Abstract
This retrospective study aimed to explore the sociodemographic and clinial profile of patients aged 60 years and above attending the psychiatric services of NIMHANS. Two hundred and sixty-five such patients utilized the services during one year. Preliminary analysis of the data revealed that nearly three-fourths of the patients were between 60 and 69 years of age. The family support was adequate for most of the patients. Psychoses made up two-thirds of the sample (nonorganic psychoses = 43% and organic psychoses = 22%). The difference in the distribution of organic and nonorganic psychoses between the two sexes was significant (p=0.01485); men had significantly more organic psychoses than women and the latter had more nonorganic psychoses than the former. It was found that about 70% of the sample had associated physical disorders. The implications are discussed.
Keywords: Geriatric Psychiatry, Mental Illnesses in the Elderly
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Selected References
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