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Psychiatric morbidity as predictor of mortality for residents of local authority homes for the elderly
Author(s) -
Ashby Deborah,
Ames David,
West Christopher R.,
MacDonald Alastair,
Graham Nori,
Mann Anthony H.
Publication year - 1991
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.930060804
Subject(s) - dementia , medicine , depression (economics) , borough , gerontology , psychiatry , population , pediatrics , demography , disease , environmental health , pathology , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
The residents of 12 local authority homes for the elderly run by one London borough were screened for depression and dementia in 1982 and again in 1985/6. Both samples were followed up 8–16 months after screening. In both groups, 23% were dead at follow–up and a small percentage (2% in the first sample, 5% in the second) had moved to hospitals. The mortality was approximately twice that expected for the general population of the same ages and was associated with male sex, young age, high organic brain syndrome score, high depression score, and the expression of a wish to die when screened. The majority of deaths were certified as due to chest infection or cardiovascular disease. The term “dementia” appered on only 18 of 99 death certificates, although 58 of these 99 residents had been classed as demented when screened. This study provides further evidence of the malign prognosis of depressive and cognitive disorder among residents of these homes.