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Prevalence of mental disorders in non-demented elderly people in primary care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2015

Luisa Baladón ,
Ana Fernández ,
Maria Rubio-Valera ,
Jorge Cuevas-Esteban ,
Diego J. Palao ,
Juan A. Bellon  and
Antoni Serrano-Blanco
Luisa Baladón*
Affiliation:
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Spain; Spanish Network of Research on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion in Primary Care, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Ana Fernández
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Center for Disability Research and Policy, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Sydney, Australia; Sant Joan de Déu Foundation; Spanish Network of Research on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion in Primary Care, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Maria Rubio-Valera
Affiliation:
Sant Joan de Déu Foundation; School of Pharmacy, Universidad de Barcelona; Spanish Network of Research on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion in Primary Care, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Jorge Cuevas-Esteban
Affiliation:
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Joan de Déu Foundation, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
Diego J. Palao
Affiliation:
Hospital Parc Taulí, Servei de Salut Mental, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
Juan A. Bellon
Affiliation:
Centro de Salud El Palo, Unidad de Investigación del Distrito de Atención Primaria de Málaga; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidad de Málaga, Spain
Antoni Serrano-Blanco
Affiliation:
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Joan de Déu Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Network of Research on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion in Primary Care, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Luisa Baladón, Pablo Picasso 12. Sant Boi de Llobregat 08830, Barcelona, Spain. Phone: 0034936406350 ext:12211; Fax: 0034936542136. Email: lbaladon@pssjd.org.
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Abstract

Background:

Mental disorders in the elderly are common, with a 12-month prevalence in the community ranging from 8.54% to 26.4%. Unfortunately, many mental disorders are unrecognized, untreated, and associated with poor health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to describe the prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly primary care (PC) population and its associated factors by age groups.

Methods:

Cross-sectional survey, conducted in 77 PC centers in Catalonia (Spain), 1,192 patients over 65 years old. The prevalence of mental disorders was assessed through face-to-face evaluations using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Research Version (SCID-I-RV) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); chronic physical conditions were noted using a checklist; and disability through the Sheehan Disability Scales (SDS).

Results:

Nearly 20% of participants had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months. Anxiety disorders were the most frequent, (10.9%) (95% CI = 8.2–14.4), followed by mood disorders (7.4%) (95% CI = 5.7–9.5). Being female, greater perceived stress and having mental health/emotional problems as the main reason for consultation were associated with the presence of any mental disorder. There were no differences in prevalence across age groups. Somatic comorbidity was not associated with the presence of mental disorders.

Conclusions:

Mental disorders are highly prevalent among the elderly in PC in Spain. Efforts are needed to develop strategies to reduce this prevalence and improve the well-being of the elderly. Based on our results, we thought it might be useful to assess perceived stress regularly in PC, focusing on people who consult for emotional distress, or that have greater perceived stress.

Keywords

agedaged 80 and overepidemiologymental disordersprimary healthcareanxiety disorderdepressive disordercomorbidity
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Issue 5 , May 2015 , pp. 757 - 768
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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