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Persecutory symptoms and perceptual disturbance in a community sample of older people: the Islington study
Author(s) -
Livingston G.,
Kitchen G.,
Manela M.,
Katona C.,
Copeland J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.362
Subject(s) - odds ratio , odds , medicine , logistic regression , dementia , psychiatry , psychological intervention , mental health , gerontology , sleep disorder , psychology , demography , cognition , disease , pathology , sociology
Background While there are extensive studies of paranoid symptoms and perceptual disturbance (PPD) in younger adults, relatively little is known about older adults with similar symptoms. Method This study took place in Islington, an inner London borough. Enumeration Districts were randomised to provide a sampling frame. Residents aged 65 or over were interviewed at home. The Short‐CARE was used to elicit psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis. Sociodemographic particulars were elicited using the Client Sociodemographic and Service Receipt Inventory. Questions were asked regarding sight and hearing. We used subsections of the geriatric mental scale to identify people who had PPD symptoms. Medications taken were recorded. We asked ‘Do you have any health problems?’ as a screening question for subjective health problems. Results We interviewed 720 people. Twenty‐eight (3.9%) participants scored positively on the PPD sub‐scales of the GMS. A forward logistic regression analysis for independent predictors of PPD found the significant independent predictors were dementia ( p = 0.0000; odds ratio 6.8), drinking alcohol in last 6 months ( p < 0.03; odds ratio 0.3), drinking alcohol to help sleep ( p < 0.005; odds ratio 9.6), subjective memory loss ( p < 0.007; odds ratio 3.3) and uncorrected visual impairment ( p < 0.02; odds ratio 2.8). Conclusion There is a relatively high prevalence of PPD in older people living in the community. This is not associated with higher use of services despite the increased needs. Further studies should consider interventions to meet this unmet need. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd