PSYCHOGERIATRIC PATIENTS - A SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROFILE

This retrospective study aimed to explore the sociodemographic and clinial profile of patients aged 60 years and above attending the psychiatric services of NIMHANS. Two hundred and sixty-five such patients utilized the services during one year. Preliminary analysis of the data revealed that nearly three-fourths of the patients were between 60 and 69 years of age. The family support was adequate for most of the patients. Psychoses made up two-thirds of the sample (nonorganic psychoses = 43% and organic psychoses = 22%). The difference in the distribution of organic and nonorganic psychoses between the two sexes was significant (p=0.01485); men had significantly more organic psychoses than women and the latter had more nonorganic psychoses than the former. It was found that about 70% of the sample had associated physical disorders. The implications are discussed.