Psychiatric morbidity in elderly patients attending OPD of tertiary care centre in western region of Nepal

Abstract

Context:Aging of population is currently a global phenomenon. At least one in 5 people over the age of 65 years will suffer from a mental disorder by 2030. Study of psychiatric morbidities in this age group is essential to prepare for upcoming challenges.Aims:To find out the prevalence of different psychiatric morbidities in elderly population and to find out if there are any age and gender specific differences.Settings and Design:Retrospective review; Psychiatric outpatient department of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.Materials and Methods:Data for patients ≥ 65 years of age attending the psychiatric outpatient department of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, from 1st January 2012 to 15th January 2013 were collected retrospectively in a predesigned proforma.Statistical Analysis Used:Risk of having different psychiatric disorders was estimated using odds ratio.Results:The mean age of 120 patients included in this study was 69.67 (SD = 5.94) years. Depressive disorder (26.7%) was the most common diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in psychiatric disorders in >75 years compared with ≤75 years except for dementia [odd ratio (OR) (≤75 years/>75 years)=0.055, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.016; 0.194]. Alcohol dependence syndrome [OR (male/female)=7.826, 95% CI = 1.699;36.705] and dementia [OR (male/female)=3.394, 95% CI = 1.015;11.350] was more common in males.Conclusions:Depressive disorder was the most common psychiatric morbidity among the elderly patients. The odds suffering from dementia increased with increasing age. The odds of having alcohol related problems and dementia were more in males compared with females.

Prevalence of depression and its risk factors among a rural geriatric population of North Kerala

“…Pooled studies of GDS-15 indicated a sensitivity of 80.5%and specificity of 75%with optimal cut off 5/6 [8]. Depressive disorder was the most common psychiatric morbidity among the elderly patients [9]. Just like other non-communicable disease depression too has various risk factors [10].…”

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

“…It is only of late that we have few more published studies and reviews on geropsychiatric patients in Nepal. 20,27 Present study is expected to add some more light on this sub-specialty in Psychiatry and hope to induce more interest among young researchers to carry our further research among geriatric psychiatric patients in Nepal.…”

Prevalence and nature of psychiatric disorders in geriatric people attending psychiatry outpatient department

“…Nepalese OPD based studies have reported AUD in range of 10.5% to 14%. 10,11,17,22 In our study prevalence of BPAD (including first episode mania) was 5.06%. Reported prevalence of mania amongst geriatric people is found to be low (1-2%) in both in-patient as well as community prevalence studies from western countries.…”