PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN ELDERLY POPULATION VISITING A MEDICINE OPD OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr Pranshu Agarwal; Dr. Priyanka Sharma; Dr. Abdul Qadeer Jilani; Dr Anju Agarwal; Dr Ajay Kohili

Volume : IX, Issue : VII, July - 2020

PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN ELDERLY POPULATION VISITING A MEDICINE OPD OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr Pranshu Agarwal, Dr. Priyanka Sharma, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Jilani, Dr Anju Agarwal, Dr Ajay Kohili

Abstract :

Background: Elderly individuals, especially those suffering from chronic illnesses are often susceptible to an increased risk of psychiatric illnesses owing to combination of disease and age-related stresses. We assessed the prevalence of psychiatric illnesses in elderly patients visiting a medicine OPD at a tertiary care centre in north India. Method: A total of 110 elderly patients (aged >60 years) attending Medicine OPD were enrolled in the study. Patients with critical illness, mental retardation, acute medical illness and those on psychotropics were excluded from the study. Demographic information and medical history was obtained and all the patients were subjected to psychiatric examination and closed interview as per ICD-10 guidelines. General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was used to screen the psychiatric morbidity and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The psychiatric diagnosis was made using ICD-10 classification. Data was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software. Chi-square and Independent sample�s �t�-test were used for comparisons. Results: Psychiatric illness was prevalent in 62 (56.4%) of elderly patients. Patients with psychiatric illness had significantly lower mean age as compared to those not having psychiatric illness. Psychiatric illness was significantly associated with female sex, widowed marital status and homemaking. Among psychiatric illnesses, adjustment disorder (n=33; 53.2%) and moderate depression with somatic syndrome (n=18; 29%) were most common. Proportion of those with diabetes and hypetension was significantly higher among those with psychiatric illness as compared to those who did not have psychiatric illness (p<0.001). Conclusion: The burden of psychiatric morbidity was quite high in elderly medicine OPD patients.