Background Although there is an increasing number of adults older than 60 years old (>60) suffering from psychiatric disorders, there are only few studies about elderly patients in psychiatric emergencies, and no European data. The goal of our study is to describe the population of patients > 60 consulting in the most important French emergency psychiatric centre, and to identify predictive factors of psychiatric hospitalisation. Methods Our study was monocentric and prospective, including 300 consecutive patients > 60. Results Patients > 60 consulting in psychiatric emergencies were more often females and autonomous. More than 40% had a history of at least one psychiatric hospitalisation, and 44% had consulted a psychiatrist in the 6 preceding months. 75% were taking at least 1 psychotropic drug, and 50% at least 2. The most frequent reasons for consultation were depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and suicidal thoughts. Psychiatric disorders were mainly mood disorders, neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders, and schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders. Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders were diagnosed in only 10% of the total sample. 39% of elderly patients were hospitalised in psychiatry. Factors predicting hospitalisation were a history of psychiatric hospitalisation, suicidal thoughts, and a diagnosis of mood disorder or schizophrenia / schizotypal / delusional disorder. Conclusion Only psychiatric factors intervene in the decision of psychiatric hospitalisation for elderly people consulting in psychiatric emergencies. Socio-demographic characteristics, level of autonomy at home and MMSE score have no influence on the hospitalisation decision. We need more data to better understand the current and future needs of this population.
Objectives The population of older adults is growing fast, especially in Europe and Northern America. Old age is often associated with mental health comorbidities. Moreover, life expectancy of people suffering from psychiatric disorders has increased, but with age‐related difficulties, such as loss of independence. This represents a challenge for public health policies, as this population requires specific care and living conditions. As a response, a convention was signed between living facilities for dependent elderly (EHPAD) and the GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences. The agreement included dedicated places in EHPAD for older patients with psychiatric disorders. The aim of the study was to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of those patients. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional study among patients who applied for an EHPAD admission. Results Between 2016 and 2019, 163 patients applied for placement in an EHPAD, and 117 were admitted (72%). Applicants were 71 years old on average. Admitted patients were older than non‐admitted and lived in different Parisian sectors. Among admitted patients, nine in 10 were single, divorced or widowed, and 64.3% were childless. Almost half of them were schizophrenic or had delusional disorders (46.9%), and 65.3% were considered as moderately dependent. At the time of the study, 89 patients still lived in EHPAD. Almost half of them had anxiety and depressive disorders (48.3%), 19.1% had cognitive disorders, and 42.7% manifested agitation. Conclusions Our study highlighted older psychiatric patients' specificities regarding their admission status into long‐term living facilities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.