Citation

Terracina KA, Aamodt WW, Schillerstrom JE. J. Elder Abuse Negl. 2014; 27(2): 91-99.

Affiliation

a The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio , Department of Psychiatry , San Antonio , TX.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08946566.2014.976894

PMID

25495662

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine if recidivistic APS cases referred for a decision making capacity assessment were more cognitively impaired than non-recidivistic cases.

METHODS: A retrospective medical record review of neuropsychological and demographic data gathered during decisional capacity assessments. Recidivistic clients were those referred to APS more than once; those with a single open case were non-recidivistic. Mean neuropsychological test scores were compared between recidivistic (n = 138) and non-recidivistic (n = 95) subjects.

RESULTS: No significant differences for age, gender, ethnicity, education, or dwelling status were found. Both recidivistic and non-recidivistic cases performed poorly in all cognitive domains. Recidivistic clients performed significantly worse on measures of executive function (CLOX1, EXIT25).

CONCLUSIONS: Executive function impairments seem to be one risk factor for recidivism in APS referrals. With 60% of cases referred for decision capacity assessments being recidivistic, identifying risk factors may help identify when targeted interventions are indicated to preclude recurrence of abuse.

Language: en