Psychiatric morbidities of elderly psychiatry out-patients in a tertiary-care hospital

Abstract

AbstractsWith the rise in life expectancy, the elder population is increasing. Morbidity profiles of elderly people may indicate different needs and priorities. This study aims to sort out referral pattern, attitude about psychiatric referral and morbidity profile among elderly psychiatric outpatients in a general hospital.A total of 100 consecutive elderly (>55 years) out-patients in psychiatry OPD coming into contact of the investigator and giving informed consent were enrolled. Diagnoses were made according the ICD-10.More (54%) were female, mainly of age, 55-70 years (79%). Main ethnicity groups seeking care were Mongol (32%), Brahmin (25%), indigenous Terai tribes (14%) and Newar (11%). People from cities and semi-urban settings predominated the study. Referrals made most commonly by the departments were medicine, family medicine, surgery and ENT. More than a fourth (28%) were dissatisfied and questioned about the referral to psychiatric service. Greater proportions (71%) were comfortable and happy about psychiatry referral. Mood related and physical complaints each were presenting complaints in about half of subjects. Major psychiatric diagnoses were mood affective, anxiety, substance use and organic psychiatric disorders. Great majority had physical co-morbidity. Common mental disorders among elderly psychiatry out-patients were mood affective, anxiety and substance use disorders. A significant number of elderly psychiatry out patients had physical comorbidity.

Pattern of Neuropsychiatric Illnesses in Geriatric Population: An Outpatient Study Report

“…They reported 30.7% of their geriatric psychiatric patient population had mood disorder, 28% had organic brain disorders and 9.3% was diagnosed as tension headache cases. In a 'psychiatric morbidities of elderly psychiatry out-patients' survey, at a tertiary-care hospital, Sakya reported major psychiatric diagnoses were mood (affective) disorder (46%), anxiety disorders (22%), substance use disorders (19%), organic and symptomatic psychiatric disorders (12%) and somatoform disorders (10%) 7 . In another psychiatric morbidity study Thapa …”

“…But, Koirala et al reported only 1.3% of their geriatric patients had a diagnosis of psychosis while Shakya reported the same rate as 6% 6,7 . While one epidemiologic survey found this rate to be 22.2% 5 , rates from various hospital-OPD based studies from India vary from 17% to 33% 9,18,19 .…”

“…Mood (affective) disorder is usually the largest diagnostic rubric, in most reported studies on gero-psychiatric patient population, in Nepal, India and other countries 7,18,21 . Sakya reported 46% of his outpatient geriatric psychiatric patients were having mood (affective) disorder 7 . Koirala et al, reported that 30.7% of their geriatric out-patients could be diagnosed as mood disorder 6 .…”

“…Some of these studies are Epidemiological field surveys [2][3][4][5] , hospital based outpatient studies [6][7][8][9] as well as inpatient studies [10][11][12] . In the present decade there is resurgence of geropsychiatric study reports from Nepal [13][14][15] .…”

Department Of Psychiatry, BPKIHS And It’s Contribution To Mental Health Literature Of Nepal

“…[62][63][64] Whereas schizophrenia is less studied and published topic, 65 79 . This department has publications about child 80,81 and geriatric psychiatry 82 as well.…”