Prevalence of mental disorders in non-demented elderly people in primary care

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Baladón ◽  
Ana Fernández ◽  
Maria Rubio-Valera ◽  
Jorge Cuevas-Esteban ◽  
Diego J. Palao ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Mental disorders in the elderly are common, with a 12-month prevalence in the community ranging from 8.54% to 26.4%. Unfortunately, many mental disorders are unrecognized, untreated, and associated with poor health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to describe the prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly primary care (PC) population and its associated factors by age groups.Methods:Cross-sectional survey, conducted in 77 PC centers in Catalonia (Spain), 1,192 patients over 65 years old. The prevalence of mental disorders was assessed through face-to-face evaluations using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Research Version (SCID-I-RV) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); chronic physical conditions were noted using a checklist; and disability through the Sheehan Disability Scales (SDS).Results:Nearly 20% of participants had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months. Anxiety disorders were the most frequent, (10.9%) (95% CI = 8.2–14.4), followed by mood disorders (7.4%) (95% CI = 5.7–9.5). Being female, greater perceived stress and having mental health/emotional problems as the main reason for consultation were associated with the presence of any mental disorder. There were no differences in prevalence across age groups. Somatic comorbidity was not associated with the presence of mental disorders.Conclusions:Mental disorders are highly prevalent among the elderly in PC in Spain. Efforts are needed to develop strategies to reduce this prevalence and improve the well-being of the elderly. Based on our results, we thought it might be useful to assess perceived stress regularly in PC, focusing on people who consult for emotional distress, or that have greater perceived stress.

2012 ◽  
Vol 201 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Fernández ◽  
Juan M. Mendive ◽  
Luis Salvador-Carulla ◽  
María Rubio-Valera ◽  
Juan Vicente Luciano ◽  
...  

BackgroundWithin the ICD and DSM review processes there is growing debate on the future classification and status of adjustment disorders, even though evidence on this clinical entity is scant, particularly outside specialised care.AimsTo estimate the prevalence of adjustment disorders in primary care; to explore whether there are differences between primary care patients with adjustment disorders and those with other mental disorders; and to describe the recognition and treatment of adjustment disorders by general practitioners (GPs).MethodParticipants were drawn from a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 3815 patients from 77 primary healthcare centres in Catalonia. The prevalence of current adjustment disorders and subtypes were assessed face to face using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). Multilevel logistic regressions were conducted to assess differences between adjustment disorders and other mental disorders. Recognition and treatment of adjustment disorders by GPs were assessed through a review of patients' computerised clinical histories.ResultsThe prevalence of adjustment disorders was 2.94%. Patients with adjustment disorders had higher mental quality-of-life scores than patients with major depressive disorder but lower than patients without mental disorder. Self-perceived stress was also higher in adjustment disorders compared with those with anxiety disorders and those without mental disorder. Recognition of adjustment disorders by GPs was low: only 2 of the 110 cases identified using the SCID-I were detected by the GP. Among those with adjustment disorders, 37% had at least one psychotropic prescription.ConclusionsAdjustment disorder shows a distinct profile as an intermediate category between no mental disorder and affective disorders (depression and anxiety disorders).


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 859-859
Author(s):  
N. Tataru ◽  
A. Dicker

