Summary
A study in diagnostic composition and outcome of elderly mental patients was made from the experience of a large mental hospital serving an urban community.
A random sample of 100 admissions aged 60 years and over were classified under 5 main headings: affective disorder, senile dementia, arteriosclerotic psychosis, paraphrenia and confusional states. The distribution of patients by this classification was similar to findings reported elsewhere.
The patients were followed up for one year from the date of admission: less than half were discharged, a quarter had died, and the rest were still in hospital.
Clinical and social factors relating to outcome are discussed.
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Kidd, C.B. Old people in mental hospitals. Ir J Med Sci 37, 72–78 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954258
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954258