PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY IN ELDERLY ATTENDERS AT AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The point prevalence of depression and dementia, their effect on length of admission and outcome and the extent to which they were detected by the attending doctor were assessed in 109 elderly patients presenting with physical illness at an accident and emergency department. Depression and dementia were assessed using the Brief Assessment Schedule (BAS). Twenty-seven percent were found to be depressed and 16% demented. The only feature associated with depression was female gender. Depressed patients stayed in hospital significantly longer and had a worse outcome at 14 days than patients not depressed. This was independent of the severity of their physical illness. Only 10% of the psychiatric morbidity was detected by the attending doctor.