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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Alcohol problems in old age
— a review of recent epidemiological research | | Author(s) | Ian Johnson |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 15, no 7, July 2000 |
| Pages | pp 575-581 |
| Keywords | Alcoholism ; Literature reviews ; Research Reviews. |
| Annotation | Although older people are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of alcohol, the subject of alcoholism in later life has received little attention in the literature. Demographic data predicts that in the first half of the 21st century, there will be an increase in the absolute number of older people with alcohol problems, so that recognition and treatment are more likely to become more important as this population expands. High rates of comorbidity with physical and psychiatric illness means that older alcoholics are liable to be frequent users of health facilities. Concern has been expressed regarding the impact this trend will have on health services, particularly the high costs of treatment and institutionalisation. Previous researchers have been disadvantaged by a lack of standardised diagnostic criteria the absence of age-validating screening tools. This paper reviews recent publications on the epidemiology of alcohol problems in older people, focusing on comparing prevalence rates in various clinical settings. Epidemiological research is important to improving our understanding the scope and impact of disease and in the planning of new services. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-000823225 A |
| Classmark | ETA: 64A: 3A:6KC |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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