Esther M. Hoogenhout

Effects of a comprehensive educational group intervention in older women with cognitive complaints: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: This study presents a new comprehensive educational group intervention that offers psycho-education about cognitive aging and contextual factors (i.e., negative age stereotypes, beliefs, health, and lifestyle), focuses on skills and compensatory behavior, and incorporates group discussion. Its effects were investigated in community-dwelling older women who report normal age-related cognitive complaints. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with an experimental and waiting-list control condition was carried out in a sample of 50 women aged 60–75 years. As the main problem of these individuals were perceived cognitive deficits without actual cognitive decrements, metacognition served as the primary outcome measure. Objective cognitive functioning and psychological well-being were secondary outcome measures. A double baseline and a follow-up assessment were carried out. Results: Participants in the experimental condition reported significantly fewer negative emotional reactions toward cognitive functioning (U = 164.500, p = 0.004). The reported effect size (δ = −0.473) could be interpreted as large. Conclusions: This new comprehensive educational group intervention reduces negative emotional reactions toward cognitive functioning, which seems a prerequisite for improved subjective cognitive functioning and well-being. It can potentially contribute the well-being of an important and large group of older adults.

THE DUTCH MEMORY COMPENSATION QUESTIONNAIRE: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND REGRESSION-BASED NORMS

The Memory Compensation Questionnaire (MCQ) is a psychometrically sound instrument that assesses the variety and extent to which an individual compensates for actual or perceived memory losses. Until now, only an English version of the MCQ has been psychometrically evaluated. The aim of the present study was to establish a Dutch version of the MCQ and evaluate its psychometric properties. The MCQ data of N = 556 cognitively healthy adults (61.8% females) aged between 50.1 and 95.3 years (M = 73.9 years, SD = 8.0) were analyzed. The results showed that the factor structure of the Dutch version of the MCQ corresponded well with that of the English version of the MCQ. The reliabilities of the scales of the Dutch version of the MCQ were all high (all Cronbach’s αs ≥ .77). Demographic variables (especially age and gender) affected most of the MCQ scale scores. Regression-based normative data that take these demographic influences into account were established, and a user-friendly computer program was provided to facilitate the scoring and norming of the MCQ.

The neurovegetative complaints questionnaire in the maastricht aging study: Psychometric properties and normative data

Objectives: Neurovegetative and somatic symptoms (such as headaches, heart palpitations and dizziness) have a high prevalence. These symptoms are often indicative for ‘masked depression’ or ‘depression without sadness’, especially in older adults. At present, no instrument exists which enables the assessment of these symptoms. This study presents a questionnaire which assesses neurovegetative and somatic complaints, as well as reactive emotional complaints: the ‘Neurovegetative Complaints Questionnaire’ (NCQ). Methods: The factor structure, internal consistency and validity of the NCQ were evaluated in a very large sample of 1105 healthy subjects aged 24–81 years from the Maastricht Aging Study. The effects of age, sex and educational level on the NCQ measures were established to provide demographically corrected normative data. Results: Two constructs underlay the responses to the NCQ items, i.e. the neurovegetative/somatic and reactive/emotional complaints factors (eigenvalues were 4.63 and 1.65, respectively, 33.0% of the variance was explained, Pearsons r between both factors equalled 0.448). Internal consistency of both scales was acceptable (i.e. Cronbachs α = 0.74 and 0.71, respectively) and convergent validity was sufficient (Pearsons r = |0.387 – 0.499|). Females and older participants were characterised by more neurovegetative/somatic and reactive/emotional complaints compared to males and younger people. Demographically corrected regression-based norms were provided for use in research and clinical settings. Conclusions: The NCQ is a psychometrically sound questionnaire that is specifically aimed at assessing neurovegetative/somatic and reactive/emotional complaints, symptoms that often are indicative for a ‘masked depression’.