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Psychiatric morbidity in elderly attenders at an accident and emergency department
Author(s) -
Walker Zuzana,
Leek Catherine A.,
D'ath Penny J.,
Katona Cornelius L. E.
Publication year - 1995
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.930101107
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , dementia , medicine , physical illness , psychiatry , emergency department , accident and emergency , emergency medicine , disease , medical emergency , mental health , economics , macroeconomics
The point prevalence of depression and dementia, their effect on length of admission and outcome and the extent to which they were detected by the attending doctor were assessed in 109 elderly patients presenting with physical illness at an accident and emergency department. Depression and dementia were assessed using the Brief Assessment Schedule (BAS). Twenty‐seven percent were found to be depressed and 16% demented. The only feature associated with depression was female gender. Depressed patients stayed in hospital significantly longer and had a worse outcome at 14 days than patients not depressed. This was independent of the severity of their physical illness. Only 10% of the psychiatric morbidity was detected by the attending doctor.