European Psychiatry - Volume 33 - March 2016

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24th European Congress of Psychiatry / European Psychiatry 33S (2016) S116–S348 S217
EW296
Efficacy of memantine for elderly
patients in the mild stage of
Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in
Ukraine
V. Kholin ∗, N. Bachinskaya , I. Rozhelijuk
D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology NAMS of Ukraine, Age
Physiology and Pathology of Nervous System, Kiev, Ukraine
∗ Corresponding author.
The aim of our research was to investigate the effectiveness of
memantine treatment of Ukrainian patients with Alzheimer’s (AD)
and vascular dementia (VaD) depending on existingApoE genotype.
Methods It was a complex examination of 60 elderly persons
(72.40 ±1.35 years) with mild stage of AD and VD. The effective-
ness of response to (20mg/day) memantine intake was studied
during the first 3 months of treatment. Efficacy of short-term
treatment was determined by MMSE and the numbers of positive
statistically significant changes ADAS-cog subtests. Genetic ApoE
polymorphism was investigated too (using the of the PCR tech-
nique). Statistical Anova analysis was done.
Results After 3 months of treatment significant changes in the
overall score of Adas-cog was observed in both groups with
some differences in subscale profiles. For AD patients, statisti-
cally positive changes (P< 0.05) were found in comprehension of
spoken language, naming objects, commands, ideational praxis
and delayed recall subtests. For VaD patients, statistically positive
changes (P< 0.05) were found in comprehension of spoken lan-
guage, naming objects, word finding difficulty and delayed recall
subtests. There was established a significant prevalence of individ-
uals with genotype 4/ 4 among patients with AD compared with
patients with VD. The main differences, according to the meman-
tine efficacy treatment in carriers ApoE3 and ApoE4 genotypes,
were in remembering test instructions subtest.
Conclusions The memantine treatment efficacy in AD and VaD
patients in mild stage of dementia was not significantly associated
with an existing of Apo-E genotype polymorphism.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
EW297
A systematic literature review to
ascertain the effectiveness of using
bed-exit alarm in the prevention of
bed falls in a psycho-geriatric ward
C. Koh
Alexandra Health System, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Gericare@North,
Singapore, Singapore
Background and objectives Bed exit alarms detect motion and
send alarm signals to alert caregivers when a patient is attempting
to exit a bed. Its use renders an opportunity for timely staff response
to a fall risk situation associated with unplanned/unassisted bed
exits. The utility of these devices is often appraised around the
concepts of preventing patient falls and related injuries. To acquire
further knowledge, a systematic review of literature was carried
out to generate practice-based evidence in relation to the use of
bed-exit alarms/monitors. This study was conducted: (1) to exam-
ine evidence-based articles regarding the use of bed exit alarms
in psycho-geriatric settings; and (2) to obtain and apply newly-
acquired knowledge towards assessing the effectiveness of such
devices in reducing bed fall incidents and injuries among elderly
inpatients in a psychiatric hospital in Singapore.
Methods A systematic review of literature was the main method
used to generate evidence-based results.
Results Due to lack of random clinical studies, all five studies
(conducted in the USA) find evidences offered on the effectives of
bed exit alarms as inconclusive. Its overall reliability in detecting
movements out of bed has not been established. The use of bed exit
alarms is useful but it should not compromise staff vigilance in any
way.
Conclusion These findings indicate the there was little evidence
to show that bed-exit alarms have the capacity to prevent falls
totally. Decisions to use bed exit alarms as an assistive tool for
fall prevention remain open to the full discretion of any hospital
management.
Disclosure of interest The author has not supplied his/her decla-
ration of competing interest.
EW298
Understanding adverse health effects
of widowhood in old age – A
cross-countries mixed methods study
C.B. Kristiansen ∗, P. Munk-Jørgensen , C. Mattisson ,
K. Andersen
1 Aarhus University hospital, Psychiatric Research Academy –
Department of Affective Disorders, Risskov, Denmark
2 Odense University Hospiral, Psychiatric Department, Odense,
Denmark
3 Lund University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund
Division of Psychiatry, The Lundby Study, Lund, Sweden
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction Widowhood in old age increases mortality and
adverse health effects, particularly depression and need for psychi-
atric care. The causes of this are poorly understood. To study risk
factors and mechanisms, theories about what to study are needed.
Aqualitatively approach towidowhood fromthewidow/widower’s
perspective may uncover important knowledge.
Objectives To investigate risk factors of the adverse health effects
associated with widowhood in old age from the perspective of the
widower/widowers and to test the generalisability of the theories
quantitatively.
Methods This is a cross-country mixed methods study com-
bining narrative interviews with Danish widows/widowers and
a 50-year follow-up study from Sweden – The Lundby Study.
Widows/widowers above 65 years of age referred to in- or out-
patient treatment at the Department of Psychiatry at Odense or
Aarhus University Hospital are included. Narrative interviews are
conducted and analysed according to grounded theory. The qualita-
tively developed theorieswill then be tested quantitatively through
the Lundby Study by comparing widows/widowers above 65 years
with age-matched controls, who are still married.
Results In the Lundby Study, 597 persons above 65 years
were identified in the latest follow-up: 176 (29.5%) were
widow/widowers, 421 (70.5%) were married/cohabitating.
Depending on the theories developed a total of 384 possible
variables regarding physical health, mental health and general
living circumstances are tested. Further results will be presented.
Conclusions The causes of adverse health effects in widowhood
are poorly understood. This study will potentially contribute to
unravelling these by identifying possible risk factors.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.