The prevalence of mental health problems among older adults admitted as an emergency to a general hospital.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A high prevalence of co-morbid mental health problems is reported among older adults admitted to general hospitals.

Setting

An 1,800 bed teaching hospital.

Design

Consecutive general medical and trauma orthopaedic admissions aged 70 or older were screened for mental health problems. Those screening positive were invited to undergo further assessment, and were interviewed to complete a battery of health status measurements.

Results

Of 1,004 patients screened, 36% had no mental health problems or had anxiety alone. Of those screening positive 250 took part in the full study. Adjusting for the two-stage sampling design, 50% of admitted patients over 70 were cognitively impaired, 27% had delirium and 8-32% were depressed. Six percent had hallucinations,

SUBMITTER: Goldberg SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3234074 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature