Publication: Organic psychiatric disorders in the older persons
Files
Date
2007
Authors
Article Type
Original Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN (Print) : 1993-2979 | ISSN (Online) : 1993-2987
Volume Title
Pages
Pages: 3 - 9
Publisher
Institute of Medicine
Abstract
Abstract
Background: A primary, retrospective study was done to determine the frequency and describe the patterns of presentation of delirium, dementia and mood disorder in the elderly.
Methods: The sample was collected over 3 months and consisted of 10 patients above 60 years of age with features fitting those conditions, conventionally labeled at the time as Organic Brain Syndromes (OBS).
Results: We found that OBS in hospitalized older people was common (29.41%) and the detection of these syndromes was poor, taking almost 5 days for a psychiatric referral to be made. Clinical presentations heterogeneously varied and the majority of cases were in a delirium (60%) due to various causes. Only low dosages of treatment were required to treat the symptoms, except in those
who had a premorbid psychiatric disorder. Finally, symptom resolution was achieved (30%) only where the medical conditions causing the OBS were reversible, as is expected.
Conclusion: This cost-effective study found that OBS in hospitalized older people was common, frequently diagnosed late and had a varied presentation.
Keywords: Delirium, Dementia, Depression, Pseudodementia, Post-stroke dementia
Description
P.K. Chandrasekaran
Neuro Behavioural Medicine, Penang Adventist Hospital, 465 Burmah Road, Georgetown, 10350 Penang, West Malaysia
P. Srinivas
Malaysia Geriatric Medicine, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Penang, Malaysia Setting: University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keywords
Delirium, Dementia, Depression, Pseudodementia, Post-stroke dementia
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.59779/jiomnepal.300