The purpose of the present study was to systemically test the hypothesis that older people adopt risk-avoiding strategies when faced with risky-choice situations. Ninety-six adults, representing four age cohorts, filled out a risk-taking questionnaire consisting of twelve situations demanding a choice between a safe and a risky option. One-half of the choices involved potential losses, the other half involved potential gains. The results indicated that older adults choose no more safe alternatives than do younger adults. Additionally, for all age cohorts, risk avoiding was more evident when choices were between risky and certain gains than when choices were between risky and certain losses. This pattern of responding suggests that older adults do not necessarily adopt a general strategy of avoiding risk options when a safe alternative is available. Instead, risk avoiding, for all age cohorts, appears to be influenced by the parameters of the choice situation.
This paper reports the development of a psychological assessment instrument for evaluating the deteriorated elderly patient. The instrument provides information on patient function in eight areas including communication abilities, cognitive status and mood. Analyses were undertaken to determine the psychometric properties of each component of the instrument. Examination of the means and standard deviations indicated that the full range was used for each scale. Examination of interrater reliability yielded values ranging from .92 to .99. Several indices that may be of use in evaluating the significance of change in test scores are also presented. Suggestions are also made for the application of this instrument in both clinical and research settings.
Risperidone, at lower than recommended doses, shows promise in the treatment of late onset delusional disorders and behavior syndrome of dementia. The side effect profile was benign, as was suggested by experience in treating schizophrenia. Scientifically more rigorous prospective studies for the indications and efficacy of risperidone in late onset psychotic disorders and psychoses and behavior syndromes associated with dementing illness are overdue.
This study examined the discriminant validity of the Multi-focus Assessment Scale (MAS). The MAS was administered to three groups of older adults varying in ability to live independently: Extended Care in-patients; Assessment Clinic out-patients; and independently functioning elderly. Analysis of variance showed strong group differences on all of the scales. Discriminant function analysis indicated that the MAS variables predicted group membership with a high degree of accuracy. Replications using random samples indicated the accuracy rates were stable. It was argued that cases of misclassification were largely due to overlap between subgroups of Extended Care and Assessment Clinic patients in terms of their capacity to engage in independent functioning. Also addressed in this study was the identification of variables on the MAS critical to independent functioning. The results indicated that there was a general lowering of functioning rather than specific patterns of preserved strengths or deficits. This was consistent with the presence of a general factor. The need for additional normative data for the MAS was discussed.
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