title: [Effects of psychosomatic treatment for the elderly on cognition and quality of life : Naturalistic study at the psychosomatic day care hospital for the elderly in Nuremberg].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2006 the psychosomatic day care hospital for the treatment of acute mental illness of elderly people opened as the first clinic of its kind in Germany. The aim of the study was to determine treatment effectiveness regarding quality of life and cognition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Designed as a naturalistic study of a population sample of 116 patients, the cognitive capacity (memory performance and cognitive speed) and the subjective quality of life were measured by the Nuremberg aging inventory (NAI) and the World Health Organization quality of life for elderly persons (WHOQOL-OLD). The patients were surveyed at four points in time including at 8‑month follow-up. A 5-week waiting time before admission to the 5‑week therapy was implemented as a control condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the waiting time, after treatment significant improvement (<0.05) was found in cognitive capacity and quality of life. Effect sizes were partly small and mostly moderate (ES 0.2-1.0) with larger effect sizes in the quality of life than in the cognitive domain. Improvements of cognition and quality of life remained stable at follow-up (admission to follow-up ES 0.1-1.0). No correlation was found between cognitive improvement and reduction of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the psychosomatic day care hospital treatment of the elderly improves subjective quality of life and cognitive capacity.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Klinikum Nürnberg, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90419, Nürnberg, Deutschland. christina.wunner@klinikum-nuernberg.de.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7812-0817
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wunner
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Klinikum Nürnberg, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90419, Nürnberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reichhart
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychosoziale Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Klinikum Nürnberg, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90419, Nürnberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Söllner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001155:Art Therapy / Q000379:methods; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011930:Reaction Time
keywords: Comorbidity; Day care; Mental disorders; Psychosomatic medicine; Treatment outcome