It is difficult to talk about quality of life of elderly with mental disorders. Thus, there appeared serious ethical challenges for psychiatry: to cut mental health costs and to provide care to as many as possible through all duration of their diseases, from the onset to the end-of-life. The psychiatrists have to face these challenges and treat the elderly with or without mental disorders from primary care to residential one, assuring them the best quality of life as it is possible. The goal of medical policy is to optimize the patients’ and their caregivers’ well-being. Multiple loses in old age are important in decreasing of quality of life and increasing of mental health problems in the elderly. They have more social and medical problems, which include depression and suicide. Caring for a family member with dementia can be both challenging and stressful. Primary care-staff need to develop the skills to detect and manage signs of caregivers stress. Health care professionals can promote well-being of the caregivers not only the patients’ well-being, educate them how to access help and manage their stress effectively. Recognition of the importance of the role of caregivers and finding the effective ways of supporting them, respecting their personal perception of the quality of this offer, improve the quality of primary care of elderly patients with mental disorders and also improve the quality of life of their relative or caregivers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerrald Lau ◽  
David Hsien-Yung Tan ◽  
Gretel Jianlin Wong ◽  
Yii-Jen Lew ◽  
Ying-Xian Chua ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Primary care physicians (PCPs) are first points-of-contact between suspected cases and the healthcare system in the current COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines PCPs’ concerns, impact on personal lives and work, and level of pandemic preparedness in the context of COVID-19 in Singapore. We also examine factors and coping strategies that PCPs have used to manage stress during the outbreak. Methods Two hundred and sixteen PCPs actively practicing in either a public or private clinic were cluster sampled via email invitation from three primary care organizations in Singapore from 6th to 29th March 2020. Participants completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire consisting of items on work- and non-work-related concerns, impact on personal and work life, perceived pandemic preparedness, stress-reduction factors, and personal coping strategies related to COVID-19. Results A total of 158 questionnaires were usable for analyses. PCPs perceived themselves to be at high risk of COVID-19 infection (89.9%), and a source of risk (74.7%) and concern (71.5%) to loved ones. PCPs reported acceptance of these risks (91.1%) and the need to care for COVID-19 patients (85.4%). Overall perceived pandemic preparedness was extremely high (75.9 to 89.9%). PCPs prioritized availability of personal protective equipment, strict infection prevention guidelines, accessible information about COVID-19, and well-being of their colleagues and family as the most effective stress management factors. Conclusions PCPs continue to serve willingly on the frontlines of this pandemic despite the high perception of risk to themselves and loved ones. Healthcare organizations should continue to support PCPs by managing both their psychosocial (e.g. stress management) and professional (e.g. pandemic preparedness) needs.


Author(s):  
Rebecca McKnight ◽  
Jonathan Price ◽  
John Geddes

One in four individuals suffer from a psychiatric disorder at some point in their life, with 15– 20 per cent fitting cri­teria for a mental disorder at any given time. The latter corresponds to around 450 million people worldwide, placing mental disorders as one of the leading causes of global morbidity. Mental health problems represent five of the ten leading causes of disability worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in mid 2016 that ‘the global cost of mental illness is £651 billion per year’, stating that the equivalent of 50 million working years was being lost annually due to mental disorders. The financial global impact is clearly vast, but on a smaller scale, the social and psychological impacts of having a mental dis­order on yourself or your family are greater still. It is often difficult for the general public and clin­icians outside psychiatry to think of mental health dis­orders as ‘diseases’ because it is harder to pinpoint a specific pathological cause for them. When confronted with this view, it is helpful to consider that most of medicine was actually founded on this basis. For ex­ample, although medicine has been a profession for the past 2500 years, it was only in the late 1980s that Helicobacter pylori was linked to gastric/ duodenal ul­cers and gastric carcinoma, or more recently still that the BRCA genes were found to be a cause of breast cancer. Still much of clinical medicine treats a patient’s symptoms rather than objective abnormalities. The WHO has given the following definition of mental health:… Mental health is defined as a state of well- being in which every individual realizes his or her own po­tential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.… This is a helpful definition, because it clearly defines a mental disorder as a condition that disrupts this state in any way, and sets clear goals of treatment for the clinician. It identifies the fact that a disruption of an individual’s mental health impacts negatively not only upon their enjoyment and ability to cope with life, but also upon that of the wider community.


