al. 1975

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“…A recent review by Salzman et al (3) of rating scales used in geriatric psychopharmacology strongly suggests that the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) (4) is the best single assessment of memory function in the elderly. However, Benton (5) has pointed out that the memory quotient (MQ) derived from this test may be of dubious validity and that various subtests may be inadequate in assessing certain types of memory.…”

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confidence: 99%

A Memory Assessment Technique for Use in Geriatric Psychopharmacology: Drug Efficacy Trial with Naftidrofuryl

Branconnier¹,

Cole²

1977

This study was conducted to compare an automated test of paced stimulus material (Sperling's Perceptual Trace, SPT) with several other standard memory scales. Sixty patients with mild senile organic brain syndrome were divided into two groups of 30; one group was treated for 90 days with 300 mg daily of naftidrofuryl (Praxilene), and the other group received placebo. The patients were tested before treatment and at 30, 60 and 90 days after the beginning of treatment. The data indicated that the SPT indirectly assesses short-term memory, is resistant to practice effects, and is drug-sensitive. It is suggested that the SPT might become the test of choice in the indirect assessment of short-term memory in the elderly.

“…The advent of drugs and other forms of therapy which purport to treat the dementia of old age and arteriosclerosis makes it especially important to investigate instruments for quantifying the manifestations of organic dementia. Researchers in geriatric psychopharmacology tend to use measures of behavioral disturbances (2). At face value, these are limited in the extent to which they tap the presumed organic dementia component of senility and arteriosclerosis.…”

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confidence: 99%

Measuring Dementia

Birkett

Boltuch

1977

Maudsley Tests of the Sensorium (used by clinicians to assess verbal memory and orientation) and Kendal's Memory for Design (used by psychologist to assess visual memory) were employed to differentiate between elderly patients with organic brain damage (neurologic disease, chiefly stroke) and those with functional psychiatric disorders which had been present in youth. There were 25 patients in each group. Both test differentiated organic from functional disorders. There was no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of the two tests.