Comorbid mental and substance disorders among older psychiatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the rate and configurations of current comorbid mental and substance disorders among older psychiatric patients.


METHODS
A descriptive, retrospective study.


METHODS
A non-acute, public residential psychiatric treatment facility for adults 55 years of age and older (mean length of stay: 3 months).


METHODS
128 patients discharged during a 2-year period.


METHODS
DSM-III-R diagnoses, demographic and history data.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence rate of concurrent mental and substance disorders during the present treatment episode was 21%. This is comparable to the 6-month rate of 19.8% found in the Epidemiological Catchment Area Study among adults in treatment (all ages). Nearly 50% of the dually diagnosed subsample received more than two diagnoses, with 60% of the subsample receiving a personality disorder diagnosis. Concurrent affective, alcohol, and personality disorder diagnoses were common.


CONCLUSIONS
Older patients with comorbid substance-use and mental disorders may differ substantively from comorbid younger patients. Among older patients in an intermediate-term psychiatric facility, the triple occurrence of alcoholism personality disorder and depression was common.
Speer
D C
DC
Florida Mental Health Institute, Department of Aging and Mental Health, University of South Florida, Tampa.
Bates
K
K
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*