Author(s):  
Francesca Guzzetta ◽  
Giovanni de Girolamo

tbegun to be scientifically investigated. This development has taken place because a number of standardized instruments to assess personality and PD in an empirical fashion have been developed, in parallel with the refinement of a valid and reliable diagnostic system based on a categorical approach. The need for the epidemiological investigation of PDs seems justified for several reasons. 1 As seen in recent epidemiological surveys, PDs are frequent and have been found in different countries and sociocultural settings. 2 PDs can seriously impair the life of the affected individual and can be highly disruptive to societies, communities, and families. 3 Personality status is often a major predictive variable in determining the outcome of Axis I mental disorders and the response to treatment. In this chapter, we review the epidemiological literature on PDs up to October 2007, focusing on studies carried out since the development of the DSM-III. First, community prevalence studies of PDs are reviewed. We then look at the prevalence of individual PDs in the community. Finally, we consider the prevalence of PDs in clinical populations, and in special settings (e.g. primary care, prisons, etc.).


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhua Zheng ◽  
Hong Chen

Abstract Background Although social network is a known determinant of the elderly’s well-being, it is not clear, in urban-rural and age-comparison, what its structural characteristics are and how it works for well-being. The research aims to discuss the features of the elderly’s social network and the social network efficacies on the well-being of older adults in China’s urban and rural areas as well as revealing the urban-rural disparities among the elderly of different age groups. Methods In this study, descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation Modeling (SEM) were used to make a group comparison between the urban and rural elderly of different age groups. All data are quoted from 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS). The survey adopted the multi-stage probability sampling method, targeting Chinese senior citizens aged 60 and above, the ultimate samples totaled 11,511. Results The social network of the elderly in China feature a “reverse structure” in age sequences: with ageing, family network of the elderly expand while their friend network shrink; also, the expansion scale of the rural elderly’s family network is significantly larger than that of the city’s while the shrinkage scale of their friend network is smaller compared with its urban counterpart. The effect of family network on the rural elderly’s well-being shows a remarkable increase with age. However, there is no noticeable change in urban elderly groups of different ages. Conclusion The social network characteristics of the Chinese elderly are different between different age stages. Namely, the family network and the friend network have the “reverse structure “ in age sequences. Meanwhile, the family network and the friend network have different efficacies on the well-being of the elderly in China, and the differences between urban and rural areas are even more obvious. For rural elderly, family network has very important effects on their well-being. Moreover, With the increase of age, family network’s efficacies increase gradually. For urban elderly, comparatively, family network is just as important as friend network.


Author(s):  
Emeka Nwefoh ◽  
Chinyere M. Aguocha ◽  
Grace Ryan ◽  
Philip Ode ◽  
Festus O. Ighagbon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Human rights watchdogs have described conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and detention centers as damaging to the physical and mental health of inmates. While the prevalence of mental disorders is high, access to appropriate healthcare is grossly inadequate. Understanding the current state of prison inmates’ mental health and well-being is an essential first step to addressing this important issue. This study aims to document the mental health and experiences of incarceration of inmates of the largest medium security prison in Nigeria’s Benue State. Methods A cross-sectional survey and descriptive analysis was carried out with a random sample of 381 prison inmates of Benue State Makurdi Medium Security Prison. Survey tools included: (1) a structured questionnaire on participants’ experiences in prison, and (2) the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a screening tool for depression. Results Most participants were young men (95.5%, mean age 27.95) and had completed secondary school (63.5%). While prison authorities had identified only 27 participants as having a mental disorder, 144 (37.8%) screened positive for depression. Twenty six had received professional counseling while in prison. Of the six participants who were already taking a psychotropic medication at the time of imprisonment, four received medication after being imprisoned. Approximately half, (52%) of participants were dissatisfied with prison health care. Conclusions Despite the high prevalence of depression among prison inmates, few cases are detected and treated. Prison staff may not recognize depression as a mental disorder, and the mental health care available is generally poor. Inadequate mental health and social care not only affects prison inmates’ well-being, but may also impact recidivism and health outcomes upon release. Prison inmates should be screened routinely for depression and other less-commonly recognized mental health conditions, and appropriate treatment made available.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berta Ausín ◽  
Manuel Muñoz ◽  
Ana Belén Santos-Olmo ◽  
Eloísa Pérez-Santos ◽  
Miguel A. Castellanos

