The focus of this research database is on how stress affects women's health, and options for treatment using mind-body therapies.  To obtain full summaries of the articles, see "How to Get Abstracts" below

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11915257 JA

Patients' reporting of pain and nursing assistants' records were inconsistent 62.2% of the time. Article discusses the difficulties of assessing pain in this population.

2001 J Gerontol Nurs 27;3:44-53

Horgas, A. L. and Dunn, K.

11605358 JA

Alzheimer's disease has multiple significant and far-reaching effects on women. Daughters and wives are more likely to be caretakers of Alzheimer's patients. When women get Alzheimers, they are more likely to have outlived a spouse and are alone and in poverty. Also, women with Alzheimers "are more likely to have verbal impairment and thus may be perceived as unable to make their own decisions even when they have decision-making capacity."

2001 J Gend Specif Med 4;3:6-9

Francis, L. P.

9548710 JA

Alzheimer's family caregivers' health outcomes followed over a year's time, correlated more with coping style and social support than patient self-care and behavioral problems.

1998 Health Psychol 17;2:190-8

Goode, K. T., Haley, W. E., Roth, D. L., and Ford, G. R.

2144989 JA

Women who were primary caregivers of an ill or disabled spouse had a 5.6 times increased risk of experiencing depression or anxiety, and 2.0 times increased risk if caring for a disabled parent.

2002 Am J Public Health 92;8:1305-11

Cannuscio, C. C., Jones, C., Kawachi, I., Colditz, G. A., Berkman, L., and Rimm, E.

9153157 R,T

Family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients value written information, support groups and respite services.

1997 Neurology 48;5 Suppl 6:S25-9

Haley, W. E.

11665942 JA

Despite female hemodialysis patients' increased risks of early menopause, cardiovascular disease and bone fracture, few of these women were offered evaluation and treatment for these issues, nor were they adequately screened for gyn cancers.

2001 Med J Aust 175;6:298-301

Jang, C., Bell, R. J., White, V. S., Lee, P. S., Dwyer, K. M., Kerr, P. G., and Davis, S. R.

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Imagery and Relaxation

9279045 CT

Relaxation program including guided imagery, music and movement significantly decreased agitation in these elderly patients with dementia, as well as improving nursing staff coping skills.

1997 Gerontologist 37;4:551-6

Lantz, M. S., Buchalter, E. N., and McBee, L.

11498597 CT

PET brain scans of Parkinson's patients showed release of dopamine in response to medication, but also significant release when the fourth pill was a placebo.

2001 Science 293;5532:1164-6

de la Fuente-Fernandez, R., Ruth, T. J., Sossi, V., Schulzer, M., Calne, D. B., and Stoessl, A. J.

9219068 JA

Relaxation therapy and a sensory room had a positive effect on concentration in people with severe learning disabilities, whereas massage/aromatherapy and active therapy had no or negative effects.

1997 J Intellect Disabil Res 41 ( Pt 3);201-7

Lindsay, W. R., Pitcaithly, D., Geelen, N., Buntin, L., Broxholme, S., and Ashby, M.

10692805 CT

Progressive muscle relaxation decreased aggressive behavior in mentally challenged patients by 15%. Article discusses the strengths and limitations of this technique in this setting.

2000 Arch Psychiatr Nurs 14;1:39-46

To, M. Y. and Chan, S.

6363203 JA

Case report of 5 dialysis patients who benefited from use of hypnosis for symptom reduction.

1984 Gen Hosp Psychiatry 6;1:31-5

Surman, O. S. and Tolkoff-Rubin, N.

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Art

11188221 JA

Art therapy can help chronic care residents communicate.

2000 Contemp Longterm Care 23;11:22-3, 25

Perry, R. C.

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Humor

10185282 JA

Use of humor in nursing homes.

1998 Contemp Longterm Care 21;9:44-6, 48, 50

Foltz-Gray, D.

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Music

9355467 R

Review of music therapy in health care, and possible applications for a patient population with dementia and Parkinson's.

1997 J Clin Nurs 6;5:341-6

Kneafsey, R.

