Profile of Patients Attending Psychogeriatric Clinic in a Tertiary Care Setting

BACKGROUND Proportion of elderly is increasing among the total population of Kerala, and mental health problems of this group are unique. OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients attending Psychogeriatric Clinic in a tertiary care center and to study the correlation of sociodemographic and clinical variables with psychiatric diagnoses in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review of patients, who attended the Psychogeriatric Clinic of a tertiary care center over a period of 1 year, was done. The Institutional Ethics Committee discussed and waived clearance for the review. RESULTS There were 85 cases with a mean age of 69.5 years (standard deviation-7.36). Majority of them were females (56.5%) and belonged to low socioeconomic status (52.9%). Comorbid physical illnesses were seen in 76.5% cases. Diagnoses were made by Junior Residents in Psychiatry and confirmed by a qualified psychiatrist, as per International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria. The most common psychiatric diagnosis was organic mental disorders (24.7%), which included dementias, delirium, and organic mood disorders. This was followed by bipolar affective disorders (22.4%), schizophrenia and related disorders (20.0%), depressive and anxiety disorders (17.6%) and mental and behavioral disorders due to substance use (2.4%). Occurrence of organic psychiatric disorders showed positive correlation with age (Spearman's ρ =0.253, P = 0.02) and occurrence of hypertension (ρ =0.222, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Organic psychiatric disorders are more common in elderly patients attending a tertiary care center. Comorbid physical illnesses are seen in more than three-fourths of this population. Organic psychiatric disorders are seen more commonly with increasing age and occurrence of hypertension.