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Psychotic symptoms in older people without dementia from a Brazilian community‐based sample
Author(s) -
Soares Walter Barbalho,
Ribeiz Salma Rose I.,
Bassitt Débora P.,
De Oliveira Melaine C.,
Bottino Cássio M. C.
Publication year - 2015
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.4156
Subject(s) - dementia , socioeconomic status , psychiatry , comorbidity , psychology , medicine , gerontology , population , disease , environmental health
Background The international prevalence of psychotic symptoms in older subjects without dementia varies from 0.9% to 8.0%. However, an analysis of these symptoms in developing countries has not been undertaken. Aims To determine the prevalence and to correlate these symptoms with socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. Method A community‐based sample aged 60 years and older was evaluated. Those who screened positive for dementia, cognitive and functional impairment or significant depressive symptoms were excluded, resulting in 1125 individuals. Results The prevalence of psychotic symptoms was 9.1% (visual/tactile hallucinations, 7.8%; auditive hallucinations, 7.5%; persecutory delusions, 2.9%). Subjects with psychotic symptoms had lower Mini Mental State Examination and The Bayer Activities of Daily Living Scale scores, fewer years of schooling, belonged to lower socioeconomic classes compared with non‐psychotic subjects, and 80% had clinical comorbidities. Conclusions The prevalence was in the upper range of international data. Significant relationships were found between psychotic symptoms and lower Mini Mental State Examination score, fewer years of schooling and lower socioeconomic class. Clinical comorbidity was also very frequent. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.