CONFUSING SYMPTOMS--A VIDEO FOR ELDERS & THEIR FAMILIES

晚年的身体症状并不总是反映自然过程 指衰老或身体疾病的进展。因此，重要的是要 使老年人对下列体征和症状敏感 潜在的情感问题。准确、及时地处理疑难问题 症状需要识别和有效的沟通 医生。老年人的抑郁症在以下方面尤其具有挑战性 关于这一点：它经常被掩盖为躯体发作，而且大部分是 表现为共病症状。这项SBIR的具体目标是 制作教学录像带，帮助长者及其家人 培养技能以识别某些症状的令人困惑的性质，并 以便于准确诊断的方式与医生沟通 和治疗。第一阶段的任务将包括：(A)制定 视频的内容领域；(B)制作剧本；(C)审查 咨询小组编写的脚本；(D)如上所述修订脚本； (E)制作录像带样本片段；(F)确定 经销网点；和(G)制定生产和评估 第一阶段的时间表。第11阶段结束时的产品将是 经过评估，教育录像带准备批量生产 第三阶段的分配。 建议的商业应用： 一盘教育录像带，为老年人及其家人提供 技能1)识别某些身体症状的令人困惑的性质 (例如，抑郁被掩盖为躯体症状)和2)交流 以一种便于准确诊断和 可在各种环境下为老年人和 他们的家人。

Physical symptoms in later life do not always reflect the natural course of aging or progression of physical illness. Thus, it is important to sensitize older adults to physical signs and symptoms that indicate potential emotional problems. Accurate and timely treatment of confusing symptoms requires recognition and effective communication with physicians. Depression in older persons is particularly challenging in this regard: it is frequently masked as a somatic episode and much of it appears as comorbidity symptoms. The specific aim of this SBIR is to develop an instructional videotape to help elders and their families develop skills to recognize the confusing nature of some symptoms and to communicate with the doctor in a way that facilitates accurate diagnosis and treatment. Tasks during Phase I will include: (a) developing the content areas of the video; (b) producing a script; (c) review of the script by the Advisory Panel; (d) revision of the script as indicated; (e) developing a sample segment of videotape; (f) identifying distribution outlets; and (g) developing a production and evaluation schedule for Phase Il. The product at the end of Phase 11 will be an evaluated, educational videotape ready for mass production and distribution during Phase III. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: An educational videotape to provide elders and their families with skills 1) to recognize the confusing nature of some physical symptoms (e.g., depression masked as somatic complaints) and 2) to communicate with the doctor in a way that facilitates accurate diagnosis and treatment which could be used in a variety of settings for elders and their family members.