AbstractThe MentDis_ICF65+ Project is an epidemiological study of mental disorders in people 65 to 85 years old in several European cities, including Madrid. Its aim is to determine the lifetime, 12-month, and 1-month prevalence of the main mental disorders in the elderly. The relationship of age and sex with each mental disorder was examined. The sample was collected through random sampling of people over 65 in Madrid, and consisted of 555 persons between 65 and 85 years old. The CIDI65+ was administered. Estimates of prevalence and odds ratios (OR) were made using sample frequencies and according to sex and age. Excluding nicotine dependence, 40.12% of the sample was found to have suffered a mental disorder at some time in their lives, 29.89% in the past year, and 17.70% were currently suffering from a mental disorder. The disorders with the highest prevalence rates were anxiety disorders, alcohol-related disorders, and mood disorders. Elderly women had a higher risk of suffering an anxiety disorder (OR men/women 0.42; CI 0.25–0.68) with a significance level of p < .001, while elderly men were more affected by any substance-related disorder (OR men/women 3.96; CI 1.62–11.07) with a significance level of p < .001. Each disorder’s prevalence decreased with age (OR 65–74/75–85, 1.85; CI 1.25–2.75) with a significance level of p < .01. Results show higher prevalence rates than previous studies reported. The main implications of this study, and the need to adapt mental health services for people over 65, are highlighted.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Redmayne ◽  
Olle Johansson

AbstractOur environment is now permeated by anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation, and individuals of all ages are exposed for most of each 24 h period from transmitting devices. Despite claims that children are more likely to be vulnerable than healthy adults to unwanted effects of this exposure, there has been no recent examination of this, nor of comparative risk to the elderly or ill. We sought to clarify whether research supports the claim of increased risk in specific age-groups. First, we identified the literature which has explored age-specific pathophysiological impacts of RF-EMR. Natural life-span changes relevant to these different impacts provides context for our review of the selected literature, followed by discussion of health and well-being implications. We conclude that age-dependent RF-EMR study results, when considered in the context of developmental stage, indicate increased specific vulnerabilities in the young (fetus to adolescent), the elderly, and those with cancer. There appears to be at least one mechanism other than the known thermal mechanism causing different responses to RF-EMR depending upon the exposure parameters, the cell/physiological process involved, and according to age and health status. As well as personal health and quality-of-life impacts, an ageing population means there are economic implications for public health and policy.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. PATEL ◽  
J. PEREIRA ◽  
A. H. MANN

Background. Primary care attenders with a common mental disorder (CMD) frequently present with somatic symptoms. This study aimed to examine somatic and psychological models of CMD in primary care attenders in India.Methods. Cross-sectional survey of attenders at two primary care clinics. Psychiatric caseness was determined on three criteria: standardized psychiatric interview (biomedical criterion), patients' self-assessment of emotional disorder (emic criterion) and health care provider diagnosis. The GHQ-12 and the PPQ, which emphasize psychological and somatic symptoms respectively, were used as screening instruments.Results. Although somatic symptoms were the presenting complaints for 97% of subjects, 51% of subjects with a biomedically defined CMD had a psychological illness attribution. Patients with psychological attributions were more likely to be women, to have a longer duration of illness, to have higher CISR scores and were more likely to be recognized by the primary health care (PHC) physician. The GHQ-12 was superior to the PPQ in identifying cases of CMD against the biomedical criterion for both psychologizers and somatizers; both instruments performed equally well against the emic and care provider criteria.Conclusions. Psychological models may be acquired by patients as CMD becomes more chronic or severe, making them more likely to be detected by PHC physicians. Psychological symptoms are superior to somatic symptoms in detecting CMD. Shorter versions of the GHQ have comparable discriminating abilities to the 12-item version and offer the practical advantage of brevity, which may make them more acceptable to PHC physicians as a clinical screening tool.


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