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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Older people with schizophrenia
— a community study in a rural catchment area | | Author(s) | Silvia Rodriguez-Ferrera, Christopher A Vassilas, Sayeed Haque |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 19, no 12, December 2004 |
| Pages | pp 1181-1187 |
| Source | http://www.interscience.wiley.com |
| Keywords | Schizophrenia ; Living in the community ; Psychiatric treatment ; Rural areas ; Clinical surveys ; St Edmundsbury. |
| Annotation | An increasing number of older people with schizophrenia are living in the community. In the largely rural area of West Suffolk, patients aged 60+ with a primary diagnosis of non-affective psychotic disorder and known to health services were interviewed with the Present State Examination and other standardised interview instruments. Of the 72 included in the study, 46 had first become ill before age 60, and 26 after (the very late onset group, VLO). 80% were women, 26% had never married, 87% lived in their own homes, and 51% alone. In the preceding month, 41% of the sample had experienced psychotic symptoms and 15% depressive symptoms. 27% were cognitively impaired. The earlier onset group had significantly higher rates of tardive dyskinesia and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and were treated with higher doses of neuroleptics. The VLO group had higher rates of hearing impairment (54% vs 15%) and of partial or no sight (93% vs 55%). Despite significant differences in presentation, older patients with schizophrenia and very late onset schizophrenia-like psychosis have much in common. Both groups are vulnerable with high levels of psychopathology, poor insight, sensory impairment and social isolation. The needs of older people with schizophrenia must be taken into account when services for older people are planned. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-041222221 A |
| Classmark | ELK: K4: LP: RL: 3G: 8SUK |
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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