AAGP Report

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 5 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of memantine in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. Cumulatively, the 5 trials included 767 patients receiving memantine and 761 receiving placebo. 18.6% of probands receiving memantine discontinued treatment as opposed to 23.5% of patients receiving placebo. 9.8% of patients receiving memantine discontinued treatment due to adverse events as opposed to 13% of patients receiving placebo. The meta-analysis also found significant benefits with memantine treatment over placebo on measures of behavior, cognition, function, and global status. Poster 18

Researchers surveyed 103 older adults and their caregivers to assess the 1-year prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use. 72% of patients surveyed had used CAM in the previous year. Prevalence of specific therapies was as follows: megavitamins (37%), other biological supplements(39%), mind-body practices (33%), prayer/spiritual healing (30%). Patients most commonly cited general health/prevention, stress management, pain control, and desire for autonomy as reasons for using CAM. No sociodemographic associations were found; however, patients using CAM had higher rates of psychological distress and chronic pain. Poster 12

41 community dwelling subjects aged ≥60 with current major depression who had discontinued escitalopram due to non-response, partial response, relapse, and/or medication intolerance were subsequently treated openly with escitalopram. Full response was measured as a Hamilton Depression Scale score lower than 10 for 3 consecutive weeks. After a median of 18.5 weeks of treatment with duloxetine, 56% of subjects met criteria for full response, 19.5% met criteria for partial response, and 24.4% were non-responders. Poster 36

Researchers designed a “pilot psychological autopsy” for suicide victims aged 35 or over. Interviews of 52 suicide informants identified 71 health professionals who had contact with the suicide victims within 3 months of the victims’ deaths. Of these 71 health professionals, 40 consented to participate in the pilot study. Depressive symptoms were found in 53% of patient contacts, the majority of these in patients 60 or younger. 25% of patients were assessed for suicide risk—none of the older patients had been so assessed. 32% of patients with depression were assessed for risk—of these, only 5% were identified as suicidal and only 12% had expressed thoughts of hopelessness. Poster 39