Mental Disorders in Patients at Geriatrician Attendance

[摘要] Introduction: Data exists showing a significant prevalence of mental disorders in the growing elderly population, but indices have a fairly wide range. This study’s aim was to analyze the frequencyand variants of such disorders of the elderly in geriatrician attendance and their influence on socialfunctioning.Material and methods: Of newly-admitted geriatrician patients, 37.2% were found to have deviations at the time of screening (Geriatric Depression Scale, Zung anxiety scale, MMSE and theclock drawing test). Of these 32 patients (24 women) were 69.5 ± 4.4 years old and had somaticillnesses, mainly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The detailed assessment included theNeuro psychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, the Clinical Global Assessment, and the Global Assessment of Functioning scales. Statistics were based on Student’s criterion (taking into account thenormal distribution of the sample data).Results and their discussion: Fully 93.7% of the disorders met the International Classification ofDiseases (10th edition) criteria for adaptation disorder, organic anxiety disorder, recurrent depressive disorder with a moderate depressive episode. Two patients had dementia with confusion (delirium). The significant ranking of the anxiety-depressive disorders can be explained by their prevalence in the elderly population as a whole, the close relationship of such disorders with somaticpathology, and in dementia and psychotic cases, more frequent visits to psychiatrists. About a thirdof the patients manifested signs of impaired functioning, dependent on the presence of family(t = 2.9; p < 0.05) and their relationships within the family (the complex ones excluded indicesabove 70 points of GAF). Conclusions: More than a third of newly-admitted geriatric patients have mental disorders, mostlythose on the anxiety-depressive depressive spectrum. Biological factors and psychosocial influences are both present represented as their reasons. Social functioning may suffer and highlydepends on microsocial environments.

[学科分类] 基础医学

[关键词] elderly age;mental disorders;social functioning;anxiety;depression;geriatrician attendance