12078630 JA

Music therapy is a useful intervention for behavioral problems in patients with dementia. Article reviews studies and makes recommendations for future research.

2001 Scand J Caring Sci 15;2:165-73

Lou, M. F.

11796078 JA

Small pilot study of singing exercises in Parkinson's patients showed significant increases in speech intelligibility and vocal intensity.

2001 J Music Ther 38;4:273-90

Haneishi, E.

10990596 JA

Twice weekly music therapy in Alzheimer's patients significantly improved speech content and fluency.

2000 J Music Ther 37;3:183-95

Brotons, M. and Koger, S. M.

10990595 JA

Reminiscent music therapy significantly decreased depressive symptoms in dementia patients.

2000 J Music Ther 37;3:170-82

Ashida, S.

10519841 MA

Review of the literature demonstrates that music therapy is an effective intervention for maintaining and improving active involvement, social, emotional and cognitive skills, and for decreasing behavioral problems of people with dementias.

1999 J Music Ther 36;1:2-15

Koger, S. M., Chapin, K., and Brotons, M.

2614438 JA

Case report of an Alzheimer's patient who retained the ability to play paino compositions from memory, while being unable to identify the composer or titles.

1989 J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 52;12:1415-6

Crystal, H. A., Grober, E., and Masur, D.

10318284 JA

1989 J Music Ther 26;2:58-70

Millard, K. A. and Smith, J. M.

2690246 R,T

Discussion of the physiology of music comprehension vs. words in the context of Alzheimer's disease.

1989 Semin Neurol 9;2:152-8

Swartz, K. P., Hantz, E. C., Crummer, G. C., Walton, J. P., and Frisina, R. D.

9801526 RCT

Alzheimer's patients who listened to preferred music during bath time had significantly less difficult behaviors, more improved affect and greater cooperation.

1998 J Gerontol Nurs 24;7:10-7

Clark, M. E., Lipe, A. W., and Bilbrey, M.

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Massage

8203876 RCT

Secretory IgA increased in nursing home patients after a 10 minute back rub.

1994 Appl Nurs Res 7;1:2-6

Groer, M., Mozingo, J., Droppleman, P., Davis, M., Jolly, M. L., Boynton, M., Davis, K., and Kay, S.

11135128 JA

Description of a project to train nursing attendants to administer massage, which decreased pain and anxiety scores and increased communication.

2000 Geriatr Nurs 21;6:303-8

Sansone, P. and Schmitt, L.

10603811 JA

Slow stroke massage decreased pacing, wandering and resisting activities, but not verbal agitation.

1999 J Gerontol Nurs 25;6:22-34

Rowe, M. and Alfred, D..

10222877 R,T

Recommendations for critical research design standards on use of massage.

1999 Br J Nurs 8;3:159-64

Weinrich, S. P., Haddock, S., and Robinson, K.

8436714 RCT

Back massage significantly reduced anxiety in this group of elderly patients, measured at 10 minutes post procedure.

1993 J Adv Nurs 18;2:238-45

Fraser, J. and Kerr, J. R.

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Aromatherapy

11607948 RCT

Aromatherapy and massage significantly reduced excessive motor behavior in dementia patients.

2001 Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 16;10:1010-3

Smallwood, J., Brown, R., Coulter, F., Irvine, E., and Copland, C.

12143909 RCT

Agitated severe dementia patients experienced a significant decrease in agitation and spent significantly more time in constructive activities than a control group when given aromatherapy with Melissa officinalis (lemon balm).

2002 J Clin Psychiatry 63;7:553-8

Ballard, C. G., O'Brien, J. T., Reichelt, K., and Perry, E. K.

11858301 JA

Describes enjoyment and benefits of increased sensory input of aromatherapy and massage in long term residents who are deaf and/or blind.

2000 Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery 6;4:180-8

Armstrong, F. and Heidingsfeld, V.

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Other

9807289 MA

Meta-analysis of studies showing that Alzheimer patients can significantly benefit from such strategies as planned walking, pet therapy, and music.

1998 Can J Nurs Res 30;2:67-86

Forbes, D. A.

11987348 L

2001 Reflect Nurs Leadersh 27;1:15